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Urtext Editions at Chimes
If you have read Choosing An Edition: The Chimes Guide you will already know about the different Urtext editions available.
Publishers of Urtext Editions
The main publishing houses for Urtext editions are Barenreiter, Henle, Wiener and Breitkopf with a smattering of other Urtext editions from Peters.
The main publishing houses release new Urtext editions on a regular basis. If you would like to see examples of any of the publications described here please do come and visit one of our shops in London: Barbican or Kensington.
Stock of Urtext editions at Chimes
If you're after a specific item please check availability on this website. This system is live, and linked directly to stock at both branches. If you need an item urgently, or if you wish to collect your order, please do call either Barbican or Kensington. Staff will be happy to reserve any publication for you.
Urtext Editions at Chimes
Composers
Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms
Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schumann, Smetana, Spohr, Suk
Type of Work
Format
Study Scores
History of Publisher's Urtext Editions at Barenreiter
Founding
Bärenreiter was founded during a period of tremendous political and moral upheaval in Germany. Hyperinflation in the early 1920s had led to a sense of unrest among the working population.
Professor Walther Hensel (a prolific German musicologist) and Karl Vötterle (a young bookseller's assistant) met in 1923 through the Singing Movement - a collective of artists who made music and lived together in modest circumstances. What began as a country-loving youth organisation became an alternative lifestyle away from societal upheaval. As the group grew, it quickly became apparent that the people needed music to sing from for their meetings. Vötterle printed the first Bärenreiter-Verlag publications from his parents' living room.
First publications
Bärenreiter means ‘Rider of the Bear'. The star emblem of the company's imprint symbolises the Singing Movement. The first publications included works by Dowland, and first editions of music by Bach and Schütz.
Growth
With the help of a plot of land given to him by his future father-in-law in 1927, Vötterle was able to facilitate Bärenreiter's move from Augsburg to Kassel, receiving additional financial support from the town council.Once in Kassel, publication expanded rapidly, encompassing both sacred and secular works for choir and organ, as well as periodicals, pamphlets and books in non-musical fields.
1930s and World War II
The Nazi party reproached Vötterle for his commitment to church music as Germany came under ever greater influence and control by the party. This almost led to the closure of the publishing house. Luckily, a ban was rescinded because Vötterle found a well-respected advocate in Berlin who appealed their cause.
In January and March 1945, allied bombing destroyed the company's buildings, including stock, manuscripts and the archive. Bärenreiter employees undertook post-war reconstruction themselves and the presses began rolling again after the publishing license was renewed in 1946.
During the war, many intellectuals, artists, composers and musicologists had been persecuted, and their works banned or destroyed. Many fled Germany or were killed in action. Post war, Bärenreiter focused on preservation and heritage of the catalogue. As part of this process, the works of many of the great Germanic composers were revisited and published in definitive editions, true to the composers' intentions.
Modern Day
Bärenreiter became an internationally recognised publishing house. New locations opened in Basel (1944), New York (1958), Paris (1962) and London (1963). This was prompted in part by the production of ‘Complete Editions', which were meticulously researched and edited by musicologists from around the world.
Bärenreiter started work on the music encyclopaedia Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart from 1949. After 38 years of expansion it was eventually completed, comprising 17 volumes. A 29-volume second edition now covers the years 1994-2008.
Bärenreiter's output now includes scholarly music books, text and reference books, biographies and introductions to music aimed at a broader readership. The music publishing programme offers a wide range of works from the classical-romantic period to repertoire from the early 20th century. Bärenreiter remains family-owned.
Henle
Musicians around the world, both amateurs and professionals, are familiar with the distinctive blue binding of Henle Urtext editions. Henle is committed to an undistorted and authoritative musical text. Their books are durable, aesthetically pleasing, and suitably optimised for practical use over time.
Since its foundation, Henle has concentrated almost exclusively on the scholarly preparation of Urtext editions of music from the Baroque period onwards. Founded in 1948 and located in Munich, a team of only 30 highly skilled employees works at Henle, which includes six musicologists with PhDs, and four experienced music retailers.
Henle offers:
- Urtext editions that are paperbound, clothbound (hardback) or in digital format
- Study scores: Urtext pocket scores/study scores in a smaller format that are ideal for reading and learning
- Facsimile editions of manuscripts by great composers
- Scholarly Complete Editions with reference-like quality
- Musicological books and periodicals
- a small selection of exquisite gifts
Henle's music engraving has an enviable reputation around the world. Only a few choice music engravers are allowed to work for Henle. Until 1999, the majority of the Urtext editions were engraved by hand, using traditional metal plates and techniques. This tradition is key to the beauty and readability of Henle's printing. All publications are printed and bound exclusively in Bavaria and marked 100% Made in Germany. Henle has brought in measures to work as environmentally friendly and carbon neutral as possible. Most publications bear the FSC logo.
Wiener
(under construction)
Breitkopf
(under construction)
Breitkopf & Härtel is the oldest music publisher in the world, having celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2019 having begun life as a small Leipzig printing shop in 1719.
Peters
Faber Music is the publisher of the Edition Peters print catalogue, one of the world's leading classical music publishers. Dating back to 1800, the Edition Peters print catalogue comprises over 12,000 titles and it remains unrivalled in its range. Edition Peters produces some of the most up-to-date Urtext editions, trusted core repertoire, top educational editions and a broad variety of the world's leading contemporary composers.
Founding
Launched in Leipzig in 1867, the green Edition Peters covers revolutionised the music industry, offering everyone access to music in affordable but quality practical editions. Edition Peters was one of the first publishers to issue Urtext editions in 1933, with the publication of Landshoff's ground-breaking edition of Bach's Inventions and Sinfonias.
The Edition Peters catalogue contains virtually all the core classical repertoire. The most up-to-date research refreshes the catalogue on an ongoing basis. Projects include: The Complete Chopin and new Liszt editions with recent Urtext editions including works by Bach, Fauré, Mozart and Ravel, as well as the complete works of Robert Schumann.
Edition Peters also has new works by composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Further reading
Read more about the history of Barenreiter, Henle, Wiener Urtext, Breitkopf and Peters.
If you have any questions do please get in touch via email.
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Photocopies & downloads
Candidates should not perform from unauthorised photocopies (or other kinds of copies) or illegal downloads of copyright music in examinations. Copies may only be used in limited circumstances in the UK. The MPA's Code of Fair Practice provides further guidance. An application should be made to the copyright holder before making a copy. Candidates should bring evidence of permission granted to the exam. Candidates and Applicants must act within the law with regard to copyright.