The Wiener Urtext Edition is a critical musicological edition for practical use and is distinguished from many other Urtext editions by comprehensive textual information in German and English and partly also in French.

The 'Preface' gives information on the work, its origin, its significance in musical history, and its provenance. The 'Critical Notes', in spite of the necessary brevity, give clear accounts of the nature of the sources and the editorial decisions. With 'Notes on Interpretation', assistance is provided for the musician on how to perform the music in the style of the period in which it was composed.

The musical text itself is prepared on the basis of precise examination of all sources by renowned musicologists. Well-known musicians and pedagogues contribute fingerings.