ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (04/30/84)
Not all Schirmer editions are bad! For example, take Kirkpatrick's edition of 60 of Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas. This is a two- volume set. At the beginning of the first volume, Kirkpatrick wrote a lengthy preface, in which he describes: * why prior editions of Scarlatti's work have often suffered from excessive editing; * the trouble to which he has gone to ensure that, as much as possible, what appears on the pages of his edition was written by Scarlatti and no one else; * his standards for good musical performance. The latter notes are fascinating. Kirkpatrick expresses views that many people would strongly disagree with, but I find myself mostly going along with him. The editing and musical typography are a breath of fresh air. There are no fingerings, dynamic markings, or any of the other grunk that editors so often invent. The music is all that's there -- what you do with it is up to you.