Item Detail
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Grabowski, Christophe
Rink, John -
Annotated catalogue of Chopin's first editions
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Book
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Cambridge; New York, N.Y.
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2010
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Cambridge University Press
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750 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
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English
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0521819172; 9780521819176
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Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849--Criticism and interpretation.
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ML 134 .C54 A56 2010
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Grabowski, Christophe, and John Rink. Annotated Catalogue of Chopin’s First Editions. Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
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According to the work’s preface, the intent was “to produce an inventory of the first editions of Fryderyk Chopin’s music held by the principal European and American libraries, and to analyse the contents of those editions in detail.”
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This work catalogs first editions of Chopin’s pieces and there are three categories of first editions: first editions published during Chopin’s life, posthumous first editions published between 1850 and 1878, and reprints of both these kinds of first editions. Not included are unauthorized reprints produced between 1832 and 1878, as their publication was not overseen by Chopin himself. Also excluded are editions with new plate numbers dating from 1850 onwards and first editions discovered after 1878. The compilers of this catalog looked at sixty institutions and five private collections, discovering 4,830 copies and representing approximately 1,552 distinct impressions.
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The work begins with a preface followed by lists of abbreviations used throughout the book, plate numbers, publishers’ sigla, and sigla of private collections and libraries. The main body follows, divided into four parts. The first is a detailed overview of Chopin’s first editions, giving extensive background information about both the publication history of Chopin’s music in each of the countries included, as well as general observations about History of Music Publishing at that time. The second section is the introduction to the catalogue, describing the detailed criteria used to compile this catalog, a description of the compilers’ method, cross-referencing, and policies on quasi-facsimile transcription, as well as how the authors have dated editions. The catalog proper is the next section, divided into four sections: works with opus numbers, posthumous works with opus numbers, works without opus numbers, posthumous works without opus numbers. The main section includes 222 black-and-white reproductions of title pages. The entries themselves are arranged by opus number, and list the different publishers, their locations, and the range of dates during which the edition was published. This is followed by the various plates, with specific details about the title page information, the contents of the edition (i.e., how many pages), any comments that appear, errors, and a list of copies of the plates. The volume concludes with five appendices which cover orchestral parts, series title pages and advertisements, an index of libraries and private collections, a list of uncatalogued works, and a bibliography.
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This catalog is extremely thorough and is organized in a clear, concise manner. The historical information about the first editions is also helpful as well as the various appendices. In addition, the title page reproductions are extremely useful in tying a visual representation to the information described in the catalog entries.
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Round, Michael. Music Teacher 89 (June 2010): 29.
Kregor, Johathan. Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association 68 (December 2011): 398-400. -
BYU Mus Ref
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3275