I am considering purchasing some music editions, but know only a little about them from the publisher's catalog -- none of my immediate friends own them, and I have never seen them in a library -- and am seeking comments to help me decide whether to invest in them or not.
I would like comments to be made off-list -- replying only to me and not "reply-all" to the whole list -- to avoid any possibility of negative publicity for these editions. Comments might include, for example, an estimation of difficulty, attractiveness of the music, usefulness in public performances, or the fullness of texture. I've added some specific questions below. -- Kopperud: The Lute, The Bird, The Deers Apparently with 18 duets. Given the modest price of the edition, I'm guessing these may be rather short. Might the music be suitable for one lute accompanying a melody instrument? Is this a "children's" fable interspersed with short, programmatic pieces? Perhaps with text, intended to be spoken? Would the duets stand alone without the text (if any)? Would the pieces appeal to an adult audience? Would a small selection of pieces work for performance? Does anyone know anything about the composer or his writing style? (Melodious? Ultra contemporary and challenging? Minimalist? Light? Touching? As I said, I know nothing of this composer.) -- Purcell: 10 Pieces for Archlute (ed. Rubin) "Catchy tunes" is mentioned in the catalog. Does that mean light, melodious or might there (hopefully) be something substantial and deeper? (Perhaps I should just roll up my sleeves and do my own!) Rubin is an excellent player, how challenging are his arrangements? -- Robert De Visee: 5 Suites for Arciliuto (ed. Romic) How is the transcription from the theorbo originals? Is it true that it uses a third course tuned to Bb? (This would be the same as modern guitar tuning.) Could the music be adjusted to comfortably fit in standard Renaissance tuning? 29 pieces/5 suites seems like a nice, large selection. Did the editor avoid pieces that might have originally exploited the theorbo's re-entrant tuning -- campanellas, for example -- or might there be pieces that seem too thin? Thanks. -- Rocky To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
