urtext bach

[dj]

can anyone tell me of any editions of the WTC that are urtext? i have the hardest time figuring this out while shopping online! thanx

[steinwayguy]

www.henle.de

where I get all (or most) of my music.

[SteinwayTony]

I own 3 editions of the WTC, which are Dover, Henle, and Wiener Urtext.  They're all urtext, but each has its strong points.

Dover is a completely unedited facsimile of the Bach-Gesellschaft edition, no fingering, no tempo markings (though there are recommendations from the English scholar Tovey), nada, nothing.  It's a great value...you get books I and II for around $15.

Henle editions can always be counted upon for crisp, clean engraving.  The cream-colored pages are easy on the eyes...and when you're ripping your hair over a fugue for hours on end you're going to want that.  Includes minimal fingering markings.  They only sell the two books separately, so the whole set will run you about $60.

Wiener Urtext can be inconsistent when it comes to clarity, but it's usually quite good.  You will usually find more fingering in WU editions as well.  But the real reason I buy them is for the critical commentary in the back, which is always fantastic.  WU editions are slightly less expensive than Henle, but not by much.  I think the WTC goes for $25 a book now.

The Bischoff editions of Bach are always celebrated in the pedagogical scene, so that is another edition to think about.  I believe Kalmus publishes them.  However, I'm unsure if this is an urtext editions or not.

[SteinwayTony]

Oh, and get any of them for cheap at www.burtnco.com.

[Hmoll]

The Henle edition is fine. The best edition is probably the Neue Ausgabe from Breitkopf und Hartel.

Don't get hung up on the word "urtext."