What are collected editions? Collected editions, which often run to several volumes, comprise either (1) the complete works of an individual composer, or (2) works of various composers, brought together by time period, region, or genre.
Complete works sets exist for the most famous composers. Less famous composers are generally represented by a collected edition such as those described in (2) above. Collected editions are put together by specialists who examine manuscripts and early printed sources in the effort to create a definitive version which fully represents the composer's intentions. Collected works sets are usually published over a number of years. Some run to more than 100 volumes.
Why would you need to use a collected edition? Well, you might find that the Library does not have individual scores of some of the works that you need to study, but that these works are contained in a collected edition — either in the complete works of the composer in question, or in a series such as Denkmäler deutscher Tonkunst. Or you might want to compare the performance score you are using with a carefully edited, scholarly score.
Where are collected editions kept? Most have a call number beginning with M2 or M3.
