Chopin's "Préludes" Editions

[rachmaninova]

Hi there!

I made a search on the forum about this subject and only found out about general Chopin's works editions.
The opinions were diverse and somewhat contradictory. It seems that the better editions are Jan Ekier's, Cortot's, Paderewsky's and G. Henle (this list is not hierarchical).
However, I found on amazon.com other specific editions for Chopin's "Préludes" (the particular subject I'm interested in):

http://www.amazon.com/PRELUDES-SCHIRMER-PERFORMANCE-EDITIONS-Leonard/dp/0634084445/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214752123&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Chopin-24-Preludes-Piano-Masterwork/dp/0739004417/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214753707&sr=1-4


Do you know these? Are they worth anything? And about the other editions I mentioned before, what do you think are the best for the Préludes?

Best regards,
Carla

[ganymed]

i borrowed the henle edition often. And I can say they  are reliable. You also might want to look at ebay. Ive often saw really cheap auctions for urtext editions.

For Example: I bought Henle  Complete Mozart Sonatas Hardcover edition for 6  Euro.
The original price is 60 Euro  actually 

[rachfan]

I've always used the Paderewski.  While not technically an urtext edition, it comes very close.  The editorial committee that worked with Paderewski was very scholarly, and the editorial commentaries are attentive to detail, well researched, and extensive.  You can't go wrong using this very reliable edition.

[welltemperedpianist]

I use Paderewski as well for Chopin. As Rachfan said, it's not technically "urtext" and I've heard people complain about changed notes and stuff, but I think it's very reliable and scholarly. Otherwise, go for the Henle edition-- you can never go wrong with an urtext edition.

The two you mentioned, Schirmer and Alfred, are also not urtext editions. They're both less expensive options, but that doesn't necessarily lower the quality! Alfred edition is usually aimed for students, but that by no means suggests that it is of lesser quality. They both include more pedagogical notes (such as fingering) moreso than specific editorial notes (like Henle).

[thierry13]

Jan Ekier is the way for Chopin.

[rachmaninova]

Jan Ekier is the way for Chopin.

What are the qualities of Jan Ekier's editions?
In my country we are all acquainted with Henle's and Paderewsky's editions, but we don't know about Jan Ekier's... For instance, I have Henle's edition of the Études, and it is alright. I bought recently Paderewsky's edition of the Ballades (I had a Peters' edition which I hate) and liked it very much, specially the notes in the beginning of the book and also the look of the score is much more pleasant if you're going to study some time with that score.

[leggero_rachel]

Jan Ekier is the way for Chopin.

Right!!
I use Jan Ekier's too. Nowadays more and more pianists use this edition. Sometimes i find interesting phrasings in it. 
well, its worth making it as one of your references.

[eastman_grad]

I mentioned this in another post, but there is a prodigious music theorist coming into his own who is currently writing a book on the Chopin preludes. I only know this through some connections at Eastman and Juilliard, but apparently it is greatly anticipated by the academic community.

You can actually reach the author at a.schartmann@gmail.com if you want...although I'm not so sure he'd welcome me advertising his e-mail here like this :S. You might consider asking him as I'm sure he treats this question in his book. I believe his website is www.drewsical.com