PROJECT RIES

This project is aimed to produce user-friendly modern performing editions of Ferdinand Ries piano sonatas as well as other piano-related works. The sources used for typesetting the scores are as underlined below(if not, the title), and are the sole sources for these editions. Other editions and autograph sources are also shown as alternatives. I will be grateful if anyone can provide the other sources to make the edition more reliable. Duration estimated : 1 year.

OP.1 - Two Pianoforte Sonatas
Title page : Deux / SONATES / POUR LE / Piano-Forte, / Composees et dediees / A /
LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN. / PAR / Son Eleve / FERDINAND RIES. /
Oeuvre 1me / PRIX 6 FRANCS. / A BONN chez N. SIMROCK. / Propriete
de l'Editeur. Enregistree a la Bibliotheque Imperiale. / 512.
Score locations : Bds Lbm Pn Skma We
Other located editions : Chappell (no. 1), 390, 1816, Lam
Autographs : 
1. 12 leaves; Head title: Sonate pour le Pianoforte composee par Ferdinand
Ries 1806 a Bonn Op.1, No.1; Bds (mus. ms. autogr., F. Ries, 134N)
2. 10 leaves; Head title: Sonate pour Ie Piano Forte composee par F. Ries
1804 Op.1, No.2; Bds (mus. ms. autogr, F. Ries, 135N)


OP. 5 - Two Pianoforte Sonatinas
Title pages: No.1  A / FIFTH SONATINA, / for the / Piano Forte. / Composed / By / FERD:
RIES / Ent. Sta. Hall. Pr. 3/- / London, / Published by Clementi & Co 26 Cheapside;
No.2  A / Sixth Sonatina, / for the / Piano Forte, / Composed / By / FERD: RIES. /
Ent. Sta. Hall. Pr. 3/- / London, / Published by Clementi & Co 26,Cheapside.
Score locations : No.1 Cu Lcm Ob Pn, ; No.2  Cu Lbm NYp Ob Pn;
Other located editions : No.1 Simrock, 2180, 1823, Bds Mbs Pn Sl We, 1st piece from Wernthal's Sonaten-Album für Pianoforte; No.2 Lisehke, 1705, 18251 , LEm; Simrock, 2181, 1823, Bds Mbs Pn Sl We. Andre (plate: 4995 and 4996)·published "Rondeaux favoris / pour / Piano-Forte/ tires des Sonates l'oeuvre 5 / .... " in 1827; copy: OF Uim (no. 2).
No autograph sources located.


OP. 9 - Two Pianoforte Sonatas
Title page : Deux grandes Sonates / pour Ie / Piano Forte / Composees et dediees a /ML LE COMTE MAURICE LICHNOWSKI. / par / FERD. RIES. / Oeuvre 9./ A BONN chez N. Simrock. / Propriete de l'Editeur. Deposee a la Bibliotheque imperiale. / 878.
Score locations : B Ckc LEm Pn Wn
Other located editions : Birchall (no. 1), - ,1813, Gu Lbrn Lcrn Ob Slana; Ricordi (no. 2),0.1289, W1828, Rsc Wgm
Autographs : 9 leaves; Head title: Sonate pour le Pianoforte composee par F. Ries 1808
Oeuvre 9 No. 1; the minuet is on the 8th and 9th leaves, which are oblong paper; Bds (mus. ms. autogr., F. Ries. 136N). No autograph source for the second sonata.


OP. 11 - Two Pianoforte Sonatas
Title page : DEUX GRANDES SONATES / pour Ie / Piano Forte, / Composees et dediees
/ a / Joseph Haydn / Maitre de Chapelle de S. A. Ie Prince Regnant d'Esterhazy, / par / FERD: RIBS / Prix 3 Fr: / Oeuv: 11 No. 15 / Bonn et Cologne chez N. Simrock
Score locations : B Ckc DHgm Lcm Skma
Other located editions : Mollo (no. 1), 1716, 1818, Me Wn; Richault, 304.R, Pn Wc;
Schonenberger (no. 1), 1244, c.1835, Mbs
No autograph sources located


OP. 26 - Pianoforte Sonata L'Infortunee
Title page : Grande' SONATE FANTAISIE , intitulee' L'Infortune , Composee par'
FERD. RIES. , Oeuvre 26. Prix 3 Fr: 50 Cs , A BONN chez N.Simrock. , Propriete de l'Editeur. Deposee a la Bibliotheque imperiale. , No.904.
Score locations : B LEm NYp Pn Wn Other located editions : Richault, 248.R, Pn Sl Wc; Troupenas(?) via IMSLP
No autograph sources located

OP. 45 - Pianoforte Sonata 
Title page : The / Thirty first / SONATA, / FOR THE / Piano Forte. / Composed by /
FERD: RIES. / Ent. Sta. Hall. OP. 45, Price 2/6 /
London, / Printed by Clementi & Co. 26, Cheapside, / Chappell & Co.No. 124,
New Bond Street. / & C. F. Peters, Leipsic.
Score locations : B Cu Gu Lbm Ob
Other located editions : Peters, 1306, 1817, B Ckc LEm Sl Wgm; Richault, 354.R, Wc; Ricordi, V.746, W1828, Mc Wgm
No autograph sources located

OP. 49 - The Dream for the Pianoforte
Title page : THE DREAM, / for the / Piano Forte, / COMPOSED / By / Ferd. Ries; /Member of the Royal Academy in Sweden. / Ent. Sta. Hall. OP. 49. Price 5s / London, Published by the Author, 4, Duke St, Portland Place. / And to be had at the Principal Music Shops.
Score locations : B Cke  Lbm Lem Ob
Other located editions : Richault, III.R,Wc; Simrock,1118, 1815, B Lcm Pn Sl Wgm
No autograph sources located


OP. 114 - Pianoforte Sonata 
Title page : 47me / SONATE / Pour le Pianoforte / composee & dediee / a Mademoiselle
H. Goldschmidt / par / FERD. RIES.I Oeuvre 114.Leipsic Propriete des Editeurs. I Chez Breitkopf & Hartel. I Pr. 12 Gr.
Score locations : A Bds NYp Pn Sl
Other located editions : Ricordi, 1638, W1828, Mc Rsc SI Wgm
No autograph sources located

OP. 141 - Pianoforte Sonata 
Title page : Quarante-neuvieme / GRANDE SONATE / pour Ie Piano Forte / COMPOSEE
ET DEDIEE / a Madame Amelie Schott, / nee Kirchhoffer de Vienne, / PAR /
FERD. RIES. / Op. 141.Prix: 7f 50c / A PARIS, / Chez ZETTER et
Compie Rue du Faubourg Poissonniere No. 3. / Propriete des Editeurs. 67.
Depose a la Direction.
Score locations : Wc
Other located editions : Nageli/Haslinger , (Z.67.) No.7, 1827, BEu Lcm Pn Sl We
No autograph sources located


OP. 176 - Pianoforte Sonata 
Title page : GRAND SONATE / (cinquante deuxieme) / pour le Pianoforte / composee et
dediee / a Madame / Simonis de Seroulle / par / FERD. RIES. / Membre de
l'Academie royale a Stockholm. / Original = Bibliothek. Heft 11 und 12 /
2ter Subscr.-Preis 1/2 Thlr. Propriete des editeurs. Laden-Preis 1 Thlr. /
Leipzig, Hamburg & Itzehoe, / Schuberth & Niemeyer. / In Warschau bei G.
Sennewald.
Score locations : B Bu Dlb Pn Wn
Autographs :12 leaves; Head title: 51 st Sonata for the Pianoforte composed by Ferd:
Ries /Rome 1832 / This Manuscript is presented to his estimable Friend the
Abate F. Santini / by the Author; Rsc (ms. A MS 144)


WoO 11 - Pianoforte Sonata 
Autographs :
7 leaves; Head title: Sonate pour Ie Piano Forte compose par Ferdinand

Ries a Munich 1805; Bds (mus. ms. autogr., F. Ries, 133N)
Note : I'm using a private copy for this sonata


Appendix for sources sh.

 

FERDINAND RIES : FANTASY FOR PIANO OP.109 'RESIGNATION' (AFTER SCHILLER)

Listening to the music for the 3rd time and still, it does not cease to delight me. Ferdinand Ries was a person full of surprise in his music. This music is originally from a Naxos 20th anniversary disc, a premiere as I can say, no recording of this before. This piece combined several verses from Schiller's poem 'Resignation', totaling up to 25. Here is the recording on youtube.
                                               PART 1

PART 2

TITLE PAGE FROM THE B&H EDITION

FIRST PAGE WHEN THE THEME STARTS

LEOPOLD KOZELUCH REVISITED! THE COMPLETE PIANO SONATAS

After noticing that a new series of Kozeluch's complete piano sonatas has been launched a week ago, I have listened to the 1st disc twice(when writing this article) on Spotify. It is being played on a fortepiano, with some kind of authentic classical feel. The subsequent discs will be launched every 2 months. STAY TUNED!
The performer, Kemp English used the newly published Baerenreiter series of complete Kozeluch's sonatas (which I greatly condemned about its price) as his performing material.If I am not mistaken, months ago there was also a pianist named Jenny Soonjin Kim performed some works (started the Kozeluch Project) and has been uploaded to youtube(click). This is all of a surprise as I have been waiting for the issuing of more piano sonatas by Kozeluch.

      

OBSCURE MUSIC SALES #2

G.F.PINTO 3 SONATINAS OP.4 IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE NOW!

VISIT HERE TO BUY THE SCORE.

NEXT PINTO SCORE: FANTASIA AND SONATA

FERDINAND RIES PIANO SONATAS (COMMENTS AND REVIEWS)

Ferdinand Ries, being a helper, actually servant for Beethoven, being completely neglected until the past 5 years, which saw a revive of his piano concertos and piano sonatas by Naxos, symphonies and concertos by CPO. Not to say the best, but definitely not the worst to be neglected. He has been overshadowed by Beethoven throughout his early years, being active in concerts only in his later years, which saw the producing of some great works that can compete with Beethoven.

FERDINAND RIES - COMPLETE PIANO SONATAS (VOL.1-5)

A five-disc set of complete piano sonatas (and sonatinas) for piano played by Susan Kagan has been unearthed since 2008, now to vol.6 for piano 4-hands. There is totaling of 15 sonatas with 13 premiering and 1 unpublished. Comparing to Beethoven's 32, I think it is significantly fewer and lesser quality but still, worth to listen, definitely not a composer to be forgotten.

VOL.1

Tracks 1-6 featuring two 3-movements piano sonatas op.11 and one sonatina op.45 from track 7 to 8.

TRACK 1: Largo con espressione - Allegro agitato

Slow beginning followed by a melody to be played with expression. Allegro after the melody is beautifully crafted and bears resemblance to Beethoven's early sonatas.The agitato part (even after the repeat, which has more minoric feel) is rather weak but still, it works fine for the piece. rating: 6/10.

TRACK 2: Larghetto

In a serene mood with lyrical themes, even more similar to Beethoven. The mordents and turns are effectively used. rating:7/10

TRACK 3: Allegro

Finale begins with a tarantella, with rapid triplets figuration. Excessive use of triplets in the later parts(both left and right hands), galloping feel in the development part. Ending gradually thinning. rating:5/10

Average rating of whole sonata: 6/10, still above average, but nowhere to compete with Beethoven.

TRACK 4: Allegro moderato

Begins lyrically, bears much romantic traits, serenely written overall. rating:7/10

TRACK 5:Andante

Not surprising in the beginning, lyrical part ends poorly, lesser quality than larghetto op.11/2. rating:5/10

TRACK 6: Theme and Variations

Best track of the sonata, maybe because of the lovely theme, a Russian melody, folk-like, marked with offbeat accents, not really like the 2nd variation, too much triplets may divert the theme. 3rd variation is good. 4th variation virtuostic. 5th variation with chromatic right hand, well-written. 7th variation(finale), a blend of lyrical and virtuostic passages, major and minor moods. rating:8/10

Average rating of whole sonata: 6.7/10, slightly better than the first sonata, but still weak to compete with Beethoven.

TRACK 7:  Allegro moderato

Very good beginning, expressive melancholy, ranges between a sonata and a sonatina. Lyrical themes blend in the second part. Even more melancholic and strong feelings in the B part, which fits perfectly. rating: 9/10

TRACK 8: Allegretto scherzando

Starting with a dance-like rondo, very good melody. Later parts surrounding the theme. The minor part does not correspond well (I mean obvious contrast). rating:8/10

Average rating of whole sonata: 8.5/10, a superior piece among Classical sonatas. I think Beethoven will be awed.

PERSONAL TASTES OF EACH MUSICAL ERA (COMMENTS AND REVIEWS)

Classical music is a generic term comprising music of several musical eras, from classical to romantic, or from renaissance to 20th century. For a full and comprehensive view, I will be starting from the earliest music-producing era, the renaissance era, which is often neglected.

REINASSANCE ERA(1450-1600) - Music producing began to flourish first in Italy, the center of renaissance. It spread throughout Europe to countries like France, Belgium, Netherlands, the latest being Britain due to the isolation from mainland Europe. Notable composers in this period include Thomas Tallis(vocal), William Byrd(keyboard), John Dowland(lute), Orlando Gibbons, Palestrina, Schutz, Monteverdi(operas and madrigals), just to name a few. Personally, I don't find this era's music impressing, not satisfying either. The polyphonic music for keyboard was rather dull compared to the later compositional style - FUGUE.

BAROQUE ERA(1600-1750) - followed shortly after the fall of Renaissance, derived from the word 'barocco', which indicates heavily ornamented music, as well as the architecture of the same period. Changing of musical ornamentation, instrumentation techniques, and notations are developed . With the expansion of ensemble sizes, concertos and orchestral suites were being introduced with new instruments adding in. Notable composers being Vivaldi(violin), Bach(almost all genres), Handel(operas and oratorios), Scarlatti(keyboard). Personally, I think the best music started from this period, with instruments ranged from violin to organ. Keyboard technique gradually developed from the dull polyphonic music of the Renaissance to the toccatas (touched) for harpsichord and grand fugues for pipe organs. A typical baroque suite consists of overture, allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue, with the addition of gavotte, bourree, minuet, passepied and rigaudon starting from the 1700s. See here for list of composers for keyboard.

LIST OF BAROQUE KEYBOARD WORKS WITH THEIR COMPOSERS

This list is compiled from a few lists from various piano forums, a few composers has been added by me. This list is ever-updating and not permanent, it can be used as a reference to choose your favourite works for your baroque music repertoire. This list is alphabetically ordered.


John Alcock 
'Suites or Easy Lessons' (published by ABRSM)
Jean Henri d' Anglebert 
'Pieces de Clavecin' (IMSLP)
Thomas Augustine Arne 
8 'Sonatas' or 'Lessons for the harpsichord'(IMSLP)  
Johann Sebastian Bach    
refer to internet resources            
John Blow 
'6 Suites' and many keyboard works (Stainer and Bell)
Georg Bohm 
 '11 keyboard suites' (IMSLP)
Dietrich Buxtehude 
'19 keyboard suites' and '6 variations'  (Breitkopf or Dover)    
Thomas Chilcot 
 '6 Suites', '2 sets of concertos (accompaniment  missing)' (some by ABRSM, LePupitre, and Oxford)                             
Domenico Cimarosa 
 '36 sonatas' (some at IMSLP)
Arcangelo Corelli 
 '24 Dances for keyboard' (arranged from his concerti, authorship doubtful) (IMSLP)
Francois Couperin (nephew of Louis)
 more than 230 works (IMSLP)
Louis Couperin
'Pieces de clavecin' from Bauyn manuscript, complete list of pieces refer here
William Croft 
'16 Suites' and others, the grounds are especially appealing, a worth to discover composer (Stainer and Bell)
Jean Francois Dandrieu 
 3 books of 'Pieces de Clavecin' (IMSLP)
Louis Claude Daquin
'Pieces de Clavecin' , famous being 'Le coucou' (IMSLP)
Girolomo Frescobaldi
'Complete Keyboard Works in 5 vols.' (Barenreiter at IMSLP). His works are worth to discover but much time is needed to venture through.
Baldassare Galuppi
about 130 sonatas, selections being published in separate volumes, there is an ongoing project of the complete piano sonatas by Armelin Musica.I think the 12 sonatas are enough to be performed.
Georg Frederic Handel
His suites are underplayed, with many other keyboard works, first editions and urtexts are in IMSLP
Matthew Locke
'Melothesia' and other suites(complete keyboard works by Terence Charlston)
Jean Baptiste Loeillet
'6 Suites' and 'Lessons for harpsichord', very great gems seldom played. (IMSLP)
Benedetto Marcello
'12 sonatas op.3', old edition by Le Pupitre, selections in Armelin Musica, original Ms. in BNF (France)
Giovanni Martini
'6 Sonatas op.3' (Bologna, 1747) (1,3,5 for organ; 2,4,6 for cembalo) (Heugel edition)
Johann Pachelbel
'Hexachordum Apollonis' and others (complete keyboard works at IMSLP)
Pietro Domenico Paradies
'12 Sonate per gravicembalo' (gallica)
Giovanni Pescetti
'6 Sonatas', most famous being no.6 Presto, survived in manuscript at SLUB Dresden; '9 Sonatas', published in his lifetime (gallica)
Giovanni Pergolesi
Authorship doubtful. Sonatas in G,A and D major.
Christian Petzold
famous now for being the original composer of the 2 minuets of 'Anna Magdalena Notebook', few works survived, a suite in IMSLP.
Giovanni Benedetto Platti
'6 Sonatas op.1', '6 Sonatas op.4' (IMSLP)recording of complete keyboard sonatas by Ravizza
Daniel Purcell(cousin of Henry)
'Lessons for the harpsichord or spinet' (IMSLP)
Henry Purcell
'8 suites' and more, all in IMSLP
Jean Phillipe Rameau
'Premier livre de clavecin', 'Pieces de clavecin', 'Nouvelles suites de clavecin', all in IMSLP
Joseph Nicolas pancrace Royer
'Pieces de Clavecin' in IMSLP, mp3s in youtube (falernoducande1961)
Giovanni Marco Rutini
'6 Sonate op.1', '6 Sonate op.2', '6 Sonate op.8', '6 Sonate op.9', all published by cornetto verlag; op.9 at gallica; op.6bis and op.11 at IMSLP; '6 Sonate op.5', old edition by Edizioni de Santis, others include op.3,5,6,7,12,13, all in sets of six, op.10,11,14(3) with violin.
Pier Giuseppe Sandoni
'Harpsichord sonatas' in manuscript kk33(museum of Bologna); 'Lessons for Harpsichord'; detail of works refer here
Padre Antonio Soler
about 300 sonatas, with a style similar to Scarlatti
Carlos de Seixas
Portuguese baroque genius with a composing style similar yet superior to both Soler and Scarlatti
Georg Telemann
'36 fantasias' being his only published keyboard works, widely used as a teaching piece.

OBSCURE MUSIC SALES #1

As a part time hobby, I would like to typeset some old public domain scores into performable modern editions. The editions I choose to typeset are the ONLY edition used and no other is considered. There are no editorial fingerings as it will take much time and I think most of the performers are capable to write their own fingerings down. These are the first set of books published in SCRIBD.com

http://www.scribd.com/doc/166470677/John-Field-Rondo-Go-the-Devil-for-Piano-Hop-3
http://www.scribd.com/doc/166472730/John-Field-Rondo-Favourite-Hornpipe-for-Piano-Hop-2
http://www.scribd.com/doc/166574774/John-Field-Fal-Lal-La-Variations-Hop-1
http://www.scribd.com/doc/166595506/John-Field-Prelude-in-C-minor

PURCHASING SHEET MUSIC for MALAYSIANS

Anyone is frustrating about where to purchase sheet music in a cheap and affordable price? 
Here are a few choices in my one-year purchasing experience.
Firstly and most important thing is search online for scores that you need, search public domain SM sites, biggest being IMSLP.If you like public domain Bach, Beethoven or Chopin, here is your excuse not to purchase dear urtexts. There are also a lot of great music among them exclude the great composers.

Secondly, if one like to purchase a physical copy instead of printing out (regarding paper size and binding purposes), many music learning centers offer well-known titles like the Alfred piano courses (mostly junked with disgusting Czerny etudes, which I deterred the most), Henle or Wiener urtexts (very few), and A LOT of examination related material, such as past year exam papers, scales and arpeggios, exam pieces, just to name a few. I think these will probably fit one shelf. There are also a lot of beginner's course music book (1-10!!) published by various (money-earning) publishers and pop/jazz music.If one need to purchase Henle urtexts, there is a piano-selling shop in PJ (Wagner piano), they are the distributors of Henle in Malaysia.

Thirdly, and the most preferred way, is by purchasing sheet music online.
bookdepository.com, first recommended site because of its free delivery worldwide and very good customer service. I got 2 sheet music books for free! just because of page flips and ink splits. They also sell Henle and other urtexts (well-known) with discounts. It is double saving!The only problem is they shipped very slowly, like 1 month or more to Malaysia.Do not order for urgent purposes.
amazon.cn, second recommended site, no second Chinese site sell cheaper than amazon.The delivery fee from China is the most considered problem because after conversion plus delivery, the ratio will be 1:1 with ringgit malaysia, and this is an extremely disgusting case that happen only in Malaysia. Amazon.cn offer its shipping at 80 yuan per book to Malaysia, that is about 40 ringgit malaysia.  It sounds expensive BUT the good thing is a set of books is counted as one book!! and there is fortunately several good urtexts are selling in sets, they are Chopin National Edition by Jan Ekier and Durand Debussy complete piano works in 8 volumes. Those can be counted as ONE book. Express shipping doesn't costs much so I will always choose it. BEWARE of the currency conversion from yuan to RM, it matters much depends on banks.
Here are other sites that are worth to visit: prestoclassical.uk, sheetmusicplus.com but only at urgent purposes, they have a greater variety than bookdepository but their shipping and price of books are very much expensive. Just compare various websites for the price (not to name) or try to search for help in music-related forums.

FOURTH, obscurest way to obtain sheet music but worth a try. If the price of selling of a particular (very hard to find) sheet music is unreasonable, you can try to contact any FOREIGN libraries to see if they have public domain editions of it to scan, this is just for the rarest case if the music you want isn't available in modern editions. I bear no hope to visit ANY Malaysia's libraries for music, it's just a mere waste of time.