Tristan und Isolde in Full Score (Dover Vocal Scores) [Paperback]

Richard Wagner (Author), Opera and Choral Scores (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Vocal Scores | Publication Date: June 1, 1973

The legendary love story, and Wagner at the peak of his creative powers. Beautifully reprinted here in the authoritative edition prepared by C. F. Peters, Leipzig, ca. 1910.

Product Details

• Paperback: 655 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486229157
• ISBN-13: 978-0486229157
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Wagner

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reprint of a fine edition - pity that traditional (non-modern) staff order is followed here..., December 17, 2007

By 

Alexander Z. Damyanovich (Flesherton, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tristan und Isolde in Full Score (Dover Vocal Scores) (Paperback)

The only reason I can't give this volume a full 5 stars is the ordering of the staves in each system: not only (as with Schott's other 1st-edition-scores of Wagner's works) is it occasionally inconsistent from system to system; it also still insists on NOT separating the woodwinds from the brass (and, worse yet, mixes them around!); furthermore, it's awkward to have to look for the violins and viols as being ABOVE the voice-parts instead of below.

Otherwise, it's a steal and absolutely a MUST-GET for any serious musician who cares about his craft (whether conductor, singer or instrumentalist)!!! Not only is it a very reliable edition (typical with C.F. Peters), it also is that much the more valuable for including the editorial markings and suggestions of an important Wagnerian conductor of 100 years ago by the name of Felix Mottl; it's very obvious that he knew his stuff!!!! To boot, the fonts and engravings are such that one just CAN'T fault it other than what I've described above.

Very warmly recommended!! [For those who want a fully-modern edition featuring all of what I'd like, one has to get Schott's current edition which, although indeed the very best one for both study and for conducting from (especially in terms of size - though it's amply possible to direct from this edition, so clear it happens to be!), is also fantastically expensive! Also worth mentioning is that this Dover republication has been on the market for around 35 years...]

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly constructed score for an operatic milestone, February 18, 2005

By 

Timothy P. Scanlon (Hyattsville, MDUSA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Tristan und Isolde in Full Score (Dover Vocal Scores) (Paperback)

Even people who are not Wagner fans will admit that this piece of music certainly ranks as the most influential in contemporary music. One can find the direct influences on, for example, Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler. The "Tristan chord" reverbrates throughout literature, has become a literary formula in itself.

I have many of the Wagner scores out of simple curiosity; I don't claim to have the musical expertise by which I could either play or conduct any of the masterpieces. But they are often fascinating to follow while listening to the operas.

This score is structured in the traditional format. But for me it's particularly valuable because I can see that "Tristan chord" over and over. I may even transcribe some of the music so that even as unaccomplished a musician as I can play it.

I long to follow this again and again too, along with the several recordings of I have of "Tristan und Isolde."

Further, the art on the cover is the same as that on the Bernstein recoring my spouse gave me for Christmas several years ago.

Finally, several of us were quizzed at a "Tristan" seminar. The questioner suggested that every single insrument of the orchestrat plays the final chord of the opera...except one. I remembered that the first time I saw this opera, the English horn player was out of the pit during the opening of the third act. Hmmm. It seems like the English horn stands out in other ways too. I guessed that and I was correct. This score reflects that too--accurately.

If you're looking for a fine score, I cannot recommend this one strongly enough.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wagner at his sexiest, July 17, 2000

By 

Keith Dillon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tristan und Isolde in Full Score (Dover Vocal Scores) (Paperback)

Tristan und Isolde is quite possibly Wagner's finest achievement. In fact, it holds a unique place in operatic history; it has inspired the thinking of philosophers, even scientists, just as works such as Oedipus Rex, Hamlet and Don Giovanni had done before. No opera lover's book shelf is complete without a copy of this score. Dover's edition is a reprint of the reliable C.F. Peters edition from the early twentieth century. The scholarship is highly reliable as is generally true with Peters, especially with Peters' German scores. There is an English translation of all German frontismatter, but no glossary of German musical terms. The cover art for this edition is Der Kuss in Gustav Klimt, an art work as erotic and disturbing as this Opera is. The score is too big, and the book too small for podium use, but it is perfect for at home. Many of the innovations of twentieth century music and drama, indeed all twentieth century culture, may never have occurred if this opera had not been written. If that sounds far-fetched, buy this score, and a good recording, and see why I make that assertion.