Bach Short Preludes & Fugues (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

The layout of this book is exactly the same as older Kalmus editions, but the format is smaller. Not only scores are now too small, the print quality itself is low: staff lines and text elements have gaps, multiple beams touch etc. This makes everything very hard to read, especially for beginners. It simply looks like a cheap copy. I returned it and was lucky to find an old Peters edition elsewhere - a little discolored due to age, but much more enjoyable.

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Organ Works [Paperback] Review

This a reprint of Seiffert's 1901(?) ed. of both 'free' and hymntune-based works, with the free ones in a slightly more practical sequence than in the early publication. The scholarly apparatus is unfortunately omitted, and it both includes works now widely regarded as inauthentic, andexcludes works now widely regarded as authentic.Small print, but that has its advantages: a whole work on one page or a double-page spread (no page-turn).

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One of the great organ composers of the pre-Bach generation, Pachelbel left an enormous legacy of keyboard works. This rich treasury represents the full depth and range of his organ compositions. Included are 72 chorale settings for Lutheran ritual, 48 secular works, among them toccatas, fugues, preludes, ricercares and fantasias. All are reprinted from the authoritative Breitkopf & Härtel edition, edited by Max Seiffert.


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Songs without Words (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Plastic Comb] Review

I always like the layout and look of the Schirmer editions, but I ended up returning this one in favor of an urtext edition because it was so heavily edited.It seemed that nearly every measure had some editorital addition, and while I don't mind a little bit of commentary to clear up a phrasing or dynamic issue, this was really over the top.

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These 48 pieces were composed over a period of two decades, beginning in 1832, and published in eight groups of six each. Many of these songs were dedicated to the women in Mendelssohn's life and reflect the sunniest qualities of his melodiousness, spontaneity and invention. Maurice Hinson has skillfully researched and edited these works back to their original form and provides a very informative introduction, which includes many detailed suggestions for a stylistic interpretation and performance, as well as biographical information on the composer's life.

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Complete Lyric Pieces for Piano [Paperback] Review

I have enjoyed flipping through the book and playing pieces at random. The pieces are so beautiful and unique. Some of them are easier to play than others, but most of them could be played at first sight. It's a great addition to my classical sheet music collection.

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All 66 works from the ten sets of little mood pictures created for piano by the Norwegian composer from 1867 to 1901, reprinted from the authoritative C. F. Peters edition. Technically uncomplicated and reasonably easy to master, these popular works have been favorites of generations of pianists, both amateur and professional.


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Playing Bach on the Keyboard: A Practical Guide (Amadeus) [Hardcover] Review

This book summarizes many artistic elements of performing Bach, but in a very objective, matter-of-fact way. I found much useful content, but the delivery is very academic, and, in many cases, boring. A sense of humor or story-telling would ease reading, and this book has very little of either.

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In this concise and accessible volume, a noted keyboard artist and Bach specialist takes a fresh look at the performance of J. S. Bach's keyboard music. Addressing the nonspecialist player, Richard Troeger presents a wide range of historical information and discusses its musical applications. The author shares accounts of the musical styles Bach employed and the instruments he knew. In direct and pragmatic terms, he clarifies the importance of notational and style details as guides to the composer's intentions, particularly emphasizing changes in notational norms between Bach's time and the present. Troeger offers core information on dynamics, articulation, tempo, rhythm, ornamentation and accompaniment. He considers controversial issues as well, establishing the importance of the clavichord in Bach's milieu and examining the link between baroque music and rhetoric - a dramatic relationship that can bring great vitality to performance.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier: 48 Preludes and Fugues, Vol. 2 [Paperback] Review

I appreciate what the Kalmus press has done to give helpful footnotes for the ornamentation and the score layout is very clean and spaced well. A good "easy" read, that is relatively easy...if you know the pieces in this book you'll know what I'm talking about!

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A newly engraved edition of the 48 preludes and fugues, Volume II for piano was edited by the noted Bach expert Dr. Hans Bischoff. It includes a table of embellishments and a preface from Dr. Bischoff. KALMUS EDITIONS are primarily reprints of Urtext Editions, reasonably priced and readily available. They are a 'must' for students, teachers, and performers.

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Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Partitas and Overture in French Style (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

The book was a good condition and delivery time was
reasonably quick.
I'd order more if delivery charge wasn't so high.
If I purchase several books at a time, will I be able to save on delivery fee?

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Newly engraved edition of the Six Partitas and French Overture for piano.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete [Paperback] Review

Another incredible bargain from Dover. Although I think their edition of the Beethoven complete string quartets (in a single volume!) is probably the best buy in all of music, this edition of The Well Tempered Clavier is a strong competitor. (If only it had included The Art of Fugue!) This is the edition I recommend for my students because of the clarity, absence of artificial or misleading editorial markings, ease of page turns, and cost. It is not perfect; what edition EVER is--in this case, one of my quibbles is that of all the minor key fugues, only ONE (g# minor) ends without a piccardy (raised) third--it simply must be an oversight, and interestingly the accidental already present in the key signature is repeated unnecessarily. Surely B natural should have been B sharp in the final measure. Regardless of the slight problems, this is the single best tool to learn Baroque counterpoint in general and fugue specifically. No textbook I know of is capable of demonstrating the fluidity of form, nor describing the sophistication of melodic and contrapuntal writing that Bach employs. Every book I know of oversimplifies or even avoids the issues that Bach so admirably handles. The answers are here, in the music, not in a text. Absolutely invaluable for the serious music student.

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Product Description:
All 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys. Authoritative Bach-Gesellschaft edition. Explanation of ornaments in English, tempo indications, music corrections.


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Tchaikovsky -- Album for the Young, Op. 39 (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

A few of the tests of a good composer are:

--to break free of the tyranny of square phrases.#12 is based on a 6-measure phrase.The phrases in #24 are uneven.#7 is in three 16-measure melodic units.

--to compose in a variety of styles.The album includes an accordion imitation, a couple of church hymn imitations, a few dance numbers, a couple of marches, and a variety of folk song styles.#4 is probably a spoof on Schumann.

--to devise original harmonic textures.This he exemplifies in several of the pieces, notably #6.#9 is in 3/8, with left-hand chords on the first and second beats and rests on the third beats.#16 and #23 make use of a tonic pedal.

--to write in a contrapuntal texture.#11 consists of a statement in chordal harmony, followed by a contrapuntal variation.

--to write in a variety of forms.Most of the pieces are in binary or ternary form, but #13 is a set of variations.#3 and #8 each have three subjects which are not arranged according to any conventional plan.

--to combine short motifs.This he does quite well in #2.

--to write in chromatic harmony.Music theory buffs might enjoy hunting for the German sixths (#2, 7, 19, 20), French sixths (#10, 21, 22), Italian sixths (#10), half-diminished sevenths (#16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
and Phrygian cadences (#1, 6).The diminished sevenths are too numerous to list.

When Tschaikovsky abstains from chromatic harmony, it is to convey a programmic effect.In order to imitate an accordion in #12, there are no accidentals.In order to create a folk song effect, only the basic chords are used in #15, #17, and #18.

Tschaikovsky may be over-rated by the concert-going public, but he is certainly under-rated in circles of musical snobbery.

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A wonderful collection of miniature pieces reminiscent of childhood, similar to Schumann's Album For The Young. Each selection is delightful and entertaining for students and audiences of all ages.

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Complete Sonatas and Fantasies for Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Pianists beware: the sonatas/fantasies in this book are reprints of the old Breitkopf & Härtel edition, which is not a very "faithful" or "authentic" printing of Mozart's works.Certain markings, like long phrase slurs and use of the word legato, arevery un-Mozartean: they are clearly the work of the editor. Other edits,like appogiaturas written as regular notation, and certain post-trillornaments, may also cause concern among Mozart purists.
Despite thesealterations, this edition -- like all other Dover piano books -- isexcellent for playing. Once you open out the pages and press them intoplace, they won't drift back. The notation is printed clearly; the onlysonata with readability issues is the 9th in D major. The inclusion of two"new" Sonatas (which did not appear in older editions) is aninteresting surprise, but not necessarily a good or bad one.
If youreally can't stand to see Wolfgang's work altered by editors, then avoidthis book and buy an Urtext edition instead. If, on the other hand, yousimply want to play some melodious, intermediate piano music, then go aheadand buy this book -- it's the cheapest one out there. However, you would bewell advised to check out an urtext version just to see where the editingchanges are.

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Authoritative, inexpensive volume contains all 19 sonatas and 4 fantasies, ranging from the relatively easy Sonata in C Major, K. 545 to the profoundly moving Fantasy in D Minor, K. 397. Reprinted from the reliable Breitkopf & Härtel's Complete Works. Indispensable for serious pianists at all levels.


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