Puccini: Le Villi
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- Composer: Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
- Format: Full Score – Italian Commentary
- Instrumentation: Opera
- Work: Le Villi (The Willis or The Fairies), SC 60
- Work Language: Italian
- ISMN:
- Size: 9.8 x 13.8 inches
- Pages: 462
Description
Discounting the initial submission to the Concorso Sonzogno, three distinct epochs in the work's history may be discerned:a. the one-act opera Le Willis performed at the Teatro Dal Verme in 1884, slightly altered, but otherwise corresponding to the work submitted to the Concorso Sonzogno in 1883. This work is published separately in the edition as Le Willis;b. an early two-act version of Le Villi (initially lacking Roberto's Romanza) containing the long version of Roberto's Scena "Per te quaggiù", and dating from 1884-85. This version differs from Le Willis in structure and orchestration, and is aesthetically and structurally distinct from the 1889 version; c. the final version of Le Villi, incorporating revisions made since 1885 (and extensively in 1889 for that year's production at the Teatro Dal Verme), which contains further revisions to the orchestration, and radically shortens Roberto's Scena "Per te quaggiù".
This edition presents the final 1889 version of Le Villi. Alternatively, Appendices 1 and 2 make possible the performance of the "early" version of Le Villi from 1884-85 with the longer version of Roberto's Scena drammatica (with or without the Romanza "Torna ai felici dì", which can be omitted).The autograph full score represents Le Villi 's textual state as it stood in March 1885. Puccini's subsequent revisions – most importantly the 1889 changes – would not have been entered into the autograph, but rather into a master copy of the full score prepared for in-house circulation. Textual authority thus passed from the autograph into this score, from which the publisher would have produced rental copies for circulation to theatres (the full score was never engraved or published). All of these scores – and hence the entire post-1885 tradition of orchestral revisions and corrections – were lost in 1943, when the Ricordi offices were fire-bombed and much important material burned.
It was a requirement of the Sonzogno competition that entries be submitted in both vocal-score and orchestral formats. The fact that, from early in its existence, Le Villi existed as parallel documents has important ramifications for the present edition. The source collation reveals that the relationship between these two documents was not one of subsidiarity, with the full score as "master" and the vocal score as a mere "representation" (as the term "piano reduction" might imply).Instead, authority came to be shared (or divided) between the two documents from a very early stage. The vocal performing materials used for the Dal Verme production of Le Willis, for example, were not extracted from the autograph full score, but from the conjectural source, assumed to have been the Sonzogno manuscript vocal score.
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
Facsimile
Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
Hardcover
Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
Orchestral Parts
Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
With Audio
In addition to the printed music, the edition contains recordings of the pieces. This may be an included CD, or access to files on the internet.
With / Without Fingering (Markings)
Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Puccini: Le Villi
