This is an early symphony by Mozart, written when the composer was just 16. While it is not among his finest efforts in the genre, it is startlingly well-crafted considering Mozart's youth. Its scoring calls for four horns, where two were conventional at the time. One might then expect it to have a heroic and perhaps even muscular sound, but it is a festive work, light in mood and colorfully orchestrated.

Its first movement is marked Allegro and opens with a descending theme whose jaunty manner exudes both energy and joy. Mozart soon presents another theme whose sense of joy is even greater, as its music seems to effervesce with laughter and playfulness. After a repeat of the exposition, the brief development section is given, wherein the mood turns more serious. A reprise follows and the movement ends happily.

The second movement is a bit livelier than its Andantino grazioso marking would suggest, but its light manner and still rather relaxed pacing make its somewhat pastoral character contrast well with the energetic music of the opening panel. The third movement is a two-minute Minuet of rugged festive spirit, with a subdued but stately middle section.

The Molto allegro finale, at about seven-and-a-half minutes, is the longest movement in this 20-minute symphony. It is also the most varied, moving from the busy though chipper manner of the main theme onto the more playful and even humorous elements of the subsidiary material. The sense of festivity is evident throughout, however, even in the quieter, more carefree passages that are juxtaposed with more energetic ones.

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