The six symphonies published in Paris by La Chevardière in 1763 as Opus 7 all appear to have
been composed over the period ca 1747-1753. The title page of the publication reads: “SIX / SIMPHONIES / a quatre Parties obligées / avec Haubois et Cors de chasse / Composées par Mr / JEAN STAMITZ / Directeur de la Musique
de S.A.S. / Mr l’Electeur Palatin à Mannheim. / OEUVRE VII...” The present work, the sixth of the set, is probably among the earliest them (ca 1747-1751) although Wolf believes that an implied crescendo in the first movement may indicate a composition date near to 1751.
This edition is based on a contemporary set of MS parts formerly in the Sarasin collection (No.301) and now preserved in the Öffentliche Bibliothek der Universität Basel,Musiksammlung, under the shelfmark kr 320. In the absence of the autograph score or a set of authentic parts the edition presents as faithfully as possible the intentions of the composer as transmitted in the source.
The notation of articulation and dynamic markings has been
standardised throughout, and, where missing, 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 Basel MS is inconsistentin 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.
