This symphony, most likely composed in 1758 in Berlin, is one of a group of three published in 1762. It is the next-to-last of the group of nine CPE Bach works called "Berlin Symphonies" because they were composed while Bach was attached to the court of the King of Prussia. In common with all of these symphonies, Helm no. 655 was written for strings only originally. Later, Bach added parts for two horns and two oboes.

It represents a growth in dimensions and expressiveness from the symphonies written just a few years earlier. Its is thirteen minutes long (compared to an average of around nine or ten for earlier works). Also, the earliest of Bach's symphonies were content to use the new galant style: emotionally untroubled, musically uncomplex, with stereotypical patterns. The watchword of the day was "sensibility." In the second movement of this symphony, however, there is an unusual duality of mood: A dreamy, even yearning feeling as against a more active, bubbly personality.

© Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide