Stamitz, Johann (1717-1757)

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 obliges / avec Haubois et Cors de chasse / Composes par Mr / JEAN STAMITZ / Directeur de la Musique de S.A.S. / Mr l'Electeur Palatin Mannheim. / OEUVRE VII..." The present work, the second of the set, probably dates from the years ca 1748-1752) and thus belongs both chronologically and stylistically to Stamitz's middle period. This edition is based on a contemporary set of MS parts formerly in the Sarasin collection (No.407) and now preserved in the ?ffentliche Bibliothek der Universitt Basel,Musiksammlung, under the shelfmark kr 322. In the absence of the autograph score or a set of authentic parts the edition presents as faithfully as possible he 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. No dynamic markings appear in the parts for the second movement. Like most eighteenth-century sources, the Basel MS is 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. Allan Badley