Customer Reviews

Nocturnes and Polonaises (The Paderewski Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't buy this edition if you are under the impression that it is The Paderewski Edition published by Dover. This is now the new Carl Mikuli edition published by G. Schirmer (perhaps the worst edition in the world) reprinted by Dover. Dover used to publish this from The Paderewski Edition; however, for some reason, it's gone out of print. If you can get your hands on an old copy of this from The Paderewski Edition, I would highly advise buying it! It's much better, and more true to Chopin's intentions. Even if you can't find an old Dover copy, The Paderewski edition is still published privately. Don't buy this edition, it's truly a waste of your money.

I have to say that the Dover edition is my favorite for most any piano music, regardless of composer. The copy I have of this book is quite beat up, mostly because it has been used for many years but the pages and cover are still in considerably good shape. Besides containing some of the most beautiful piano music of the romantic period, the markings and notation are easy to read and understand, making the composer's intentions for the music perfectly clear to the pianist. I highly recommend this book, along with any other piano music editions by Dover Publishers.

Notes are printed clearly. Binding is durable. Pages won't come out easily. This is not a complete edition of Nocturnes and Polonaises. This book has only 11 Polonaises and does not include 5 more Polonaises. Despite being criticized spurious by some music scholars, the omitted Polonaises are great for playing. It does not include the other postumous C minor Nocturne. If you want a book that is different from G.Shirmer's edition, this book will NOT do.

I purchased this book because it was advertised as a Paderewski edition, in an attempt to answer a question that I have on the Nocturne #20, C# minor, Op. Posthumous. It was suggested that the Paderewski edition may more true to what Chopin intended, and I was surprised that I received the Mikuli edition.
I have studied this Nocturne, and also listened to several recodings, mand this is my question;
The time signature at the beginning of the Nocturne is 4/4,tempo
Lento. The time signature changes to 2/4 at measure 32, and to 3/4 for measures 33 to 40.However, in all the recordings I listened to, the pianist plays measures 33 to 40,at about twice the speed, although most editions, including this Mikuli, do not show a change of tempo at measure 33. I did find one edition by Joseffy, published by Schirmer, which shows a tempo change to Animato at measures 30 through 40. I am still looking for the most correct interpretation.

I purchased this book along with The Essential Collection: Rachmaninoff Gold (Music Sales America) and overall I think this is a better book, with complete versions of all of Chopin's Nocturnes and eleven out of his sixteen Polonaises, each written clearly and with decent fingering. One complaint I have though is that the pages wrinkle easily, and the paper doesn't appear to be the thickest, although I think it will hold up well. The songs in this book range from slow and melancholy nocturnes to energetic and joyful polonaises. Overall I believe this would be a great book to own for any pianist.

I adore Chopin's music. I own a Chopin's Complete Works for Solo Piano on CD. But I still buy these Carl Muliki's landmark edition. There are many editions of Chopin's music. They are different from one another in many passages and fingerings. I bought this edition because they are edited by Chopin's long time pupil, later, his teaching assistant, Carl Mikuli (1819-1897) - Polish pianist, composer, conductor and teacher. Also helped by many Chopin's faithful pupils and beloved friends. As Mikuli said in the Forward: "This edition would succeed in restoring the authentic text and in making further mutilation(of Chopin's music) forever impossible, ......I must note here that the fingering of this edition comes in large part from Chopin himself, where it does not, .... in the editor's opinion." -- I had some Chopin's music edited by Rafael Joseffy, like "Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2", also by Dover Publication, which I did not like that much. The fingering did not works for me.

The following is a list of Chopin's Works in the Carl Mikuli Edition by Dover Publication. Each one is about 200 pages, not too thick, sturdily bond, can endure years of use. And the price is very reasonable.

Complete Preludes and Etudes:
Preludes - moods in miniature
Etudes - new school of pianism

Complete Ballades, Impromptu & Sonatas:
Ballades - poetic legendary dramas
Impromptu - unrestrained feelings
Sonatas: classical currents

Fantasy in F minor, Barcarolle, Berceuse and Other Works.

Nocturnes and Polonaises
Nocturnes - night and its melancholy mysteries
Polonaises - heroic hymns of the battle

Waltzes and Scherzos
Waltzes - dance of the soul and not of the body.
Scherzos - Chopin's own creations, not Beethoven type's Scherzi.

Mazurkas: dance of the soul, divine coquetries.

Many famous pianists had made recordings in complete Etudes and Preludes, Ballades, Impromptus, Mazurkas, Nocturnes, Polonaises, Scherzi and Waltzes and Other Works. You can do a search to find out your favorite pianist's recordings and listen to it along with the scores. Enjoy listening and practicing Chopin's music!

I trust to Dover editions of Chopin piano works but I would like to see Chopin's last nocturne (20th)C# minor.