 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bubalooy
Date: 2007-07-10 21:30
I have two copies of Bachs Partitas both marked "Urtext" and they couldn't be more different. So I wonder, does this word on a piece of music have any meaning whatsoever? If so, how do you know "wleche ur ist ur?"
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-07-11 00:18
I always got a chuckle out of the "Urtext" for K622.
I guess ol Anton left it off in the break room for the printer.
Yeah, and St. James is the Urtext for the Bible, with enough mistranslations, omissions, emissions, and transmissions to fry anyones matzahbrei.
Could it be that To UR is hURman.
or Ur is in the Ur of the beholder?
Seriously, Dan Leeson might address this from the proper perspective. He oftimes inhabits the Postings board. You might flag him down there (and offer a pizza for the information....he likes that.)
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Klarinet/Postings.html
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2007-07-11 00:55)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarinet
Date: 2007-07-11 07:13
Let's give a quick answer to your question.
Urtext is German (you might have already noticed that). 'Ur' stand for something very old, the first version. So Urtext is the first version of a piece of music, exactly how the composer has written it (or so the publisher makes you believe). It's often used with pieces of Bach, because so many other people added stuff (notes, trills, fingerings for piano,...) to Bach's music.
But I don't understand, you have two different Urtext versions? Let me guess: one from Henle Verlag and one from Bärenreiter? I would say, choose the one where it looks as though not much is added (in piano music that's mostly Henle).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-07-11 11:42
If this Bach Partita is in an edition for clarinet, then it's a transcription, and probably shouldn't be called an "Urtext" at all, since Bach wrote partitas for stringed instruments and keyboards, but never for clarinet. The clarinet as we know it didn't exist in his lifetime. The magnificent partitas for solo violin and solo cello need substantial editing to work on the clarinet, since Bach took full advantage of stringed instruments' ability to play double stops (multiphonics) from any fundamental tone, with both notes at the same volume. The 6th cello partita won't work at all on clarinet, imho, because it was written for a five-stringed instrument and the compass exceeds that of the clarinet.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2007-07-11 11:43)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bubalooy
Date: 2007-07-11 21:37
Actually the Partitas I'm referring to are for Keyboard. I'm aware that any Bach music for clarinet is transcribed. But the Partitas are just what refreshed the question in my mind as I have a couple of editions of the Brahms Sonatas for Clarinet and Piano and I think my Urtext edition of the Mozart Quintet is highly suspect. I guess my real question would probably be stated: are there some publishers that are more trustworthy than others with their use of the term.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
