Beethoven

[doug]

I was wondering if anyone out there knows why the "Ludwig van beethoven  : Klaviersonaten - Band I (Urtext)" book is so expensive. Is this pleasure truely worth $50, or should I go with one of the more reasonable priced ones?

[donjuan]

which urtext edition are you talking about?  Universal?  Henle? Alfred?  I have seen a number of editions claiming to be urtext but they all have little differences..

Personally, I bought Universal edition of the Beethoven sonatas and despite the fact the book refuses to stay open, I can say Im pretty satisfied with it. -or at least, more satisfied than with Shirmer's heavily edited version.  I admit, sometimes its nice to have it all edited with comfy fingering and all, but urtext is the way to go if you really want to know what Beethoven was trying to get at.

still, 50$?? thats too high, no matter which currency you are talking about!  I bought mine for 40$ canadian
donjuan

[doug]

I'll have to look into the Universal book, but I am indeed looking to steer clear of the Shirmer's book.

The book I was talking about was published by Henle and edited by Bertha Antonia Wallner

This should be a link to it, but I'm not all to sure it will work.

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?sku=HE.32&cart=33147217175626415&searchtitle=Sheet%20Music

if

[doug]

Oh yea, does anyone have any opinions about the Dover's Beethoven books?

[donjuan]

I'll have to look into the Universal book, but I am indeed looking to steer clear of the Shirmer's book.

The book I was talking about was published by Henle and edited by Bertha Antonia Wallner

This should be a link to it, but I'm not all to sure it will work.

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?sku=HE.32&cart=33147217175626415&searchtitle=Sheet%20Music

if

Henle's usually pretty good.  I still think 50$ American is way too much for this book.  You can probably find it cheaper elsewhere - maybe amazon.

as for dover, you might want to watch it, especially for something like Beethoven sonatas which you are likely to use all your life.  Most of my Liszt music is Dover simply because it's hard to find better versions of it.  But Dover usually does a good job of ripping off authoriative editions like Edito Musica Budapest or Edition Breitkopf and selling reasonable quality sheetmusic for more than reasonable prices.  However, a number of my dover books have lost their binding and are currently being held together with scotch tape.

donjuan 

[doug]

I bought some of Dover's Chopin books and really enjoy them.  Of course, since I've never really studied any other versions I've got nothing to compare them to.

Good to know about Henle, thanks.