IMSLP Forums

There are a large number of PD concertos and similar solistic pieces posted on IMSLP only in reductions for solo instrument and piano. Evidently, orchestral scores and parts for many of these concertos have either disappeared over time or they are now inaccessible -- as a substantial number of these pieces are not represented today in the orchestral catalogs of Kalmus, Lucks or the Fleischer Library. If these orchestral scores (and/or parts) still survive anywhere, they may be buried in the archives of defunct music publishers (subsequently purchased by other music publishers,) music libraries, orchestra libraries, or private collections; or they may exists only as hand-copied scores and parts in the estates of historic soloists and conductors.

Without these orchestral scores, these concertos (konzertstuecken, fantaisien, etc) cannot be performed today with orchestra, or recorded. (Orchestral parts are useful but not essential. New orchestral parts can be produced from the orchestral scores.)

I suggest that IMSLP become the become the focus of an international effort to exhume and post the missing orchestral scores for all these PD concerto piano reductions. A place to start might be a webpage where orchestral librarians, music librarians, music researchers, and perhaps even music publishers could list the location of any such PD orchestral scores, parts, manuscripts, and hand-copied materials. It might be useful, as well, to compile a list of pieces for solo instrument and orchestra that are currently posted on IMSLP only as reductions for solo instrument and piano.

MS

Secondary to this would be a number of concertos for which parts were made, but there never were scores, the conductor using a violin part instead. Any ambitious typesetters could help modern performances of these tremendously.

Off the topic, but I own in my private Collection The Khachaturian Violin Concerto (purchased from Kalmus before the Gatt treaty was signed 1996) Complete set of Parts + Full Score.

But however this is still copyrighted and most likely won't be readily available (meaning PD status for some countries) for another Half Century or so.

-DrSRo