A real treasure trove in the scarce Romantic viola literature: Vol. 1 (Schott, ED 22254) of the popular Pièces des concours series are now followed by Vol. 2 (ED 22255) and Vol. 3 (ED 22256).The pieces were performed in final examinations at the famous Conservatoire de Paris between 1897 and 1969. The publication is based on the first editions. In order to make it easier to approach the works, 'modern' fingerings and common bowing instructions were added to the pieces so that they can be played at sight.Vol. 2 contains pieces by Stan Golestan, Eugène Cools, Philippe Gaubert, and Gabriel Grovlez.Further pieces:Vol. 1 with pieces by Charles-Edouard Lefebvre, Paul Rougnon, Henri Marteau, and Léon HonnoréVol. 3 with works by Hans Sitt, Heinrich Arends and Léon Firket / Alto Et Piano

for Viola and Piano-Brahms had already announced his 'retirement' from composition when in the spring of 1894 he played chamber music with the cellist Robert Hausmann and the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld. This encounter apparently renewed his enthusiasm for Mühlfeld?s much admired playing and inspired him to write two Clarinet sonatas in the summer of the same year. It remains unclear when exactly Brahms drafted Viola parts to his two sonatas. In any case the Viola and Clarinet versions of the works were first published by Simrock at the same time in 1895. Today there is no doubt about Brahms? authorship of the Viola parts. They include important differences fromthe Clarinet original in order to do justice to this string instrument.An important part of this edition is the extensive preface. Firstly it informs about the sonatas? origins their compositional process pre-publication performances their publication history as well as early reception. Truly remarkable is the unique Performance Practice Commentary. Here the editors start from the premise that already a few decades after Brahms' death a widening gulf developed between the composer's expectations and the performance practices of the early 20th century. On the basis of manifold sources which include memoirs by pupils and chamber music partners treatises and essays early instructive editions and historical recordings the editors deal with key issues in understanding Brahms' notation. By a section-by-section analysis of rhythm and timing dynamics and accentuation dots and strokes slurring and non legato Piano pedalling and overholding Piano arpeggiation and dislocation string instrument fingering string instrument harmonics and vibrato the editors provide an indispensable assistance for a historically informed interpretation of the works.At the same time the edition offers an exciting and often surprising insight into musical interpretation of the German Romantic Era in general.A pioneering Urtext editionWith an unmarked Urtext partWith a second part including fingering and bowing based on the practices of contemporaries of BrahmsWith an extensive Performance Practice

Élégie op. 44 for Viola and Piano-A precious gem of romantic Viola literature is now available in Henle quality. Thanks to the publisher’s good connections to Russian archives we were able to assess Glazunov’s autograph for the first timefor this first Urtext edition and uncover the discrepancies between the autograph and the first print. Written in 1893 for the Danish violist Franz Hildebrand the ?l?gie is one of the few originalworks of the 19th century for Viola and thus a welcome enrichment of the repertoire. Since the piece does not make any particularly high technical demands on the soloist the ?l?gie is ideally suited forteaching as well – and Tabea Zimmermann’s fingerings guarantee the best possible support.

Nadia Boulanger's Three Pieces for Viola and Piano transcribed from the original for Cello. Posterity has retained of Nadia Boulanger only her gifts as a virtuoso of the piano and organ her skill as a conductor (of vocal ensemble and orchestra) and most of all her incredible charisma as a teacher. For nearly sixty years 'Mademoiselle' made the most of her famous Wednesdays bringing rigour and passion to the training of several generations of musicians: among so many others Aaron Copland Leonard Bernstein Igor Markevitch Michel Legrand Witold Lutoslawski Astor Piazzolla Quincy Jones and John-Eliot Gardiner have all kept unforgettable memories of thesetimes.Was Nadia Boulanger wrong to let teaching music take precedence over her composing as Gabriel Fauré the great master she venerated believed? The publication of Three Pieces for Viola and Piano raises the question. This transcription of Three Pieces for cello and piano was composed between 1911 and 1913 and published by Heugel. The two initial pieces were originally written for organ: the first in E flat minor brings a moderate tempo to a melancholy cantilena with Romantic accents while the second in A minor exudes warmth and tenderness. The third piece (C sharp minor) most likely originally titled Danse espagnole heralds the Roaring Twenties with its restlessness and festive crackle. Together they emit a charm that is difficult to resist.