Dittersdorf, Carl Ditters von (1739-1799)

The present work is listed in the Sigmaringen catalogue and was composed, therefore, sometime before 1766 although it did not appear in Breitkopf 's famous thematic catalogue until 1776-77. A copy of the symphony preserved in the Dizesanarchiv in Graz, Austria (provenance Bad Ausee / Admont) describes the work as 'Divertimento pi galante' and omits the horn parts. This edition is based on a set of manuscript parts held in the music archive at Stift Kremsmnster under the shelfmark Ser. H. Fasc. 33 Nr.298. The title wrapper reads: ' Sinfonia in A. / a / 2. Violini / Viola. / 2. Oboe. / 2. Corni. / Violone. / Del Sign. Ditters.' In the absence of both the autograph score and an authentic set of parts, the edition presents as faithfully as possible the intentions of the composer as transmitted in the Kremsmnster source. The style and notation of articulation and dynamic markings have been standardized throughout and, where missing from the source, markings have been reconstructed from parallel passages. These are indicated by the use of dotted slurs or brackets where appropriate. Like most eighteenth century sources, the present manuscript is at times inconsistent in its notation of appoggiature; these too have been standardized to minimize confusion. Obvious wrong notes have been corrected without comment; editorial emendations with no authority from the source are placed within brackets. Allan Badley