Comparing editions...

[Rach3]

What do you do when you are looking at different editions of the same piece (different urtexts, or urtext and non-urtext, or comparing the edited marks of a really great pianist-editor like Arrau)? I find that just knowing a piece and playing it from the score of a [different] new edition, I miss _everything_. Even putting one editon on the table right next to another, it seems the score is so dense it takes forever to figure out what slur marks are missing, &c., and you're never half sure you got the important stuff; even measure by measure, there are things 'in front of your nose' and you can't see them. Anyone else have this concern?

[SteinwayTony]

I never lay down two editions next to each other.  The way I notice discrepancies is when I memorize a piece, play it for my teacher, and she tells me "no, my edition says ___."  And I say "well, my edition had ___." 

Curse her for trying to dethrone my Henle edition of the Beethoven; I had to sell my soul to pay for those.

[chopin_girl]

I have to say I always prefer Edition Peters with sonatas.
I don't like Urtext simply because it's not good for students to play from Urtext. Yes, that could be a good way to learn, but... I like my arches right where I can see them, thank you very much.
As for Bach, I really like the purple editions,,,,the polish editions...whatsthename... I'm really sleepy so I can't remember,,,polish edition. Some of you know those for sure..-.

[Rach3]

I don't like Urtext simply because it's not good for students to play from Urtext.

  

Random irrelevant tangent... does anyone have any opinions/strong feelings on the Carisch urtext of Beethoven?

[chopin_girl]

OH COME ON!!
Why the  ?
I mean, it's not good for us to play from Urtext.
And why? I'll tell you why. No arches. No dynamics. No ... no anything!
You can only suppose how should you play.(without the teacher's help)
--.....

[musicsdarkangel]

Well, I know that in some editions of Mozart's sonatas, they add unecessary octaves to his writing. 

Dynamics change dramatically between additions, and so do fingerings (or lack thereof).

I also tend to enjoy an offwhite color to the backround - it's less annoying.

[dmk]

I have to admit I always like an Urtext and I am one of those sad people who usually fesses up the money to buy a Henle if I can. 

I find that and Urtext edition is much better, no dynamics and no fingerings are usually there for a reason....THE COMPOSER DIDN'T put them there.  Putting them in is all part of the learning processing: developing a sense of style and musicality that is individual and not a bought.

As for preferring Henle, it is merely because it is reliable.  Like musicsdarkangel I also prefer the offwhite colour.

When I recently bough all my Scriabin Etudes, op 38 Valse and Fantasise for 2 pianos in a M.P Belaieff (Frankfurt).  I already owned several Tchrepnin's in this edition (his concert etudes are fantastic!!).  These editions are also excellent they are well laid out and easy to read.  However, the do cost a pretty penny, definately worth it.

I don't like using Schirmer or Dover editions (even for my students) unless I absolutely have to....I am at the stage where when I call my print music supplier to order something they will say to me "Now we only have this is a Dover (or a Schirmer) so we will order it in for you in a.....".   How sad does that make me...!!!!

[chopin_girl]

well, DMK, that's your opinion.
But if you don't have the fingering, you invent it?
Oh come on. There's a reason why redactors write the fingering. FOR SOMEONE TO PLAY IT. Not to invent a new one.

[pianiststrongbad]

I think Vienna Urtext is probably the best out there.  But, I have no problem playing Dover.  Though I am no fan of schirmer.

[dmk]

well, DMK, that's your opinion.
But if you don't have the fingering, you invent it?
Oh come on. There's a reason why redactors write the fingering. FOR SOMEONE TO PLAY IT. Not to invent a new one.

Chopin Girl,
That's mostly ocrrect, but if you don't have the fingering you work it out not invent it, editors don't invent it and nor do pianists, you work out what is most comfortable for you.

Most Henle's come with fingering....you can just buy them without if you chose so there is actually no reason to buy Henle (this is just the Urtext edition I prefer).....

For non-advanced and student pianists I would recommend urtext with fingering epecially for Bach and Beethoven Mozart etc where their teachers are uncomfortable with solving fingering problems.

QUESTION: if have never used an edition without fingering before what are you going to when you get to for example Samuel Barber's complete piano works (the is the only Schirmer I own, this is all it comes in) or Rachmaninoff's Prelude and Etudes-Tableaux (the seminal edition of this is a Boosey) and there are no fingerings??