The three main publishers brought out collected editions of Chopin’s piano works after
his death. Ashdown and Parry, who succeeded Wessel, brought theirs out in 1860-1862,
Brandus, who incorporated Schlesinger, brought theirs out in 1859 -1878, and Breitkopf
& Härtel brought theirs out in 1870-1880.
The Breitkopf & Härtel edition is of special interest as it was part of a major project of
complete editions of mainly German composers. It was prepared by a six-man editorial
committee, including Liszt and Brahms, using original manuscripts and the first German
edition. It became familiar as the basis for the Lea Pocket Scores edition published in
New York between 1955 and 1962. Liszt’s involvement in the Chopin was limited to the
Preludes.
Other collected editions included one arranged by Julian Fontana in consultation with
Chopin’s family in 1855 with Meissonier in Paris and in 1859 with Adolph Martin
Schlesinger in Berlin,
Two collected editions were published in France in 1860. One was by Schonenberger
edited by Fétis. The other was Richault by Chopin’s Norwegian pupil Thomas Tellefsen.
Already there were significant differences between these two editions. The
Schonenberger edition set out to achieve an authentic text. The Richault edition,
however, aimed to recreate Chopin’s performing and teaching methods, relying on Jane
Stirling’s annotated first editions and on the editor’s memory of versions played by
Chopin and by his pupils.
The Russian edition by Stellowsky of 1861 had phrasing marks which bore little relation
to those by Chopin.
The Russian collected edition by Jurgensen was edited by Liszt pupil Karl Klindworth
and had liberal additions to Chopin’s tempo and expression marks. It was later reprinted
by Bote & Bock of Berlin in 1880-1885 and is now best known as the Augener edition
(London, 1892).
Gebthner & Wolff of Warsaw published a collected edition in 1863 which was authorised
by Chopin’s family and was based on German first editions.
Heugel of Paris published a collected edition edited by Marmontel which was based on
French first editions.
Kirstner of Leipzig published a collected edition in 1879 edited by Chopin pupil Karol
Mikuli which was based on annotated French and German first editions supplemented by
copious notes he made at his lessons and the notes of other pupils. This edition was later
reprinted by Bessel of Moscow in 1889 and Schirmer of NewYork in 1949.
Peters of Leipzig published a collected edition in 1879. It was edited by Hermann Scholz
using autographs and the annotated printed editions belonging to Chopin pupils Mlle R.
De Konneritz and George Mathias.