- Written in 1755, Symphony in C Major was one of Bach’s earlier symphonies written while working in Berlin. The symphonies written during this period in Bach’s life are often referred to as the “Berlin Symphonies” and include Wq. 173-181.
- Bach’s symphonic writing can be categorized into two time periods: the “early” symphonies written in the mid 1750s while the composer worked for Frederick the Great in Berlin, and the “later” symphonies written in the 1770s while the composer lived in Hamburg.
- Like the other “Berlin Symphonies,” we don’t know what inspired Bach to compose Symphony in C Major.
- All of Bach’s symphonies have a three-movement structure: fast-slow-fast.1
Sources
- Peter Wollner, Preface to Symphonies, from C.P.E. Bach: The Complete Works: Vol. III/1: Berlin Symphonies, ed. Ekkehard Krüger and Tobias Schwinger (Cambridge, MA: The Packard Humanities Institute, 2008).
Cut IDs
27498