This new edition solves serious problems in the work's only extant prior edition, ones that led to the work's neglect over the last half-century. The main solution, a radically different approach to tempi, was tested in concert by Roy Howat with Prague's legendary Panocha Quartet at festivals in Japan and the Czech Republic and at a sold-out Wigmore Hall in November 2005; the work is now again bringing the house down, as it did at its Parisian premiere in 1906.
The following Fauré Critical editions and transcriptions (where indicated) by Roy Howat are all published by Peters Edition (London):
13 Nocturnes for piano. EP 7659
Contains literally hundreds of corrections never before printed, many from Fauré's own pen, including 20 corrections on the first page of the First Nocturne alone.
"It is hard to offer sufficient praise and gratitude to both Roy Howat and Peters Edition for their superlative, much-needed new edition of Fauré's 13 Nocturnes" – Murray McLachlan in International Piano
Thème et variations for piano, op. 73. EP 7956
This new critical edition is based on at least eight important sources – six of them missed by the recent Henle edition – solves longstanding problems of tempo and structural coherence, and shows hitherto unpublished variants supplied by Fauré to pianist colleagues.
8 Pièces brèves op. 84 for piano. EP 7601
3 Romances sans paroles op. 17 for piano. EP 7711
Anthology of Pieces for Cello and Piano (8 pieces including two first publications). EP 7571
Anthology of Selected Pieces for Flute and Piano (2 original pieces + 8 new transcriptions, including several first publications). EP 7514
Anthology of Pieces for Violin and Piano (4 original pieces, one in a first edition). EP 7515
Sonata no. 1 (in A major) for violin and piano, Op. 13. EP 7487
Incorporates hundreds of previously unpublished corrections, including Fauré's violin writing before some passages were overwritten with virtuoso figurations by Hubert Léonard. See Roy's article in The Strad, March 1998.
Dolly op. 56, suite for piano duet. EP 7430. Also available in transcription for solo piano (EP 7384).
"Roy Howat has dug deeply and productively into the sources and produced a text of exemplary clarity. Buy it, play it, enjoy it and throw your old copy away" – John York in Classical Piano
Pavane, op. 50, in transcriptions for flute, 2 singers and piano (EP 7526), and for solo piano (arr. Roy Howat and Wendy Hiscocks, EP 7383). Also for flute and piano in Anthology of Selected Pieces for Flute and Piano (see above)
These editions take account of Sir Adrian Boult's memories of Fauré:
"I heard Fauré play the Pavane several times, with distinguished soloists like Gervase Elwes and Murray Davey, with Mrs George Swinton and others, and once Louis Fleury played the flute sitting by the composer and playing the tune from his piano copy. I will stake a good deal on the statement that Fauré played the Pavane no slower than crotchet [quarter] = 100!" (letter to Robert Orledge, 1975)
Après un rêve, arranged for cello or viola or violin and piano (EP 7481)
Sicilienne, op. 80, arranged for violin or viola and piano (EP 7386); also for flute and piano in Anthology of Selected Pieces for Flute and Piano (see above)
"Berceuse" from Dolly (La Chanson dans le jardin), arranged for violin and piano (EP 7624).
Next to appear:
13 Barcarolles for piano. Peters Edition. EP 71904
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