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Potentially OT: Brahms 118

Posted: 23 Jan 2025, 21:41
by NeeraWM
I need to proofread a new engraving of Brahms Op. 118.
I was given three sources: first edition (Simrock), Peters (1910), Breitkopf (1926).
Is there an existing resource listing the differences between the editions?

I’m aware this is quite off-topic for a music notation forum.
Where do you think this question could be best addressed to?
Thank you!

Re: Potentially OT: Brahms 118

Posted: 24 Jan 2025, 02:27
by John Ruggero
The Henle and Wiener Urtext editions probably have critical notes at the back. Ideally you would be consulting the manuscript as well.

Re: Potentially OT: Brahms 118

Posted: 24 Jan 2025, 07:35
by NeeraWM
Ah! Urtext with Critical Notes!
Here we go again ;-)

Re: Potentially OT: Brahms 118

Posted: 24 Jan 2025, 14:05
by John Ruggero
As I mentioned previously, urtext editions often have critical notes at the back, but not the kind of complete critical apparatus (often called the Critical Report) found in critical editions that lists every deviation between the sources. For example, the critical report for Mozart's Fantasy and Sonata K 475 and 457 in the NMA is 45 pages long. The urtext edition of the same works that Barentreiter created out of the NMA has a little over 2 pages of critical notes. The complete Critical Report for the NMA Mozart Piano Sonatas is 207 pages long, and contained in a separate volume that is longer than either of the two volumes of Barenreiter's urtext editions of the sonatas.

In the case of later composers like Brahms, the Critical Report may be much shorter because Brahms published mainly with one publisher who had a superb editor, Robert Keller. However, Keller died before op. 118 was issued, so there may be more errors than usual. Several years ago, two of us attempted an edition of op. 119 no. 1 on this forum and discovered unreported errors.
viewtopic.php?t=148&hilit=Brahms+op.+119+no.+1

Here is my Critical Report for op. 119 no. 1
Brahms Intermezzo Op. 119 no. 1 Commentary 1B.pdf
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