Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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The consolidation of Edition Peters within Faber Music continues to prove a fruitful alliance with the arrival of a new series, Masterpieces for Piano, bringing together Faber’s penchant for producing bumper anthologies with Edition Peters deep and respected classical catalogue.
The first arrival announcing the series is a stunning new 176-page compendium of music by Franz Schubert.
With selections suitable for players from intermediate to advanced level, taking in easy Ecossaises and other dances, and progressing through Moment Musicals to several popular Impromptus and the complete Sonata in A major Op.120, this could well be the ultimate Schubert collection for enthusiastic adult players and students…
Essential Schubert
Introducing the new series, the publisher tells us:
“The Composer Masterpieces series presents superb collections of core repertoire by the great piano composers. These beautifully produced, carefully curated editions provide pianists with an excellent overview of each composer and should be an essential part of all players’ libraries.”
Mozart and Beethoven are both scheduled to join the Schubert Masterpieces for Piano imminently (and will be reviewed here as soon as they do), but in the meantime and based on this first issue, the series seems set to live up to its aims.
Here’s the list of terrific pieces, compiled by Roland Erben, and likely to have many music lovers reaching straight for their credit cards:
- Three Ecossaises from D 145
- Kupelwieser-Walzer · Waltz in G flat major
- Minuet in A from D 334
- Six Dances from Op. 9, D 365
- Allegretto in C minor D 915
- Eight Ecossaises D 977
- Three Ecossaises D 816
- Eight Dances from D 366
- Moment Musical in F minor from D 780
- Minuet in C from D 41
- Adagio from Sonata in E D 459A
- Six German Dances from Op. Post. 171, D 790
- Scherzo in B flat D 593/1
- Six Waltzes Op. 18, D 145
- Impromptu in A flat from Op. Post. 142, D 935
- Adagio from Sonata in C minor D 958
- Impromptu in G flat D 899/3
- Three German Dances from D 820
- Moment Musical in A flat from D 780
- Six Ecossaises D 421
- Four Waltzes from Wiener Damen-Ländler D 734
- Scherzo in D flat D 593/2
- Impromptu in C minor from Op. 90, D 899
- Ecossaise in A flat from D 697
- Moment Musical in A flat from D 780
- Minuet in C sharp minor D 600
- Moment Musical in C sharp minor from D 780
- Three Waltzes from Op. post. 127, D 146
- Three Waltzes from Op. 50, D 779
- Impromptu in A flat from Op. 90, D 899
- Four Waltzes from D 969
- 13 Variations on a Theme by Anselm Hüttenbrenner D 576
- Andante & Scherzo from Sonata in A minor from D 845
- Piano Piece in E flat from D 946
- Andante sostenuto from Sonata in B flat D 960
- Sonata in A, Op. post. 120, D 664
This is an indisputably rich trove of musical treasures from one of the world’s most beloved composers, so those not already familiar with these pieces really need to do themselves a favour and get a copy. There are of course many great, and comprehensive, editions of Schubert’s piano works, but for a compendium that offers such a range, I can think of no equal.
Teachers and performers will of course be able to spot pieces that they will need to source elsewhere (and most likely already have), but for learners discovering this music afresh, I think this anthology more than does justice to the range and sheer beauty of Schubert’s solo piano output.
A Volume to Treasure
And there’s still better news, because the anthology has not simply been slung together on a budget, capitalising on existing assets, but enjoys fresh engravings and a superb overall presentation. And it proves to be a treasure in its own right.
The lush covers, which are sturdily produced with flexible matt card, sport a gorgeous detail from Albert Rieger’s Wasserfall mit Mühle, and open to a book printed on luxury cream paper. With excellent and flexible binding, the book opens nicely and remains flat on the music stand, and seems suitable for a lifetime of use.
Aside from the title page, credits, and contents pages, there is no additional content. If I have one minor niggle, it’s that I would have liked to find a composer portrait and a short, accessible biography at the start of the book.
The music follows, and it’s great to see that all the scores have been updated in matching style. The music setting is by Donald Thomson, who must be Britain’s busiest music engraver, and whose work here is as excellent as ever.
A note at the start of the volume tells us that the fingering and editorial guidance included in the collection is derived from the original Edition Peters Green Series of publications, which are of course an iconic landmark in classical music publishing.
Closing Thoughts
Bumper anthologies of great composers’ music used to be something of a staple for piano players. However, though cost-effective, they were not always particularly good editions, or very well presented.
With this publication, Edition Peters have revisited the concept and very significantly raised the bar, giving us a selection of reliably edited and superbly presented scores that will, I believe, deliver many years of musical enrichment.
Schubert Masterpieces for Piano is thus a simple idea brilliantly executed, and bearing in mind it also has a sensibly modest asking price, this is a publication that can be very enthusiastically recommended to players of all ages.
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