IMSLP Forums

It would be great if someone could scan in the old Steingraber (German) edition by Hans Bischoff of the keyboard works of J. S. Bach. In my opinion, this is still the best edition.

The English version of this edition used to available from Kalmus, but Alfred took over Kalmus and re-engraved the edition, messing it up badly. (Wrong notes, editorial markings no longer in light type, bad page turns etc.) The Kalmus Bischoff in English translation may still be under copyright protection, but the original German Bischoff edition is not. Anybody have access to it and want to do a very good service to the musical community? Or even better, find out if the Kalmus is now in public domain and scan that one instead.

Best, John Ruggero

I have not the books, but I'm interested in this too. Which Bach works are you talking about ? The WTC ? The Partitas ? The suites ? Goldberg variations ? Inventions ? The Art of fugue ? Or some others works ? Maybe all of them (that would be damned good !).

I love collecting editions of Bach. You find something different in everyone of them.

All are PD - including the English translations (originally issued by Schirmer or Ditson in the 1890s). I'll look around to see what I can find. Thanks for the heads up on the Alfred reissue, BTW. I did not know that they re-engraved the editions but messed them up! If you have something re-engraved, it has to be carefully proofread as the potential for introducing new errors is always there!

Schirmer published the Bischoff edition of WTC (in English), but I don't know about the copyright status.

Thank you all for the great information and support!

I have emailed Alfred and they show some interest in the matter. They were also unaware of the problem, since they had taken over Kalmus edition from Warner Brothers, which had in turn taken over the Kalmus edition from Belwin. Apparently it was Belwin that did the awful re-engraving job.

It is wonderful news if the original Kalmus edition is indeed in public domain. Those who have the original could scan in all the volumes of this edition and do everyone a great service. I have the volume of miscellaneous pieces and will scan those in. Unfortunately the few others I have are heavily marked and not scannable, but will check the excellent UNC-Chapel Hill library. If others wish to volunteer for this project, that would be great.

But first we do need to know if the edition is definitely in the public domain. Can the moderator please advise.

John Ruggero

It's absolutely public domain. The fact that Kalmus had reprinted it (the original Kalmus - who sold the piano music division to Belwin in 1971 - didn't do anything except public domain reprints for a very long time after they started the practice in 1933) is proof of the editions' status in the USA. Bischoff died in 1889, so it's free elsewhere in the world also.

Thanks Carolus. I am going to scan what I have and submit them to IMSLP.

John Ruggero