Johannes Brahms Complete Symphonies in Full Score (Vienna Gesellschaft Der Musikfreunde Edition)

Missing pages! 250 directly goes to 259! Also wrong orders

If you want an inexpensive edition of the full scores of all of Brahms' symphonies, this classic Dover edition is a solid choice. And the print is large enough - not like those "pocket" scores - to read without forcing your eyes. You can listen to a recording, but you are at another level if you have the score to follow: textures open up, oppositions, harmonies, tempo markings (brief with Brahms). Whatever version you listen to, it must begin with the score. What better way to deepen your appreciation of the great conductors than with the score in hand?

As a student when you're buying so many other books and things it is nice to have an affordable option for scores like this. I've had to buy a lot of conducting scores and it's great to have this wonderful repertoire for a cheap price.

The intricate and painstaking weaving of the dozen or more "voices" of strings, woodwinds, and brass that Brahms wove into his symphonies quieter, slower movements can, in my opinion, be more fully grasped and appreciated by having the full orchestral score there, right before ones eyes. Hearing the notes is one thing; but hearing and seeing the notes at the same time is, to me, exhilarating! I learn more about the possibilities (timbre and range) of different instruments (clarinet, English horn, and cello especially) by having the notes and speeds of their passages down, in black and white, in front of me. (Another thing: it is both fascinating and instructive to play passages written for clarinet or cello on a different instrument, such as an acoustic guitar, a piano or a trumpet--all of which I (amateurishly, to be sure!) play. For me, having the scores of these great symphonies has led to my having a richer response to them, and I would heartily recommend this book to anyone desirous of penetrating to the heart and soul of such endlessly satisfying and immortal music.

Exactly what I was looking for! It was delivered a day later than expected but I was in no rush. Only complaint is the pages are very thin and fragile. Making notes on the score would have to be used with a light pencil or ball point pen.

The Brahms symphonies are among my favorite of all music. I've listened to them many, many times. To pick up on more subtleties of the music I purchased the conductor score to read while listening. I only suggest doing this if you are pretty good at reading music. The Brahms symphonies are of above average difficulty to read compared to many other composers. For example, you might choose to follow just one part, like clarinet or cello, while listening to a particular movement. Brahms truly was a genius!

Gift for a band director

A wealth of knowledge at a small price. The scores are easy to read and unlike other Brahms scores found online, the scores here contain rehearsal markings. Additionally, every system lists the names of the instruments, a nice feature especially for those beginning to read full orchestral scores. The Brahms Complete Concerti published by Dover also features the rehearsal markings and naming of instruments, although this is not true of all Dover scores. I highly recommend to Brahms enthusiasts.