Keyboard instruments > Piano solo
Alban Berg
Piano Sonata op. 1
Editor: Ullrich Scheideler
12.50 €
Urtext Edition, paperbound
Pages: 24 (V, 19), Size 23,5 x 31,0 cm
Order no. HN 819 · ISMN M-2018-0819-2
Level of difficulty (Piano): difficult (Level 7)
Berg’s pupil Adorno once said, “Whoever is seriously trying to comprehend Berg’s music should closely apply themselves to the eleven-page piano sonata”. It is tempting to enlarge upon this statement: Whoever is trying to get to grips with New Music will not be able to avoid Berg’s opus 1. It is one of the most frequently played sonatas amongst the Second Viennese School piano compositions. With this publication Henle is introducing Urtext editions to classical modernism. Once again, pianists will find flawless engraving, an absolutely reliable musical text and a commentary based on the sources. This edition is worldwide available.
Audio example: Daniel Barenboim
Deutsche Grammophon 028947465720GB8
Reviews
Die nun vorliegende und von Ulrich Scheideler verantwortete Ausgabe erfreut … durch große Übersichtlichkeit (ein Kompliment den Notensetzern) und weiß die Abweichungen von der Hauptquelle in einem ausführlichen kritischen Bericht gut zu begründen.
[Piano News, 2007]
Het is de enorme verdienste van Henle om deze verdichte partituur toch overzichtelijk uit te geven. De opzet is ruimtelijk en er is gelukkig afgezien van vingerzetting, wat de leesbaarheid extra ten goede komt. Er is eigenlijk maar één geschikt woord om compositie en uitgave recht te doen juweel.
[Pianowereld, 2007]
The edition of the Berg is exemplary: detailed notes on the various editions made in Berg’s lifetime, great precision in the layout and no fingering!
[Piano Professional, 2009]
The levels of difficulty of the
piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| easy | medium | difficult | ||||||
The levels of difficulty of the piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
| Level | Grade | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | easy | Bach, Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, nos. 4 and 5 |
| 2 | Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier I, no. 1 Prelude C major | |
| 3 | Beethoven, Piano Sonatas op. 49,1 and 2 | |
| 4 | medium | Grieg, Lyric Pieces op. 12, no. 4 |
| 5 | Schumann, Fantasy Pieces op. 12, no. 1 | |
| 6 | Chopin, Nocturnes op. 27, nos. 1 and 2 | |
| 7 | difficulty | Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 10, no. 3 |
| 8 | Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 81a | |
| 9 | Schumann, Toccata op. 7 |
Guide to the levels of difficulty
"I don't know what 'difficult' means. Either you can play or you can't" – this was the rather terse comment by the great violinist Nathan Milstein, on being asked about the unbelievable difficulty of Niccolo Paganini's Caprice no. 1.
The relativity of the evaluation of difficulty in music immediately becomes clear. Yet I gladly take up this great challenge, presented to me by G. Henle Publishers. For I am aware of how useful a guide like this can be, both from my own experience as well as that of many colleagues. In particular so as to be able to identify "appropriate" works. For example for music teachers, who teach at very different levels, from beginners to those preparing for music conservatories, but also for all those interested amateurs for whom this guide is intended.
After careful deliberation I have settled on nine levels of difficulty, which I have divided into three groups: 1–3 (easy), 4–6 (medium), 7–9 (difficult). A number of parameters have been considered when assessing the level of difficulty. I have not just looked at the number of fast or slow notes to be played, or the chord sequences; of central importance are also the complexity of the piece's composition, its rhythmic complexities, the difficulty of reading the text for the first time, and last but not least, how easy or difficult it is to understand its musical structure. I have defined "piece" as being the musical unit of a sonata, or a single piece in a cycle, which is why Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" Part I comprises a total of 48 levels of difficulty (each prelude and fugue is considered separately), Schumann's Sonata in f sharp minor op.11 only has a single number. My assessment is measured by the ability to prepare a piece for performance.
While assessing the pieces, it became clear that the medium level of difficulty (4–6) is the trickiest. Now and again this means that a piece is judged as a "3/4", even if it only deserved a "3" as far as piano technique is concerned. An example of such a "borderline" case (easy/medium) is Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood" op. 15 Von fremden Ländern und Menschen or at the other end "6/7" part of Bach's "English Suites". And of course within a main category there are also "from-to" evaluations (e.g. 7/8).
Any evaluation of art or music will always be subjective, even if the aim was to be objective. Despite the fact that I have endeavoured to be as careful as possible, I am all too aware that the results of my work can be called into question, and am therefore grateful for any suggestions you might have.
Prof. Rolf Koenen © 2010