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Best Chopin Piano Sheet Music Editions

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin was born in 1810 in Poland. Chopin wrote music primarily for the piano. Any serious pianist is expected to play many of Chopin’s works, such as his piano etudes, scherzo, ballades, waltz, polonaise, mazurka, and piano sonatas.

Chopin Etudes

The Chopin Etudes of Op. 10 and Op. 25 have remained a stable mark of piano repertoire for many years. These etudes aid in building a pianist’s virtuosic technique. The Opus 10 Etudes were composed in 1829 – 1832. The Etudes of Opus 25 were composed between 1832 – 1836.

The most recommended editions for these etudes are placed on the top of the page, and the lease recommended editions are placed toward the bottom.

National Edition

The National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, published by PWM and distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, is a superb edition of the Chopin Etudes. Including both the Op. 10 Etudes and the Op. 25 Etudes, this edition promises the most authentic resources for their work. Recent publishing of Chopin’s works by National Edition were in 2013.

Sources include Chopin’s original autographs, and pupil’s editions of the Chopin Etudes. This edition claims to be the “first source-critical edition of Chopin`s complete works based on the entire body of available sources.” The edition features Chopin’s original fingering, the editor’s fingerings, and commentary notes on topics such as pedaling.

Those who wish to compete in the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw are recommended to use this edition for the competition.

You can see samples of Chopin works edited by National Edition with this link

Edtied by Jan Ekier and Pawel Kaminski

Here is an example of the Polish National Edition (This is from Chopin’s Second Scherzo)

Etudes: Chopin National Edition 2A, Vol. II (Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

This Paderewski edition is considered the standard edition for Chopin’s works by many professional pianists. This book contains the 24 etudes from Op. 10 and Op. 25 and contains 156 pages. This best edition for Chopin is known for its unique performance notes, and the details it gives for how the sources affected the edition.

Some people who use this edition complain about the difficulty of keeping these books open. The binding of this edition does not hold the book open too well.

Edited by Ignacy Jan Paderewski

Here is an example of the Paderewski Chopin Etudes:

Studies: Chopin Complete Works II

Henle Verlag Urtext Edition

You can never go wrong with the Henle Verlag Urtext of the Chopin Etudes. Trustworthy and reliable, this edition can be used for both professional and amateur use. The Henle Verlag Urtext draws its edition from many credible sources, such as autographs, copies, and early printings. This version is also considered a standard that is used and promoted by many piano teachers.

Edited by Ewald Zimmermann and fingering Hermann Keller.

Chopin Etudes Urtext Opus 10 And Opus 25 Etuden

Durand Salabert Edition

A famous edition for Chopin that includes study exercises and suggested fingerings by Alfred Cortot. A must have for pianist who are struggling with finding good ways to practice the Chopin etudes.

You can view the Cortot edition free by clicking here.

Here is an example of the Durand Chopin Etudes:

12 Studies Op10 Piano Etudes (English Text)

12 Studies Op. 25 Piano Etudes (English Text) (Musical Expeditions)

Alfred Masterwork Edition

This edition of the Chopin Etudes by Alfred Masterwork includes pedal markings taken from the original score, and fingerings made by the editor Williard A. Palmer.

Click here to see a sample of Alfred Masterwork Chopin Etudes

Chopin — Etudes (Complete) (Comb Bound Book) (Alfred Masterwork Edition)

Dover Edition

This edition of Chopin Etudes, along with the Chopin Preludes, is a reproduction of the Mikuli edition. Carl Mikuli was a student of Chopin, and in this edition, it is known that he wrote some of his personal suggestions for notes, details, and fingerings. Some pianist find this to be troublesome.

Click on the following link to see a sample of the Dover Chopin Etudes.

The Complete Preludes & Etudes: For Solo Piano

Schirmer Edition

Even though this is perhaps the most popular edition for Chopin Etudes, this website chooses to place this towards the bottom of the list for good editions of the Chopin Etudes. While this is still a good edition and features interesting finger suggestions, some of the editorial details are contentious. The Dover Edition would be a better buy it terms of price and similar quality.

Edited by Arthur Friedheim

Click on the following link to see a sample of the Schirmer Chopin Etudes

Etudes for the Piano (Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics, vol.33)

Chopin Nocturnes

The Best Editions for Chopin Nocturnes are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended).

I wanted to add a discovery I found in Nocturne in C minor, Op 48 No 1, MM. 16.

Let’s take a look at the National Edition:

And the Henle edited by Zimmermann:

Pay attention to the last note in measure 16. It’s a B natural octave in both the Henle and the National Edition.

Now look at the Dover edition edited by Carl Mikuli:

And the Durand Edition edited by Alfred Cortot:

Those two editions, as well as many others, contain a G octave instead of a B. Both work harmonically, but which one is Chopin’s true intention?

When viewing the source commentary of the National Edition, it is stated that in Chopin’s Autograph, First German Edition, and Fontana’s Copy, the note is a B octave. In the French First Edition, it was B to G (wrong), and then corrected it to a G octave. The National Edition chooses what is written in Chopin’s Autograph, as Chopin often fixed errors with more errors.

Now let’s listen to different performers on this piece:

Rubinstein: Plays G octave

Valentina Lisista: Plays G octave

Seong-Jin Cho: (winner of International Chopin 2015 ) – Plays G octave

Tiffany Poon: (also competed in International Chopin 2015) – Plays B octave

Out of these 4 performers, only one played the B Octave. What’s even more interesting, is that the International Chopin competitors in Poland are encouraged to use the National Edition by Jan Ekier. Tiffany Poon probably used the National Edition or Henle when studying this piece, while Cho did not.

With all of this in mind, which score should you study from? It’s really tough to make a clear decision on this, seeing that most pianists are choosing to not play what is in the National and Henle editions, which are considered to be the leading editions. Whatever edition you choose to use, be ready to defend yourself against geeks like me who know a little bit about this kind of stuff.

I would recommend choosing the National Edition or the Henle, as their source commentary and reasoning for choosing the B octaves makes the most sense.

National Edition

Click here to see the best edition for Chopin Nocturnes

Nocturnes: Chopin National Edition 5A, Vol. 5 (Series a: Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime / Serie a: Utwory Wydane Za Zycia Chopina)

Henle Urtext

Click here for reviews and pricing on Amazon.com!

Paderewski Edition

Nocturnes: Chopin Complete Works Vol. VII

Durand Edition

Chopin Waltzes

The best editions for Chopin Waltzes are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see the best edition for Chopin Waltz.

Chopin Complete Works 27: Waltz (posthumous) (Polish National Edition)(Chinese Edition)

Paderewski Edition

Chopin: Complete Works, Book, 9: Waltzes

Durand Edition

Chopin Preludes

The best editions for Chopin Preludes are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the best edition for Chopin Preludes.

Preludes: Chopin National Edition Vol. VII (National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, Series a)

Paderewski Edition

Here is an example of the Paderewski Chopin Preludes:

Preludes: Chopin Complete Works Vol. I (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works)

Henle Verlag Urtext

Editor by Norbert Müllemann and fingering by Hermann Keller.

Here is an example of the Henle Chopin Preludes

Préludes

Durand Salabert Edition

Includes the Waltzes.

Here is an example of the Durand Chopin Preludes:

Complete Preludes And Waltzes For Piano Ed. Cortot

Alfred Masterwork Edition

Edited by Willard A. Palmer

Click on the following link to see a sample of the Alfred Masterwork Chopin Preludes.

Chopin — Preludes (Alfred Masterwork Edition)

Chopin Ballades

The best editions for Chopin Ballades are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the Best edition for Chopin Ballades.

Ballades: Chopin National Edition Volume I (Series a. Works Published During Chopins Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

Here is an example of the Paderewski Chopin Ballades:

Ballades: Chopin Complete Works Vol. III (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works)

Henle Verlag Urtext

Editor by Norbert Müllemann with fingering by Hans-Martin Theopold

Here is an example of the Henle Chopin Ballades:

Frederic Chopin – Ballades Softcover

Durand Salabert Edition

Here is an example of the Cortot Chopin Ballades:

Cortot edition Chopin Ballade Op.23, 38,47,52 (2012) ISBN: 4111800637 [Japanese Import]

Dover Edition

Includes the Impromptus and Sonatas, all for a relatively low price.

Click on the following link to see a sample of the Dover Chopin Ballades and Impromptus.

Complete Ballades, Impromptus and Sonatas

Chopin Impromptus

Best Editions for Chopin Impromptus are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see sample for the best edition for Chopin Impromptus.

Impromptus Op. 29, 36, 51: Chopin National Edition (Series a: Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

Here is an example of the Paderewski Chopin Impromptus:

Impromptus: Chopin Complete Works Vol. IV (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works)

Durand Edition

Henle Verlag Urtext

Edited by Ewald Zimmermann with fingering by Hans-Martin Theopold.

Here is an example of the Henle Chopin Impromptus:

Chopin Scherzo

Best Editions for Chopin Scherzo are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the best edition for Chopin Scherzo.

Scherzos: Chopin National Edition 9A, Vol. IX (National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, Series a: Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime / Wydanie Narodowe Dziel Fryderyka Chopina, Serie)

Paderewski Edition

Scherzos: Chopin Complete Works Vol. V (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works)

Durand Edition

Henle Verlag Urtext

Scherzos (Henle Music Folios)

Chopin Sonatas

Best editions for Chopin Sonatas are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the best edition for Chopin Piano Sonatas.

Sonatas, Op. 35 & 58: Chopin National Edition 10A, Vol. X (Series a: Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

Sonatas: Chopin Complete Works Vol. VI (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works)

Durand Edition

Henle Urtext

Chopin Polonaise

Best Editions for Chopin Polonaise are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample for the best edition of Chopin Polonaise.

Sonatas, Op. 35 & 58: Chopin National Edition 10A, Vol. X (Series a: Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

Polonaises: Chopin Complete Works Vol. VIII

Durand Edition





Dover Edition

Click on the following link to see an example of the Dover Chopin Polonaises and Nocturnes.

Nocturnes and Polonaises

Chopin Mazurkas

The Best Editions for Chopin Mazurkas are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the best sheet music edition for Chopin Mazurkas

Mazurkas: Chopin National Edition 4A, Vol. IV (Series a., Works Published During Chopin’s Lifetime)

Paderewski Edition

Mazurkas: Chopin Complete Works Vol. X

Durand Edition

Henle Urtext

Chopin Fantasies

The Best Editions for Chopin Fantasies are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the national Edition Chopin Fantasies

Chopin Complete Works ( Polish National Edition ) : Fantasia score(Chinese Edition)

Paderewski Edition

Chopin Concertos

The Best Editions for Chopin Concerto are ranked from top (most recommended) to bottom (least recommended)

National Edition

Click here to see a sample of the best edition for chopin piano concerto.

Concerto in E Minor Op. 11 – Version with Second Piano: Chopin National Edition 30B, Vol. Vla (Series B: Works Published Posthumously / Seria B: Utwory Wydane Posmiertnie)

Concerto in F minor Op. 21 for 2 Pianos: Chopin National Edition Volume XXXI (Series B. Works Published Posthumously / Seria B. Utwory Wydane Posmiertnie)

Paderewski Edition

Concertos: Piano Reduction for Two Pianos Chopin Complete Works Vol. XIV

Henle Urtext

Click here to see a sample of the Henle Chopin Piano Concerto





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