Customer Reviews

Requiem in Full Score (Dover Miniature Music Scores)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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First of all, chances are you've heard Verdi's requiem before ordering this *pocket* score. I emphasize pocket because it doesn't seem to mention it clearly on the page. Well, okay, it's not that small, but just don't expect a full size score to show up at your house. The score itself is VERY well notated and arranged. There's some extra room in the margins for notes, etc. At the beginning of the score, it gives you the full text of the requiem, so you don't have to pick it out from the music. It also gives and notates what's needed in an orchestra in order to play it. Although I would have liked some commentary on the requiem itself, for this EXCELLENT price I'm not complaining.

As for the requiem itself, it is BY FAR my favorite. It is surely never to be played at a funeral, but it's a heck of a ride. From the grand, raging Dies Irae to the gorgeous Lacrymosa, to the Libera Me rondo in the last movement, this requiem is great. The score is great to examine and read along with the music because you can see where the composer made his own judgement and added things in, and what was original.

If you like the requiem, you'll love it when you're reading the score along with it.

I bought this score as a study tool in order to better understand the subtle nuances in scoring, orchestration, and music theory behind one of my favorite requiems. I got this product earlier than I expected (thanks to Amazon.com's great shipping) and was immediately surprised at the quality of this product. The pages were thicker and had much better binding than I had seen in other music editions (notably, this includes some rather pricey European editions...). I had read several reviewers' complaints that the print was too small and expected to need a reading glass. Fortunately, I was able to clearly read the music from a reasonable distance and would be willing to say that it is suitable for use while performing. The fact that the Dover edition is much more portable and durable than pricier editions is also a great plus for a "field performer" like myself in that you can take it around to various practice spots without worrying so much about damaging it just by holding it (again, this is in contrast to some pricier editions I have used). Overall, I found the scores to be accurate reflections of the music itself and could spot no immediately apparent musical errors, though I am by no means a musicologist. I would strongly recommend this edition if one is looking for a cheaper, more durable alternative to pricier editions that don't offer the same quality of binding and printing.