15+ [Must Read] Popular Books On Scores

Reproduction, in its original size, of the 1723 manuscript which represented the composer’s final intentions. ... [Read More]

Tchaikovsky's enchanting Christmas fairy tale is his most popular work and, along with Swan Lake, the world's most frequently performed ballet. The work is a masterpiece of orchestration (including the historic first use of the celesta, in Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy) and is essential study for students of orchestral combinations and effects. Musicians will rejoice that Tchaikovsky's enchanting Christmas fairy tale is his most popular work and, along with Swan Lake, the world's most frequently performed ballet. The work is a masterpiece of orchestration (including the historic first use of the celesta, in Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy) and is essential study for students of orchestral combinations and effects. Musicians will rejoice that previously difficult-to-find favorites like Waltz of the Snowflakes and Spanish Dance (Chocolate) are now available, along with the rest of this be ... [Read More]

The aim of this Urtext edition is to present as far as is possible the text and notation that reflects most completely the original intentions of the composer, drawing upon the most important sources. Chopin's original manuscripts, the French and German first editions, and surviving the contemporary handwritten copies have been consulted. Editorial editions in the music ha The aim of this Urtext edition is to present as far as is possible the text and notation that reflects most completely the original intentions of the composer, drawing upon the most important sources. Chopin's original manuscripts, the French and German first editions, and surviving the contemporary handwritten copies have been consulted. Editorial editions in the music have been restricted only to those exceptional cases where they are obviously necessary. Chopin's fingerings have been preserved with no others adde ... [Read More]

The entire corpus of Beethoven's piano sonatas is contained in this two-volume work — 32 sonatas in all. Volume One contains the fifteen sonatas from Beethoven's first period, including the popular Pathétique, Moonlight, and Pastorale sonatas. Volume Two contains the 17 sonatas from Beethoven's second and third periods, including the Waldstein, the Appassionata, and the Ha The entire corpus of Beethoven's piano sonatas is contained in this two-volume work — 32 sonatas in all. Volume One contains the fifteen sonatas from Beethoven's first period, including the popular Pathétique, Moonlight, and Pastorale sonatas. Volume Two contains the 17 sonatas from Beethoven's second and third periods, including the Waldstein, the Appassionata, and the Hammerklavier. The music is reproduced directly from the exemplary Universal Edition set edited by Heinrich Schenker. Combining scrupulous sc ... [Read More]

The Requiem was not only one of Mozart's most inspired works, it was one of his last. It was commissioned in the summer of 1791 to memorialize the deceased wife of Count Walsegg-Stuppach, an amateur musician who was in the habit of ordering works from composers and presenting them as his own compositions. But his dubious patronage arrived only weeks before the rapid declin The Requiem was not only one of Mozart's most inspired works, it was one of his last. It was commissioned in the summer of 1791 to memorialize the deceased wife of Count Walsegg-Stuppach, an amateur musician who was in the habit of ordering works from composers and presenting them as his own compositions. But his dubious patronage arrived only weeks before the rapid decline in Mozart's health that would end in the composer's death by the year's end. At the invitation of Mozart's widow, one of the master's pupils wor ... [Read More]

Because Handel enjoyed such success with operas and oratorios, he rarely composed strictly orchestral works; in fact, if it had not been for the personal requests of George I and George II, Handel would never have written the two beloved masterpieces reproduced in this volume. Early in his reign, George I induced Handel to compose the Water Music to accompany royal boating Because Handel enjoyed such success with operas and oratorios, he rarely composed strictly orchestral works; in fact, if it had not been for the personal requests of George I and George II, Handel would never have written the two beloved masterpieces reproduced in this volume. Early in his reign, George I induced Handel to compose the Water Music to accompany royal boating parties; for George II, many years later, Handel composed the accompaniment to the Royal Fireworks celebrating the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Tod ... [Read More]

(Piano Method). The great Baroque master composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote music for every combination of instruments and voices. His simplest and purest work are four-part chorale compositions and settings, so perfectly constructed that they evoke meditative spirituality. "Figured bass" was a Baroque system of notating harmony. In addition 371 chorales, thi (Piano Method). The great Baroque master composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote music for every combination of instruments and voices. His simplest and purest work are four-part chorale compositions and settings, so perfectly constructed that they evoke meditative spirituality. "Figured bass" was a Baroque system of notating harmony. In addition 371 chorales, this collection includes 69 melodies with figured bass. This classic Schirmer edition, edited by Albert Riemenschneider, has sold over 1,000,000 copi ... [Read More]

Music examples and charts illustrate the analyses, and each essay is fully annotated by the editor. In some cases, the results of the original research by the editor or by others working in the field are published here for the first time. Much of the material has never before appeared in English. A score embodying the best available musical text. Historical background--what Music examples and charts illustrate the analyses, and each essay is fully annotated by the editor. In some cases, the results of the original research by the editor or by others working in the field are published here for the first time. Much of the material has never before appeared in English. A score embodying the best available musical text. Historical background--what is known of the circumstances surrounding the origin of the work, including (where relevant) original source material. A detaile ... [Read More]

Stravinsky's score for the ballet Petrushka, commissioned by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, was first performed in Paris in 1911 and was an immediate sensation with the public and the critics. It followed by a year the great success of his score for The Firebird, also produced by the Ballets Russes, and it confirmed Stravinsky's reputation as the most gifted of the youn Stravinsky's score for the ballet Petrushka, commissioned by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, was first performed in Paris in 1911 and was an immediate sensation with the public and the critics. It followed by a year the great success of his score for The Firebird, also produced by the Ballets Russes, and it confirmed Stravinsky's reputation as the most gifted of the younger generation of Russian composers. The ballet had begun in Stravinsky's mind as a "picture of a puppet suddenly endowed with life, exasperating ... [Read More]

Paper Edition. English. ... [Read More]

(Piano Method). Since the first release of this classic Schirmer edition over 100 years ago, almost anyone who has taken piano lessons for more than two years has played from The Virtuoso Pianist . Millions of copies have been sold of these progressive exercises which guide a player's technique, building finger independence and strength. This was the first American edition (Piano Method). Since the first release of this classic Schirmer edition over 100 years ago, almost anyone who has taken piano lessons for more than two years has played from The Virtuoso Pianist . Millions of copies have been sold of these progressive exercises which guide a player's technique, building finger independence and strength. This was the first American edition released of this music, and remains a classic at a remarkably affordable price. ...more ... [Read More]

In 1910, following his successful orchestration of selections for the ballet Les Sylphides, the innovative young composer Igor Stravinsky was commissioned by the director of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev, to create a completely new score. The dazzling result was The Firebird, a work which brought overnight success to its creator and distinguished him as the most gift In 1910, following his successful orchestration of selections for the ballet Les Sylphides, the innovative young composer Igor Stravinsky was commissioned by the director of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev, to create a completely new score. The dazzling result was The Firebird, a work which brought overnight success to its creator and distinguished him as the most gifted of the younger generation of Russian composers. Based on Russian fairy tales, the piece, according to Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians ... [Read More]

According to Bach's first biography, the "Goldbergs" were written for one of the composer's most talented pupils, who used them to entertain and soothe his insomniac master during bouts of sleeplessness. Subsequent historians have had their doubts about the story's authenticity, but the composer certainly intended his work as a diversion for listeners. Upon its 1742 public According to Bach's first biography, the "Goldbergs" were written for one of the composer's most talented pupils, who used them to entertain and soothe his insomniac master during bouts of sleeplessness. Subsequent historians have had their doubts about the story's authenticity, but the composer certainly intended his work as a diversion for listeners. Upon its 1742 publication, Bach entitled it "Keyboard Practice, consisting of an Aria with Diverse Variations, for the Harpsichord with 2 Manuals. Composed for Music ... [Read More]

Jean Cocteau labeled this revolutionary work "a pastorale of the prehistoric world" at its premiere in Paris in 1913, when interest in primitivism was at its zenith among the avant-garde. These "Scenes of Pagan Russia" did indeed inspire primitive reactions among their opening night audience, who were so vociferous in their protests that the dancers could scarcely hear the Jean Cocteau labeled this revolutionary work "a pastorale of the prehistoric world" at its premiere in Paris in 1913, when interest in primitivism was at its zenith among the avant-garde. These "Scenes of Pagan Russia" did indeed inspire primitive reactions among their opening night audience, who were so vociferous in their protests that the dancers could scarcely hear the music. Yet this powerful work, with its novel rhythms and hitherto unheard-of chordal combinations and orchestral effects would change forever t ... [Read More]

"His art was of an encyclopedic nature, drawing together and surmounting the techniques, the styles, and the general achievements of his own and earlier generations and leading to a new perspective." — Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. This informed assessment of the genius of Bach's works can be applied with greatest accuracy to The Well-Tempered Clavier. This hig "His art was of an encyclopedic nature, drawing together and surmounting the techniques, the styles, and the general achievements of his own and earlier generations and leading to a new perspective." — Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. This informed assessment of the genius of Bach's works can be applied with greatest accuracy to The Well-Tempered Clavier. This highly influential work is monumental in the history of Western music. It represents not only the culmination of Bach's own maturation proces ... [Read More]