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From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: keyboard editions
Message-ID: <2760@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Apr-84 16:52:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2760
Posted: Mon Apr 30 16:52:07 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-May-84 07:45:15 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 22

Not all Schirmer editions are bad!  For example, take Kirkpatrick's
edition of 60 of Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas.  This is a two-
volume set.  At the beginning of the first volume, Kirkpatrick wrote
a lengthy preface, in which he describes:

	* why prior editions of Scarlatti's work have often
	  suffered from excessive editing;

	* the trouble to which he has gone to ensure that,
	  as much as possible, what appears on the pages of
	  his edition was written by Scarlatti and no one else;

	* his standards for good musical performance.

The latter notes are fascinating.  Kirkpatrick expresses views that
many people would strongly disagree with, but I find myself mostly
going along with him.

The editing and musical typography are a breath of fresh air.
There are no fingerings, dynamic markings, or any of the other
grunk that editors so often invent.  The music is all that's
there -- what you do with it is up to you.