Formats & Ordering
Felix Editions publishes newly engraved practical editions of overlooked nineteenth-century piano music. All current publications are available as digital downloads, and selected titles are being made available in print through the Lulu Bookstore.
The edition itself is the musical publication: the score, introduction, source commentary and editorial work. The format is the way in which that publication is supplied: as a downloadable PDF or as a printed album. This page explains the practical differences between those formats, how ordering works, and what to expect before purchase.
Digital editions
Digital editions are available from the Felix Editions online store.
A digital edition is supplied as a downloadable PDF. It is intended for pianists, teachers and students who want immediate access to the score, or who prefer to work from a tablet or make their own printout for private use.
Digital editions are especially useful when:
- you want the music immediately;
- you work mainly from a tablet;
- you need a copy for study, teaching or comparison;
- the printed edition has not yet been made available;
- international shipping would be slow or expensive.
The digital store is powered by Payhip, but for customers it functions as the Felix Editions online store. After purchase, the download process is handled automatically through the store. All current Felix Editions publications are offered as downloads.
Printed editions
Printed editions are currently available for selected publications through the Lulu Bookstore. Links are provided from the relevant Felix Editions product pages.
Printed editions are intended for players who prefer a physical score on the music desk, teachers who work from printed copies, and collectors or libraries who want a bound album for regular use or reference.
Felix Editions is making printed versions available gradually. During the opening phase of the new website, the full catalogue is available digitally, while physical albums are being added step by step. At present, printed editions are ordered through Lulu. The order, payment, printing and shipping process is handled by Lulu. Felix Editions is also in discussion with several distribution partners and may adjust the physical ordering route as the printed catalogue develops.
What is included in an edition
A Felix Editions publication is not a scan or a photographic reprint. Each edition is newly engraved and prepared as a practical working edition for pianists.
A typical edition includes:
- newly engraved musical notation;
- a carefully prepared layout for practical use at the piano;
- an introductory text placing the work in musical and historical context;
- source information and a detailed source commentary;
- editorial notes where needed;
- attention to aesthetic presentation as well as readability.
The aim is to provide an edition that is useful in practice and responsible in its treatment of the source material. Some works survive in relatively few sources, and in such cases the commentary makes clear what has been used and where editorial judgement has been required. Digital and printed versions share the same editorial basis. They differ in format, delivery and ordering route, not in the fundamental editorial care behind the publication.
Print-on-demand and fulfilment
Printed Felix Editions albums are currently produced through print-on-demand fulfilment.
This means that a copy is printed when it is ordered, rather than being taken from a warehouse of pre-printed stock. For a small specialist publisher, this makes it possible to offer printed editions internationally without producing large print runs in advance.
For customers, the main practical consequence is that printed orders are not dispatched immediately in the same way as stocked retail books. Lulu prints and fulfils the order after it has been placed. In many cases, customers should expect the process to take around ten working days before the order arrives, although the actual timing depends on destination, production and shipping method.
The checkout process will show the available shipping options, costs and delivery estimates before the order is completed.
Binding and paper
Felix Editions uses different printed formats depending on the size of the publication.
Thinner printed editions are produced as saddle-stitched booklets. This is a suitable format for smaller publications: the pages are folded and stapled along the spine. It keeps the edition light and simple while remaining practical for use.
Larger printed albums are produced as coil-bound books. Coil binding is particularly useful for music because the book can lie open more easily on the music desk. For longer albums, this is often more practical than a conventional glued paperback binding.
Current printed editions use 60# cream uncoated paper, a warm paper stock that is comfortable to read and well suited to black-and-white notation. The intention is not to create luxury presentation objects, but durable, readable working scores with a considered visual quality.
Shipping and availability
Shipping costs and delivery estimates for printed editions are shown during the Lulu checkout process. These may vary by country, available shipping method and the specific printed product.
Because the printed editions are currently fulfilled by Lulu, Felix Editions cannot give a single fixed shipping price or delivery time that applies to all destinations. In practice, delivery to some countries is straightforward and reasonably priced, while other destinations may be more expensive or slower.
Digital editions do not involve shipping. They are usually the simplest option for international customers who want immediate access to the music.
If a printed edition is not yet available for a particular title, the digital version remains available from the Felix Editions online store. Printed versions will continue to be added where suitable.
For teachers, students and pianists
For individual pianists, the choice is usually practical.
Choose the digital edition if you want immediate access, work from a tablet, or prefer to print your own copy. Choose the printed edition if you want a bound score for regular use at the piano.
For teachers and students, digital editions can be useful for preparation, reference and quick access. Printed editions may be preferable for lessons, performance preparation and repeated use at the instrument.
Where possible, Felix Editions aims to make the music accessible in both forms, but availability may vary while the printed catalogue is being developed.
For libraries and collectors
Libraries, researchers and collectors may prefer printed editions for cataloguing, reference and long-term use. The printed albums provide a physical form of the same editorial work, with newly engraved notation, contextual introduction and source commentary.
Where institutional ordering requires a particular process, invoice, supplier route or bibliographic information, please contact Felix Editions before ordering. Not all requirements can be met through the current Lulu Bookstore route, but we are happy to advise where possible.
Questions
For questions about the musical content of an edition, available formats, forthcoming printed versions or suitability for teaching and study, please contact Felix Editions.
For questions about a printed order already placed through Lulu, including shipping status or a copy damaged in transit, Lulu’s order support is normally the appropriate first point of contact. If you are unsure where to direct a question, you may still contact Felix Editions and we will help you find the right route.
As the catalogue develops, Felix Editions will continue to refine the way printed editions are made available. The present arrangement is practical and international, but not necessarily the final form of physical distribution.
For general enquiries, please use the Contact page.