Carl Loewe’s Zigeunersonate (1847) is a rare and evocative work in five movements, composed at the height of the Romantic era’s fascination with exoticism and storytelling. Though best known for his ballads and songs, Loewe here turns to the piano sonata as a narrative canvas. Each movement conjures an imaginary world—from shadowy forests and mystical rites to nocturnal processions and jubilant dances. While the content is firmly Romantic, the structure remains rooted in Classical clarity, lending the work both emotional scope and formal strength.
Marked by programmatic titles such as Waldscene and Abend-Cultus, the sonata blends dramatic imagery with pianistic invention. Shimmering textures, sudden silences, irregular rhythms, and folk-inspired motifs bring Loewe’s scenes vividly to life. Though the work reflects the 19th century’s stereotypical view of “gypsy” culture, it remains a compelling musical document—at once imaginative, virtuosic, and theatrically charged.
An Urtext edition presents the music as faithfully as possible to the composer’s intentions. It is based on all available primary sources—first editions, autograph manuscripts, and reliable contemporary copies—and reproduces the musical text without arbitrary additions or editorial rewriting. At Felix Editions, editorial intervention is limited to the correction of obvious errors and is documented in the critical notes, ensuring historical accuracy together with practical clarity for performers.
For lesser-known composers, surviving sources are often exceptionally rare—sometimes only a single print or manuscript. Preparing an Urtext under such conditions requires careful reconstruction and cross-verification of fragmentary evidence. Our editions therefore combine scholarly rigour with curatorial work, making otherwise inaccessible music available in its most authentic form.
Each publication is produced to high standards of clarity, durability, and aesthetic refinement. Scores are printed on archival-grade, acid-free paper, chosen for its pleasant texture, natural colour, and stability over time.
Depending on page count, albums appear in two formats:
– Saddle-stitched for shorter works;
– Black wire binding for larger volumes, allowing pages to turn easily and remain open on the stand.
Every title is beautifully typeset to enhance both appearance and usability. Proportion and spacing are carefully balanced for legibility; page turns are planned so that, wherever possible, they avoid technically demanding passages. The result is a publication that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to play or read.
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