The six symphonies published in Paris by Huberty in 1758 as Opus 4 include two of the composer’s
orchestral trios (Wolf Cm 1 and Gm 1). The remaining works appear to have been composed over a period of approximately seven years: the earliest work in the group is probably Op.4 No.4 (ca.1750-1753) while the second - styled Sinfonia Pastorale - may be among the last symphonies Stamitz wrote. The two trios also appear to be late works and may have been written after the composer’s return to Mannheim. The title page of the set reads: “SIX / SYMPHONIES /À QUATRE PARTIES OBLIGÉES / avec les Haut-bois où Flûtes / Et Cors de Chasses, Compris deux Trios qui sont faits pour / exécuter a Trois où en plein Orquéstre. /COMPOSÉES PAR Mr STAMITZ. / Mis au jour par HUBERTI. / OEUVRE IV...” According to Wolf, the present work, which appears as the last in the set, dates from the period ca.1753-1755.
In the absence of the autograph score and an
authentic set of parts this edition presents as faithfully as
possible the intentions of the composer as transmitted in the
Huberty print. The notation of articulation and dynamic
markings has been standardised throughout, and, when
missing from the source, reconstructed from parallel passages.
These are indicated by the use of dotted slurs or brackets
where appropriate. Like most eighteenth-century sources, the Huberty print is somewhat inconsistent in its notation of appoggiature; these have also been standardised to minimise confusion. Obvious wrong notes have been silently corrected; otherwise, any editorial emendation with no authority from the source is placed within brackets.
