Episode 2 of 3

Completion of the symphony

When: 6 December 1786
Where: Mozart's working location (unspecified in sources)
Part of: Premiere of Mozart's Symphony No. 38

Mozart finished Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504, in late 1786, recording completion on 6 December 1786.

Mozart's autograph thematic catalogue records 6 December 1786 as the date of completion for the Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504. Paper studies by Alan Tyson show the third movement was composed first, on paper matching Le nozze di Figaro, while the first two movements used paper from later in 1786.

Sources

Symphony No. 38 (Mozart) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-05-23

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