Bartok, 4 Pieces Op.12

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homerdundas
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Bartok, 4 Pieces Op.12

Post by homerdundas »

... we have the orchestral parts noting that there is an uncertainty of the first publishing date. (1922?) I would like to upload the full score.
* It is a neatly penned copyist's manuscript
* Note from the foreword: "...first performed 9th January, 1922..."
* notice:
Boosey & Hawkes, HPS1112, Copyright 1923.
Plate B.&H. 20745
Thanks
daphnis
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Re: Bartok, 4 Pieces Op.12

Post by daphnis »

I suspect it's still under copyright as 1923 was the earliest date I could find and it looks like all copies emanate from Boosey & Hawkes, meaning no reprinters.
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Re: Bartok, 4 Pieces Op.12

Post by Carolus »

This is one of several items in the OMP that is a bit confusing. Kalmus has definitely not reprinted this, most likely for the reason mentioned by Daphnis (Boosey's 1923 copyright claim). However, OMCDL has reprinted the entire set of parts and presently sells them with no copyright claim from Boosey (who controls Bartok copyrights for the USA). The initial publication would have been by either UE or one of the Budapest firms (Rozsavolgyi or Rosznyai). This would not be the first time UE and Boosey are fudging with alleged publication dates to extend a copyright claim.

There's another factor in play also, which is the legal doctrine about what happens with first publication - established by a number of court cases - which holds that all extant versions of a piece are published when the first version issued appears or is offered to third parties. So, if a piano reduction (derived from the full score) was issued in 1922, the full score and parts were considered published at the same time. Boosey and others like to make separate claims for full scores and piano reductions, especially when a full score does not appear until decades later. This is only legitimate if the piano reduction was made after the publication of the full score, not the other way around - unless the piano version actually preceded the full score. Another established doctrine about publication holds that publication takes place when a work is first offered by a publisher (or author's agent) to third parties (like printing an advertisement or including an entry for the work in a catalog) - even if no sale, rental or lending actually takes place.

I am still mulling this one over, so hold off on posting please. If any of you dedicated researchers out there want to help by finding an original print with a 1922 (or earlier) date, an advertisement or catalog listing the piece from before 1923, etc. please let us know.
daphnis
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Re: Bartok, 4 Pieces Op.12

Post by daphnis »

I am still mulling this one over, so hold off on posting please. If any of you dedicated researchers out there want to help by finding an original print with a 1922 (or earlier) date, an advertisement or catalog listing the piece from before 1923, etc. please let us know.
Of course, you're still welcome to post this, just that if it does end up being a valid 1923 copyright, then it will experience the infamous [TB].
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