Customer Reviews for Sonatas - Book 1
Kevin Coan
Location: from Newington, CT
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
April 4, 2009
Worst Edition on the Market
When one is looking for an edition of a work, he wants the work the way the composer wrote it. The Bulow edition is the best way to make sure that does NOT happen! There are so many editorial changes in this publication that the reader is never sure just what Beethoven actually wrote. Avoid this edition at all costs. Interestingly, Schirmer also publishes an Urtext Edition of the Sonatas, one that is superior and yet cost effective. There is no fingering in the Urtext version, however. In my opinion, getting the composer's actual composition is far more important than getting a fingered version. The Henle edition is perhaps the best of the fingered Urtext versions. For many people, the cost is prohibitive. The Peters edition by Arrau, the Dover edition by Schenker, and the Schnabel edition are also very good. Just don't buy this edition; almost every knowledgeable musicologist rejects it.
11 of 20 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
January 18, 2006
Bulow is the most interesting editor
I respect but disagree with Steve from Minnisota. I enjoy Bulow's comments and suggestions which I find to be warm and sincere. Bulow had the reputation of a cruel pedant but one could hardly think that after working with this edition.
10 of 22 people found this review helpful.
Steve
Location: from Nerstrand, MN
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
November 20, 2003
Editing that sparked the Urtext movement
This is a sterling example of the sort of editing that led to the need for Urtext editions of Beethoven's works. Bulow felt that he had the stature and the mandate to improve upon what Beethoven had written and did exactly that. Moreover his comments, edits, and fingerings have not withstood the test of time, and are not in line with today's performance practices. Instead of this edition, consider Henle's Urtext edition.
10 of 19 people found this review helpful.