The Six Brandenburg Concertos and the Four Orchestral Suites in Full Score (Dover Orchestral Scores) Review

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(More customer reviews)As stated in the title, this book contains the complete score for all 6 Brandenburg Concerti and all 4 Orchestral Suites by Bach.Parts are not included nor are they available separately from Dover.
It is in modern notation with very clear, dark printing.It is a large-format (approx. 8 1/2 x 11) paperback book and is bound like most paperbacks.
As with all Dover Editions, it is very easy to read and follow the music, but it was not designed as a performing score.Because of the binding (it won't lie flat) and because no attention was given to page turns, it is very difficult to play from.But if you wish to study the music or follow the score while listening to your favorite recording, you can't beat this edition for the money.

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Bach's masterpieces in the concerto form, reprinted from definitive Bach-Gesellschaft scores: No. 1 in F Major, No. 2 in F Major, No. 3 in G Major, No. 4 in G Major, No. 5 in D Major, and No. 6 in B-flat Major. Plus four rococo Orchestral Suites.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier, Complete: Schirmer Library of Musical Classics, Volume 2057 (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a travesty.

In his opening introduction, Czerny writes that "We have indicated the time and style
(1) from a consideration of the unmistakable character of each movement
(2) from a vivid recollection of the manner in which we have heard many of the fugues played by the great Beethoven; and
(3) lastly, by profiting from the ideas that we have gained during more than 30 years' patient study of this incomparable work.

All three of these topics would be excellently contained in a book, where Czerny could justify what he saw as the "unmistakable" character of the work (not so unmistakable to this pianist...), could describe the way Beethoven played these fugues, and could expound upon the ideas gained during his 30+ years of study. One might not agree with every statement contained therein, but one could at least profit from the explanations.

But instead of offering us such a book, Czerny elects to dictatorially place in tempo, phrasing, and dynamic markings with not even a single footnote by way of explanation. With the dynamics, one at least can be certain that these are Czerny's own additions, and can ignore them to a large degree; not so with the tempo and phrasing. Bach did occasionally put in his own tempo and phrasing markings, and we have no way in this edition to discern between whether such markings are Bach's own or Czerny's (though a modifier in tempo markings -- eg, maestoso -- is a fair clue that Czerny is the culprit).

As for the dynamics -- I love Bach played on the piano, and I am not opposed to the use of dynamics in Bach per se. However, these are choices best left to the imagination of the performer, not to the dictation of Czerny, or even Beethoven via Czerny. Even if one attempts to ignore Czerny's dynamic markings, they almost inevitably seep into one's playing; moreover, after one has been assiduously ignoring dynamic markings, it is hard to get back into the habit of not ignoring them when one plays pieces where the composer has notated dynamics.

With all Czerny's excess markings, this should really be sold as Czerny's pianistic transcription of the WTC, not as an edition.

In addition to the aforementioned problems, there are numerous notational inaccuracies. To be fair, this is not really Czerny's fault-- since this is such an old addition and did not benefit from the discovery of subsequent manuscripts, such errors are to be expected -- but it is still another blemish on this already awful manuscript.

I cannot even in good conscience list its cheapness as a positive attribute, because on closer inspection this becomes yet another negative aspect of the work; it leads unsuspecting students (like myself) to buy this awful addition for pecuniary reasons. Chances are when the student realizes how wretched it is, he will (like me) be compelled to go out and buy a new one anyway, and will have ended up spending more than he would have if he had bought a good edition in the first place.

I cannot recommend NOT buying this edition enough. An excellent edition, different from the Czerny in all the best ways, is the Bärenreiter Urtext, which is clear and comprehensive and allows this musician to see Bach's own progress on these fugues by presenting various changes in different manuscripts (changes which generally tended towards greater rhythmic and harmonic complexity). Really, though, any other WTC edition has to be better than this one.

A minor side note -- I notice that Schirmer has changed the title of this edition to its correct title ("Well Tempered Clavier"). Perplexingly, as recently as 10 years ago it was sold under the inaccurate title "Well Tempered Clavichord."

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This new volume in Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics brings together Books I and II of Bach's classic repertoire at an affordable price.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier: 48 Preludes and Fugues, Vol. 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I appreciate what the Kalmus press has done to give helpful footnotes for the ornamentation and the score layout is very clean and spaced well. A good "easy" read, that is relatively easy...if you know the pieces in this book you'll know what I'm talking about!

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A newly engraved edition of the 48 preludes and fugues, Volume II for piano was edited by the noted Bach expert Dr. Hans Bischoff. It includes a table of embellishments and a preface from Dr. Bischoff. KALMUS EDITIONS are primarily reprints of Urtext Editions, reasonably priced and readily available. They are a 'must' for students, teachers, and performers.

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J. S. Bach: 15 Two-Part Inventions Transcribed for Solo Guitar (Alfred's Distinguished Performer) Review

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(More customer reviews)My headline pretty much says it all, if you are a technique freak, go ahead and buy it, but if you are like the average or like most classical guitar players this book will be really difficult, it's almost two guitar parts all the time there, great for finger aerobatics and crazy stretches. Remember these were originally composed for two keyboards I think. You are warned!

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All 15 of Bach's Two-Part Inventions have been transcribed for solo guitar!Providing a wealth of technical and musical challenges, these transcriptions are perfect for improving sight-reading skills and can be ideal new additions to the performance repertoire of any serious musician.

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Organ Music Review

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(More customer reviews)The summary table of contents and alphabetical index provided in this volume never worked for me, so I compiled my own complete table of contents:

Six Trio Sonatas
3E-flat major
13c minor
26d minor
40e minor
50C major
66G major

Clavierubung Part II
81Praeludium pro Organo pleno ("St. Anne")
92Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit
94Christie, aller Welt Trost
98Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist
102Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (manualiter)
104Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist
105Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'
107Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'
113Fughetta super: Allein Gott in der Höh; sei Ehr;
114Diess sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot'
118Fughetta super: Diess sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot'
120Wir glauben all' an einen Gott
124Fughetta super: Wir glauben all' an einen Gott
125Vater unser im Himmelreich (2 vers.)
132Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (2 vers.)
137Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir (2 vers.)
142Jesus Christus unser Heiland, der von uns den Zorn...
147Fuga super: Jesus Chrisus unser Heiland ...
150Duetto I
153Duetto II
156Duetto III
159Duetto IV
162Fuga a 5 pro Organo pleno

Das Orgelbuchlein
171Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland
172Gottes Sohn ist kommen
173Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottes-Sohn
174Lob se idem allmächtigen Gott
174Puer natus in Bethlehem
175Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
176Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich
177Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her
178Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar
180In Dulci Jubilo
181Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich
182Jesu, meine Freude
183Christum wir sollen loben schon
184Wir Christenleut'
186Helft mir Gottes Gute preisen
187Das alte Jahr vergangen ist
188In dir ist Freude
192Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr' dahin
194Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf
196O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig
198Christe, du Lamm Gottes
198Christus, der uns selig macht
200Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund
201O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sunde gross
203Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ
204Hilf Gott, dass mir's gelinge
206Christ lag in Todesbanden
207Jesus Christus, unser Heiland
208Christ ist erstanden (3 vers.)
212Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ
213Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag
214Heut' triumphiret Gottes Sohn
215Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist
216Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend'
217Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (2 vers.)
218Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot
220Vater unser im Himmelreich
221Durch Adam's Fall ist ganz verderbt
222Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
223Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
224In dich hab' ich gehoffet, Herr
225Wenn wir in höchsten Nöthen sein
226Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
227Alle Menschen mussen sterben
228Ach wie nichtig, ach wie fluchtig

Six Schubler Chorales
231Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
234Auf meinen lieben Gott
236Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
238Meine Seele erhebt den Herren
239Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ
242Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom HImmel herunter

Eighteen Chorale Preludes
247Komm, heiliger Geist
254Komm, heiliger Geist
260An Wasserflussen Babylon
263Schmucke dick, o liebe Seele
266Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend
270O Lamm Gottes unschuldig
276Nun danket Alle Gott
280Von Gott will ich nicht lassen
282Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland
284Trio super: Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland
286Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland
290Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' (2 vers. & trio super)
304Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (2 vers.)
310Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist
313Vor deinen Thron tret' ich

Supplement
317Christus, de runs selig macht
318Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist
319Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (2 vers.)
325An Wasserflussen Babylon
327Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend' (3 vers.)
334O Lamm Gottes unschuldig
338Von Gott will ich nicht lassen
240Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland (4 vers.)
348Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' (2 vers.)
356Jesus Christus, unser Heiland

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Product Description:
Bach-Gesellschaft edition. Includes 93 works, 6 Trio Sonatas, German Organ Mass, Orgelbuchlein, 6 Schubler Chorales, 18 Choral Preludes.

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Basix: J.S. Bach Guitar TAB Classics Review

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(More customer reviews)Bitchin' Bach book from Basix. It contains what I need in a guitar book. A CD so I can hear the music, TAB, to help me with reading the standard notation, plus it has the fingering numbers. Also, a great price. I don't think this would be a book for beginners. I will look to others in the Basix series on classical guitar

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16 well-known pieces by one of the world's greatest composers arranged for guitar in standard music notation and TAB. The accompanying CD offers outstanding performances of each piece.

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