Christmas is a festival of loved ones, gifts and consequently joy, even disappointment at times. We are therefore pleased to announce that for the year’s last printing at G. Henle Publishers, we have produced several truly wonderful editions, perfectly suited to enhance your personal Christmas celebrations, though these – often the best presents! – will not arrive in time for the festivities. According to the production schedule, they’ll be under the Christmas tree just when it’s about to be taken down on Candlemas.
That includes Debussy’s Danses for harp and string orchestra in brand-new performance material. Just imagine: the family, united in an ensemble, is gathered around by candlelight, at its centre, the gleaming golden family harp and the blue Henle conductor’s score. We could also have proffered something more confrontational: Johan Halvorsen’s grandiose Passacaglia for violin and viola. An incredibly virtuoso piece with which, on long-drawn-out holidays, sibling rivalry – assuming a more than solid instrumental education – could be musically fought out in a worthwhile and non-violent manner. Mozart’s Ein musikalischer Spaß, also in new performance material, would be most welcome when cabin fever sets in and the Christmas goose sits heavy on the stomach. The light trout dish on Boxing Day could be tastefully garnished with Schubert’s lied of the same name in Franz Liszt’s piano arrangement. Or, Beethoven’s lied Adelaide could be sung from our new Urtext editions for medium and low voice, to the words: “In reflective waters, in the snowy Alps, in the golden cloud banks of the sinking day, in the starry realms your likeness radiates, Adelaide!” Quite right, we think, the Alpine snow is the only thing that matters during the Christmas holidays – but there’s no snow in Adelaide, it’s now summer there. So, just as well that these Henle editions didn’t arrive at Christmas, when there’s already too much of everything; instead, they’ll soon sweeten the new year 2026 and whet the appetite for more new titles.
Until then, we wish you a peaceful and fulfilling time. We warmly thank you for faithfully reading our Henle blog and playing music from our Urtext editions.
Your Henle Blog Authors:
Peter Jost
Norbert Müllemann
Annette Oppermann
Andreas Pernpeintner
Dominik Rahmer