About this edition
Composed in May 1772 when Mozart was just sixteen years old, the Symphony No. 16 in C Major, K.128 belongs to a remarkable group of three symphonies (K.128, K.129, and K.130) written in quick succession during a creative burst in Salzburg. Cast in the bright, ceremonial key of C major and scored for a modest classical ensemble, the work showcases the young composer's increasing command of symphonic architecture, with a singing Andantino grazioso at its heart and a brilliant 3/8 finale that propels the symphony to a sparkling close. It is an essential document of Mozart's transition from the influence of Italian opera overture style toward the fuller symphonic language he would soon make his own.
This printing reproduces the score as it appeared in the landmark Mozarts Werke, the first complete critical edition of the composer's works, issued by Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig between 1877 and 1883 under the editorial guidance of leading scholars of the day. The symphony is presented in Serie VIII (Symphonien), Band 1, No. 16, occupying pages 1–12 (187–198), bearing plate number W.A.M. 128. For more than a century, this Breitkopf edition has served as a foundational reference for performers and musicologists, and it remains a touchstone for the engraving conventions, layout, and scholarly approach of nineteenth-century Mozart scholarship.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score (conductor's score)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches, suitable for study and rehearsal use
- Reproduced from a public domain historical edition
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
We're pleased to make this classic score available again in a clean, affordable printed format. Because the original Breitkopf & Härtel edition has long since entered the public domain, this reissue places one of the young Mozart's most engaging early symphonies back into the hands of conductors, players, students, and music lovers who want to study and enjoy it.
