Fauré?s exquisite Fantaisie is one of the jewels in chamber music for which we are indebted to his time at the Paris Conservatoire. The Flute professor there Paul Taffanel had asked his colleague fora virtuoso examination piece. Fauré presented him with the manuscript in 1898 with the explicit indication ?to modify unplayable passages? before using it in the exam. As the autograph score no longer exists we do notknow what and how much Taffanel might have changed; however the result is a brilliant recital piece. In this Henle edition they have added a little Adagio without opus number that Fauré also composed in 1898 forthe exams at the Conservatoire as a sight-reading piece.

The most important source for Bach’s Cello Suites is a copy made by his wife Anna Magdalena because the autograph is no longer extant. As further copies show the actual musical text is scarcely problematic. However theslurs which are particularly important for string instruments are very inexact and compel the editor to make difficult decisions. Henle's practical edition HN 666 is in two parts. It not only offers the Urtextedition – with preface and critical commentary – but also a part for playing. The new study edition contains the Urtext part but in addition offers a reproduction of Anna Magdalena’s copy. This means that bothcellists and music lovers alike are able to form their own opinion about the much discussed problems.

Learning how to play the world's most beautiful classical music has never been easier than with this handsome volume of 97 timeless works for early and intermediate players which students of all ages will quickly master.If you're just learning the piano or simply adding to your repertoire this collection belongs in your music library.

Handel wrote the famous Dixit Dominus with the text of Psalm 109 during his time in Italy in c. 1707. Although he was only 22 years old the work already demonstrates his wide spectrum of compositional abilities which are later fully realized in his operas and oratorios. Central to this work are the six choral movements which with their polyphonic structure are closely related to German choral music of the 17th century.The first Urtext edition BA 4002 based on the Halle Handel Edition was published in 1960. At that time no critical commentary was published so that in cases of doubt the basis on which editorialdecisions were made was not officially recorded. A new complete edition volume (BA 10704/01) due to be published in 2013 will include a detailed foreword providing information on the genesis and the first performance of this work as well as information on the psalm on which this work is based and on performance practice. In addition several facsimiles pages will be included giving a view into the source material. The critical commentary will provide a detailed insight into all the available sources and how they have been passed down.This newly revised Urtext performing edition offers a thorough revision of this frequently-performed work and meets all the requisites of a scholarly-critical edition. Former readings in the old edition regarding a small number of pitches but mostly basso continuo figures and the underlying text have now been able to be amended on the basis of the new findings. In the new edition the work appears in nine movements no longer eight which reflects the composer's intentions.The new performance material is not compatible with the old one.Presented in a revised Urtext editionClear straightforward Piano reduction in the vocal scoreUrtext of the Halle Handel EditionFull score performance material (BA10704) & Vocal score (BA10704-90) available for sale

Handel wrote the famous Dixit Dominus with the text of Psalm 109 during his time in Italy in c. 1707. Although he was only 22 years old the work already demonstrates his wide spectrum of compositional abilities which are later fully realized in his operas and oratorios. Central to this work are the six choral movements which with their polyphonic structure are closely related to German choral music of the 17th century.The first Urtext edition BA 4002 based on the Halle Handel Edition was published in 1960. At that time no critical commentary was published so that in cases of doubt the basis on which editorialdecisions were made was not officially recorded. A new complete edition volume (BA 10704/01) due to be published in 2013 will include a detailed foreword providing information on the genesis and the first performance of this work as well as information on the psalm on which this work is based and on performance practice. In addition several facsimiles pages will be included giving a view into the source material. The critical commentary will provide a detailed insight into all the available sources and how they have been passed down.This newly revised Urtext performing edition offers a thorough revision of this frequently-performed work and meets all the requisites of a scholarly-critical edition. Former readings in the old edition regarding a small number of pitches but mostly basso continuo figures and the underlying text have now been able to be amended on the basis of the new findings. In the new edition the work appears in nine movements no longer eight which reflects the composer's intentions.The new performance material is not compatible with the old one.Presented in a revised Urtext editionClear straightforward Piano reduction in the vocal scoreUrtext of the Halle Handel EditionFull score performance material (BA10704) & Vocal score (BA10704-90) available for sale

Handel wrote the famous Dixit Dominus with the text of Psalm 109 during his time in Italy in c. 1707. Although he was only 22 years old the work already demonstrates his wide spectrum of compositional abilities which are later fully realized in his operas and oratorios. Central to this work are the six choral movements which with their polyphonic structure are closely related to German choral music of the 17th century.The first Urtext edition BA 4002 based on the Halle Handel Edition was published in 1960. At that time no critical commentary was published so that in cases of doubt the basis on which editorialdecisions were made was not officially recorded. A new complete edition volume (BA 10704/01) due to be published in 2013 will include a detailed foreword providing information on the genesis and the first performance of this work as well as information on the psalm on which this work is based and on performance practice. In addition several facsimiles pages will be included giving a view into the source material. The critical commentary will provide a detailed insight into all the available sources and how they have been passed down.This newly revised Urtext performing edition offers a thorough revision of this frequently-performed work and meets all the requisites of a scholarly-critical edition. Former readings in the old edition regarding a small number of pitches but mostly basso continuo figures and the underlying text have now been able to be amended on the basis of the new findings. In the new edition the work appears in nine movements no longer eight which reflects the composer's intentions.The new performance material is not compatible with the old one.Presented in a revised Urtext editionClear straightforward Piano reduction in the vocal scoreUrtext of the Halle Handel EditionFull score performance material (BA10704) & Vocal score (BA10704-90) available for sale

Klavierauszug-Handel wrote the famous ?Dixit Dominus? with the text of Psalm 109 during his time in Italy in c. 1707. Although he was only 22 years old the work already demonstrates his wide spectrum of compositional abilities which are later fully realized in his operas and oratorios. Central to this work are the six choral movements which with their polyphonic structure are closely related to German choral music of the 17th century.The first Urtext edition BA 4002 based on the ?Halle Handel Edition? was published in 1960. At that time no critical commentary was published so that in cases of doubt the basis on which editorial decisions were made was not officially recorded.A new complete edition volume (BA 10704/01) due to be published in 2013 will include a detailed foreword providing information on the genesis and the first performance of this work as well as information on the psalm on which this work is based and on performance practice. In addition several facsimiles pages will be included giving a view into the source material. The critical commentary will provide a detailed insight into all the available sources and how they have been passed down.This newly revised Urtext performing edition offers a thorough revision of this frequently-performed work and meets all the requisites of a scholarly-critical edition. Former readings in the old edition regarding a small number of pitches but mostly basso continuo figures and the underlying text have now been able to be amended on the basis of the new findings. In the new edition the work appears in nine movements no longer eight which reflects the composer's intentions. The new performance material is not compatible with the old one.Presented in a revised Urtext editionClear straightforward piano reduction

String Quartet-Debussy?s new string quartet received a very cool reception at its première in Paris in December 1893 performed by the famous Quatuor Ysaÿe. The critics were upset by its unusual harmonies and orchestral sounds and the musicianswho were later presented with it considered it ?unplayable?. Nevertheless the work was able to establish itself in the years that followed and today belongs to the core chamber music repertoire. The work was published in 1894 as?1er Quatuor?; showing that the composer was at least toying with the idea of writing another such work at this time yet he never did fulfil this promise.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is known for his unique composition style. Incorporating complex rhythms harmony and melodies  L'Ascension for Organ is no exception to the composer's popular distinctive style. L'Ascension was originally composed for orchestra by Messiaen in 1932-1933. The composer described the work as Four Symphonic Meditations and the sections are; 1) Majesty of Christ praying that His Father should glorify Him 2) Serene Alleluias from a soul longing for Heaven 3) Alleluia on the Trumpet Alleluia on the Cymbal and 4) Prayer from Christ ascending towards HisFather. Messiaen arranged L'Ascensionfor solo Organ a year later. The first second and fourth movements are arrangements of the orchestral version however the composer created a new third movement; Outburst of joy from a soul before the Glory of Christ which is its own glory. L'Ascension is essential to all advanced organists seeking to expand and vary their repertoire.

This edition is more user-friendly than the others currently available. The accompanying CD provides piano accompaniments as well as samples from recordings of the Neruda Haydn and Hummell concerti with kind permission of Hyperion Records and Crispian Steele-Perkins.J.G.B. Neruda (1711-1780) was typical of 18th century musicians travelling and studying in various parts of Eastern Europe and finally settling in Dresden (1750-1780) in the Electoral (chapel) orchestra where he was salaried as a violinist and occasional composer. This concerto was originally composed for a Corno da Caccia (hunting horn) presumed to be something of a hybrid between the natural hornand natural trumpet but has been borrowed by modern trumpet players and is now firmly fixed in the Classical trumpet repertoire.This edition is intended to be more user-friendly than the others currently available: there is a much easier (and dare I say more stylistic) piano accompaniment - any doubling of the solo part has been removed voicing simplified and my premise has been to imagine what it might have been before it was orchestrated rather than trying to cram in every last piece of orchestral detail. Suggested cuts have been indicated which give a short introduction to each movement perfect for auditions recitals or exams. However the bar numbers still tally with the longer original versions which are included should they be required.The dynamics and articulation which I have added incorporate the weight of opinion in current editions and recordings offering more guidance than 'scholarly' editions without being over-prescriptive. There is an appendix with suggested interpretation of trills. Listening to as many different recordings as possible is the best way to assimilate good trills. The accompanying CD provides piano accompaniments and observes the suggested cuts. See page 23 for full track listing. There is free software available online (eg. speedshifter on the ABRSM

String Quartets Book III op. 17-The autograph score of the Quartets op. 17 was in the possession of the imperial police chief Johann Nepomuk Neuwirth whose widow gave it to the Wiener Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1875. It is said thatHaydn ?used to play the viola in quartet rehearsals? at the Neuwirth?s house. Whether the Quartets op. 17 were composed for these gatherings can no longer be ascertained. However even today they stillhave a fixed place amongst the music of all chamber music friends and in particular nos. 4 5 and 6 which are very different to the divertimento style of the early quartets are played again and again.