Klarinet Archive - Posting 000353.txt from 1996/01

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: What edition for the Brahms Sonatas?
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 12:52:11 -0500

Dan,
You might as well get used to the fact that there are no such
things as absolutes in ANY part of music. Urtext editions are only as good
as the sources they are based on. For example, do they follow the
manuscript (in the composer's hand), the first edition (supposedly, but
not always, supervised personally by the composer), the corrected
second edition (supposedly corrected by the composer after the publisher
botched it up), or a later revision with composer's changes (such as
Bruckner or Mahler always did)? Now that I've thoroughly confused the
issue, it is generally judged that the HENLE company publishes the best
urtext editions of Brahms, Beethoven, etc. A few years ago Barenreiter
came out with something they called the "Wiener Urtext" which didn't
exactly bowl me over. It had a few objectionable differences with the
Henle and I prefer the Henle.
However, for those neophites who are wondering if it is worth it
to buy an urtext edition, the answer is: If you want to be true to the
composer's intentions, as is usually the stated purpose of being a
classical musician, then YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet and Sax instructor,
Peabody Preparatory

On Fri, 19 Jan 1996, Daniel A. Paprocki wrote:

> Does anyone know of a definitive edition of the Brahms Sonatas? I've used
> the Simon edition and the new edition based on Harold Wright's performance
> practices but I would like an urtext edition. The Wright edition of the
> 2nd sonata has two misprint notes in the clarinet edition.
>
> Dan
>
> ******************************************************************************
>
> Daniel A. Paprocki
> dap@-----.us
>
> ******************************************************************************
>