Published in 1805, Joseph Woelfl’s Trois Sonates, Op. 33, represent a brilliant synthesis of Classical clarity and pianistic daring. A contemporary of Beethoven and a pupil of both Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Woelfl was known in his lifetime as a formidable virtuoso. These three sonatas exemplify his energetic and extroverted style: tight formal control, infectious rhythms, sparkling passagework, and a clear melodic profile throughout.
While grounded in Classical form, the sonatas push the technical limits of their time. The outer movements dazzle with rapid figuration and clever transitions, while the slow movements are lyrical and harmonically refined. Especially notable are the playful Alla Polacca finale of Sonata II and the perpetuum mobile coda of Sonata I—passages that reveal Woelfl’s flair for combining humour, virtuosity, and structural ingenuity. These sonatas stand as a vital link between the Mozartian sonata and the brilliant style of later composers like Hummel and Moscheles.
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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