Editorial principles

In all cases our editions are based on an original manuscript or an original print. If possible (and permitted) we reproduce short samples of our source in our editions.

A comprehensive preface in German and in English sheds light on the source used and offers other interesting information about the published work. In many cases we succeed in finding scholars who are specialists in the composer for these texts.

Today’s musicians should be able to play from our music without relearning, i. e. it is our goal to produce practical editions in modern notation. Nevertheless we try to remain as close as possible to the source. Necessary additions or corrections are always identified, so that the player can clearly distinguish these deviations from the original. However, we keep these additions to a minimum in order not to distract the player from the flow of the music. More details on this subject can be found in each individual preface.

Until 2004 we used different clefs for score and parts in some editions. Since 2005 however we have used the same clef everywhere. For viola da gamba the clefs that are conventional today are alto and bass clef. If the gamba is notated in the treble clef, we normally also use this clef in addition to the others. Almost all chamber music works that we publish have a basso continuo (figured or unfigured). In most cases our editions contain a realization of the basso continuo in order to make the music also accessible for keyboard players who are not well trained in this technique. The production of good realizations which fit the style of the music is an important part of our work.