Chopin National Edition of works by Jan Ekier

[quantum]

Has anyone had a chance to get a good look at these?  I know they are expensive, the local shop has them displayed in a glass case. 

They also now appear on the shelves of one of the universities in my city, right beside the Paderewski. 

What do you know of them?  I've been trying to get more info. 

[pytheamateur]

You can actually buy the authorised Chinese edition for a very reasonable price from Amazon's Chinese website.

In Chinese it's: 肖邦钢琴作品全集(波兰国家版).

This is a 13-volume pack, including all Chopin's for work solo piano.  (You can also buy his concertos, but they are published under a separate series).  The cost is roughly 50 USD plus 17 USD shipping.

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.cn/%E8%82%96%E9%82%A6%E9%92%A2%E7%90%B4%E4%BD%9C%E5%93%81%E5%85%A8%E9%9B%86-%E6%89%AC%C2%B7%E8%89%BE%E5%87%AF%E5%B0%94/dp/B0031U0O5W/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320179140&sr=1-3

[49410enrique]

i mean i just don't see the point unless you're looking for 'heirloom' quality scores that is something that will last and last (like Henle).  you can buy ' new' authorized reprints of the Paderewski editions published by Theodore Presser for less than 10 dollars a volume, so in a cost benefits analysis, i don't see these coming out on top.

[richterfan1]

I have Jan Ekier Etudes, they are nice, and the score is large, what i appreciate

[pbryld]

You can actually buy the authorised Chinese edition for a very reasonable price from Amazon's Chinese website.

In Chinese it's: 肖邦钢琴作品全集(波兰国家版).

This is a 13-volume pack, including all Chopin's for work solo piano.  (You can also buy his concertos, but they are published under a separate series).  The cost is roughly 50 USD plus 17 USD shipping.

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.cn/%E8%82%96%E9%82%A6%E9%92%A2%E7%90%B4%E4%BD%9C%E5%93%81%E5%85%A8%E9%9B%86-%E6%89%AC%C2%B7%E8%89%BE%E5%87%AF%E5%B0%94/dp/B0031U0O5W/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320179140&sr=1-3

Wow. There are also Henle editions of everything for $2 a book.
Did you successfully order anything from the Chinese Amazon site?

[pytheamateur]

Wow. There are also Henle editions of everything for $2 a book.
Did you successfully order anything from the Chinese Amazon site?

Yes, and I am currently in the UK.  I can recommend Amazon.cn; I have ordered from them many times. 

Yes, books are a lot cheaper in China.  The shipping is a bit more expensive, as they charge me 110 yuan per book, but for the 13-volume edition, it counted as one book, so it's not that bad.

The only caveat about ordering these is that the commentaries from the editors may all be in Chinese.

[pytheamateur]

i mean i just don't see the point unless you're looking for 'heirloom' quality scores that is something that will last and last (like Henle).  you can buy ' new' authorized reprints of the Paderewski editions published by Theodore Presser for less than 10 dollars a volume, so in a cost benefits analysis, i don't see these coming out on top.

For those interested in the Chinese authorised version of the Ekier edition, I just received them in the post today from Amazon.cn.  It is printed on thick and high quality paper, unlike most of the books in China.  So it is not some cheap reprints. 

I can also confirm that all the commentaries and introductions are in both Chinese and English.  The only thing that is not in English are a one-paragraph preface about the Chinese edition by Ekier himself and two prefaces by two Chinese pianists, Fou Ts'ong and Li Mingqiang.

[punyfairies]

Yes, and I am currently in the UK.  I can recommend Amazon.cn; I have ordered from them many times. 

Yes, books are a lot cheaper in China.  The shipping is a bit more expensive, as they charge me 110 yuan per book, but for the 13-volume edition, it counted as one book, so it's not that bad.

The only caveat about ordering these is that the commentaries from the editors may all be in Chinese.

Hi,

I just tried to order from Amazon.cn, but it said that the item could not be shipped to Canada (where I live). I sent a message to the seller asking why, and the seller said that they "could not ship internationally". However you ordered from the UK, and they were able to ship it to you? Or did you get it shipped to a location in China and then shipped to you?

Thanks!

[lojay]

Hi,

I just tried to order from Amazon.cn, but it said that the item could not be shipped to Canada (where I live). I sent a message to the seller asking why, and the seller said that they "could not ship internationally". However you ordered from the UK, and they were able to ship it to you? Or did you get it shipped to a location in China and then shipped to you?

Thanks!

I absolutely love you for necro'ing this thread.  I ended up buying the entire set of 30+ books for under $200 including shipping.

I'm in the US and I had the same problem for the set of 13 I wanted shipped directly to me.

Make sure you swap the source of purchase to Amazon.  The default seller seems to only ship domestically.  Just be prepared for an additional 10 day wait on top of the 2-3 weeks.

[promusician]

How to swap the source of purchase?? Help.

[punyfairies]

I absolutely love you for necro'ing this thread.  I ended up buying the entire set of 30+ books for under $200 including shipping.

I'm in the US and I had the same problem for the set of 13 I wanted shipped directly to me.

Make sure you swap the source of purchase to Amazon.  The default seller seems to only ship domestically.  Just be prepared for an additional 10 day wait on top of the 2-3 weeks.

Wow, that's great! So how do you swap the source of purchase to Amazon? Does that mean that Amazon will ship it from China to you??

Thanks

[lojay]

First if you aren't already, use a translator (I use Google Chrome which has a translator built in).

After you click on the link for the item, Under the "Stock remaining text" and under the "Usually takes x-x days for delivery", there is a link that says New 2 full.  Click that link and you should see a link to purchase it directly from Amazon.

Unfortunately since purchasing it, it seems that they went out of stock!

[punyfairies]

Thanks!!

Yeah, it's out of stock now, but I was able to place an order... We'll see what happens

So you ended up finding the entire collection on Amazon.cn? You said you got 30+ books? xDDD I can't seem to find many more volumes beyond the 13... I did see the Concertos, but only the 2-piano versions and the full concert versions... I'm more interested in the version for 1 piano... And I didn't see anything on the Series B which is supposed to be the posthumous works. Maybe I'm just terrible at searching hahaha

[lojay]

Series 2 consists of the 1st and 2nd Concertos (2 piano reduction and full orchestral score)

Series 3 corresponds to the remainder of Collection B.

Series 4 is everything else.

It appears that the manuscripts and the 1 piano versions of the concertos are not a part of any series.

On another note, revisiting the Chinese Amazon site compelled me to buy 50+ books including Wiener Urtexts and Henle editions of various composers and EMB for Liszt.  I'm getting these sent to a relative in China who will bring them to me when he visits (shipping costs to the states costs more than the books).

[punyfairies]

Ah, okay, thanks!

I was referring to the listing here: https://www.presser.com/marketing/keyboard/chopin/ekier.htm


The 13 volumes correspond to 1-12 and 16. According to this listing, the one piano versions of the concertos are 13a and 13b... Ah, well, I guess I can buy these volumes separately in the future.

Hahaha that's hardcore! And yeah, shipping is reallyyyy annoying. Good thing you have a relative who can bring the scores to you! 

[pbryld]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

I succeeded in ordering too. I tried this months ago and just accepted that didn't ship to Denmark.
I hope they get the Chopin back in stock soon!

I've seriously waisted sooo much money now, looking back. I have bought for hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of expensive sheet music and now I know I could've gotten away with wayyyyy less.

[lojay]

I just received Series 3 and Series 4 in the mail today.

All the important commentary is in English.  The paper quality is decent but the binding is mediocre.

Also, for anyone tempted to buy the Chinese Editio Musica Budapest series for Liszt, I'd advise against it.  None of the commentary is in English!  Just download and print the scores (you can print the Russian version off of IMSLP).

From what I've seen from Series 3 and 4, Series 1 and 2 are a great bargain.

[pbryld]

I just received Series 3 and Series 4 in the mail today.

All the important commentary is in English.  The paper quality is decent but the binding is mediocre.

Also, for anyone tempted to buy the Chinese Editio Musica Budapest series for Liszt, I'd advise against it.  None of the commentary is in English!  Just download and print the scores (you can print the Russian version off of IMSLP).

From what I've seen from Series 3 and 4, Series 1 and 2 are a great bargain.

For Liszt, are these what you are talking about? https://www.amazon.cn/%E6%9D%8E%E6%96%AF%E7%89%B9%E9%92%A2%E7%90%B4%E5%85%A8%E9%9B%86/dp/B002D0CIG4/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4_SS29

And is it just the commentary that is in Chinese? I don't really need that...
As long as the quality is good.

[lojay]

That's one of the three series I found.  Did you actually buy it?

The quality is mediocre.  It's printed on heavier paper, but there's something that feels cheap about them.  I mean for my purposes, they'll serve me extremely well because I really like to sight read random pieces.

If you haven't purchased the 3rd series yet and are contemplating it, I can send you a piece listing since I ended up typing the table of contents up for easy reference since they were only in Chinese.

[pbryld]

That's one of the three series I found.  Did you actually buy it?

The quality is mediocre.  It's printed on heavier paper, but there's something that feels cheap about them.  I mean for my purposes, they'll serve me extremely well because I really like to sight read random pieces.

If you haven't purchased the 3rd series yet and are contemplating it, I can send you a piece listing since I ended up typing the table of contents up for easy reference since they were only in Chinese.

No I haven't bought them yet.
Do you think it feels cheap because the paper is snow white? Some of my books are like that and they really do have a cheaper feeling to them.

[lojay]

The paper is actually off white (similar to a Henle).

I don't think that a paper's snow white appearance can make the books feel cheep (although I do know what you're talking about).  For me, it has more to do with the feel of the paper, how well the book stays open on my music stand, and how easy it is to flip through the book.

[chopinrabbitthing]

The Chinese ones are actually soooooo cheap, no kidding. I really like the edition, it provides you with a lot of information, like all of the known ossias and the performance commentaries.

The ones in English are rather dear, but quite worth it, I suppose. But why not get the Chinese, which also has English!

I have the Etudes, Ballades and Concerti, but I would have bought the whole set in Beijing had I had more space in my luggage!

[promusician]

The 1st series of Chopin National Edition has been restocked since last week, but then the price was ever increasing since I last bought it. The price of books always fluctuate with no reason, just like the durand debussy, from 350 yuan to 520 yuan now.

[zapdose]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I just wanted to say that I have ordered it (from the US). The total price was around $80.

For those of you that have bought other books from Amazon.cn, how is the quality?

edit: my credit card payment wouldn't go through, so I cancelled the order