Well Tempered Clavier - Book 1

Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 13 Piano Solo

By Johann Sebastian Bach

This is not the best edition for authenticity, but for the most part it does give you a big chunk of the notes. I have this edition, and what I do is compare it to urtext editions in the music store, then pencil in differences between this edition and the...

urtext edition. I plan on obtaining my own copy of urtext, but for now, this edition works its purpose. It's definitely worth the price.

I learned one of the preludes from my teacher's book and enjoyed it so much I bought this book so I would have my own music. I knew there would be a lot of editorial notations in here that her book didn't have (fingering, slurs etc.) but I...

had not expected the actual notes in the music to be different. But they were! Sections of the music were not the same at all. I would not have bought this book had I realized the actual music was going to be different from what I'd learned. I didn't know about urtext at the time I bought this book but my teacher has since clued me in. It is worth the extra money for a urtext edition.

As a previous review said, this edition has major flaws. Dynamics and tempo indications are added which Bach did not write, many ornaments are left out entirely, and there are rhythms and notes that are changed or added. Most notable is the addition of an entire bar of music in...

the first prelude (C major) which an earlier editor fabricated, and which Czerny decided to keep for this edition. My teacher brought all this to my attention, unfortunately after I had purchased this edition. I would reccomend at least purchasing the Dover edition, or if you can afford it, an Urtext edition such as Henle. I wish I had in the first place and at least saved a little money.

The only problem I have with this book is the print is very small and there are alot of notes to read.

I didn't know what to expect, being very much a beginner - the first prelude and probably the easiest in the entire first book is more than a challenge for me and it alone would have been worth the cost of the Book I which includes all 48 preludes and...

fugues. Even though I'm unable to play any of the selections, it is now possible to follow the written music while listening, making the experience much more profound. The large, easily readable size of Book I also was a pleasant surprise - somehow, because the price is so reasonable, I expected a "pocket sized" version!