This is a brand new edition of our beloved Pichl concerto issued by Editions Violone, an upcoming company with specialty in Violone and Double Bass works started by Jeannot Tihoti Maha'a. The concerto editor Bret Simner follows strictly the Urtext principles of editing, by presenting us only with the original text. What you see printed is basically what was left on the manuscript, with few minor edits for clarity sake. Also, this edition does not offer any fingerings or helping aids for the newcomers to the Viennese technique, as it is assumed that the performer should be familiar with the Viennese system.

Those familiar with Pichl concerto will also find few new details too. For example, a clarification of the rhythm in bar 21 of the 1st movement and the original "ottava" (an octave higher) indication for bars 34-41 of the 2nd movement. In addition Jeannot has offered a very fine engraving that nicely preserves the original period strokes above the notes, which are all too often replaced by modern staccato markings in the other prints. The strokes in general had a double function in the period and could be interpreted as accents as well. A point difficult to conway if one uses only staccato markings.

A major quality that differentiates this edition from many others is its very format of the orchestra score with parts set! A type of the edition that is usually available only through specialty orders, or for the orchestra rentals. Moreover, due to the very nature of this Viennese concerto, the concerto can also be played well on the modern orchestra tuning so this edition can be used by the wider bass community for orchestra concerts too.

Whether there may be a piano reduction edition of this concerto in plans, is not known at the moment. However given that the edition is also intended for period professionals who can play in the Viennese Tuning, it would have been nice if a facsimile copy of the solo part was also included in the set. Otherwise the author of this site can only offer compliments on the effort of Bret Simner and the Editions Violone management - and wish them success in producing many more such publications in the future.

September 20, 2011