Chopin Piano Works Complete Volume 11: Waltzes A (Polish National Edition)

Author: (Polish) Jan Ekier
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Professor Ekier visited China in 1983 and gave special lectures on Chopin at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The Polish National Edition of the "Complete Chopin Piano Works" compiled by him is now published in China, spreading his research findings on Chopin more widely and comprehensively, and it is believed to once again attract attention from the music world. Chopin's works are among the most performed in all piano literature but also among the most heavily altered. Sixty years ago, we didn’t understand what an "Urtext" was, nor did we have one. We thought that as long as it was Chopin, any version was the same. Later, we realized it wasn’t that simple—there were significant differences between various versions. Some were intentionally edited by compilers who believed they could "improve" Chopin’s original works (e.g., the Karl Klindworth edition [1830-1916]), while most were based on misinformation, assuming it should be this way. In the mid-20th century, Poland published the Paderewski (Ignacy Jan Paderewski 1860-1941) edition, which largely clarified previous errors and pioneered a new style of Chopin performance. This version was popular internationally for more than half a century, but it was not a strict "Urtext." It used a so-called "standardization" method to "standardize" (simplify) many subtle variations in Chopin’s manuscripts. Professor Ekier is today’s most authoritative expert on Chopin. He himself is a pianist and professor with decades of experience in performance and teaching, as well as a knowledgeable and rigorous scholar. It is most appropriate for him to lead the compilation of a new "Urtext" edition of Chopin. This new "Urtext" has been designated as the "National Edition" by the Polish government, underscoring its importance and authority. Professor Ekier not only based his edition on Chopin’s manuscripts and various first editions but also mastered many revisions and corrections made by Chopin during his teaching on student scores. As a result, his edition contains many new discoveries that differ significantly from what we are accustomed to hearing. It is believed to be yet another milestone.