The Symphony in D Minor is one of Strauss' early works without an opus number; the AV 69 designation refers to the listing in E. H. Mueller von Asow's catalogue of the composer's works. Composed within the space of three months, the Symphony was completed in Strauss' sixteenth year. The precocious composer, very prolific in the years of his youth, had fully absorbed and applied the styles of earlier composers by the time he reached adulthood. Exemplifying the young composer's mastery of form, this composition is one of two early works in the symphonic genre that anticipate the later, programmatic tone poems, while lacking the harmonic adventuresomeness of the mature works. The Symphony represents a synthesis of late Classical and early Romantic styles, and was described after its premiere as formally sound and skillfully orchestrated, but lacking in originality. Cast in a traditional four-movement form, and strongly influenced by the works of Mendelssohn and Schumann, this work has clearly defined themes and key areas, with typically lyrical melodies.

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