Complete Mazurkas and Polonaises: Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics, Vol. 2064

Perfect full edition!

Quality printing. Fingering are very considered and comfortable

Best value I could find for complete Mazurkas. However, pages do not stay open! Left a heavy book on the open pages overnight and it didn't really help.

Class item

In the current music culture of classical music, there is an obsession with the most minute details of faithfulness to Chopin's intentions, as the manuscripts (and, importantly but often too neglected) early editions from the composer's lifetime reflect them. Karol (a.k.a. Karl, Carl, or Charles) Mikuli, however, it should be kept in mind, was a pupil and disciple of Frédéric Chopin himself, even that composer's teaching assistant, so his convictions, as documented in his editions of Chopin`s Mazurkas and Polonaises and of other works by Chopin deserve respect, even in the face of fastidious critical editions of later vintage.However, the best aspect of Mikuli's editions is his skillful suggestions for fingering. Unlike Rafael Joseffy, in contrast to that musician's editions of works by Chopin, Mikuli indicated fingerings for hands that, in the normal scheme of such things, are of large dimensions. For a pianist with large hands, it is sheer torture to follow Joseffy's cramped fingerings that small hands necessitate. Mikuli's edition of the Mazurkas and Polonaises, as well as of others of Chopin's various works, in all aspects is straightforward and adoitly executed, indeed, downright cherishable, so it is gratifying that Mikuli's editions still are available to today's amateur and professional pianists to use (or at least to consult). Highly recommended!

Many of the pieces are Urtext, without fingerings. This is useless to pianists and not indicated until one actually has the music. Unluckily I bought two of these at once so am stuck. I will never buy Schirmer again.

It is wonderful. I cannot stop playing from this book. I like that it has varied levels, although more are on the very advanced level. That is just Chopin!

Very clear music text but due to huge volume it is not so easy to lay it flat.Otherwise- wonderful for the price.

This is by Mikuli, Chopin's close student. As pianists we should look at Mikuli editions because Mikuli captures the performance practice of Chopin's time. You certainly can disagree with Mikuli, but it can't hurt to look. This Schirmer edition is outstanding. The print is excellent, the layout is large and well spaced. Easy to read. It's big, 296 pages. The binding is tight; tricky to keep open. It's a really nice volume. Very happy to have it.

Hey. It's Chopin. Did you expect anything less than five stars?

My best edition of his mazurkas.