The Critical Editing of Music
History, Method, and Practice

This is the first book to provide an introduction to music editing, including the history of the field, and the issues and problems encountered.

James Grier (Author)

9780521558631, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 August 1996

284 pages, 3 tables 25 music examples
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.42 kg

This is the first book to provide an introduction to music editing, including the history of the field, and the issues and problems encountered. The preparation of editions for performance and study is one of the most important activities and contributions of the music scholar to cultural life. Through accessible editions, previously unknown music enters the repertory, while well-known works receive fresh interpretations. James Grier examines music editing from the early music repertory to contemporary works, including a number of genres from opera to the symphony. Grier also examines the future of music editing and its application on CD-ROM and related electronic media.

1. Introduction: the task of the editor
2. The nature of the musical source
3. Musical sources and stemmatic filiation
4. Errors, variants and editorial judgement: the establishment of the text
5. The presentation of the text
6. Conclusion: the posture of the editor
Epilogue
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Theory of music & musicology [AVA]