A composer of cantatillas, songs, sonatas and symphonies, Charles-Henri de Blainville is also known for his work as a theorist. This symphony, first performed at the Tuileries Palace in 1751, presents an alternative to the usual major and minor modes. Blainville had his theory of the "third mode" or "mixed mode" registered by the Academy of Sciences, the structure of which is reminiscent of the "Phrygian mode" or "mode of E". The essay aroused the praise of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the columns of the Mercure de France, where a controversy raged.

Beyond theory, this symphony in 3 movements is characteristic of the French classical style, with its supple and structured melodic lines, a concern for expressiveness, proportions, strong contrasts, a clean build and a sober writing. The work, in galant style, will suit any string orchestra familiar with the music of Haydn and Mozart.

To learn more about Blainville’s mixed mode, a brief study by Gérard Geay is available free of charge, in the "Cahiers PHILIDOR", n° 32 "Le Troisième mode de Blainville".