About Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publisher founded in 1923 by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg and based in Kassel since 1927, with offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague. Since 1951 the house has built its reputation on New Complete Editions, scholarly Urtext editions covering the entire output of a composer. These include the Neue Bach-Ausgabe, the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, the New Schubert Edition, and complete editions of Berlioz, Fauré, Gluck, Handel, Janáček, Rossini, Saint-Saëns and Telemann.
Bärenreiter at Shar
Our Bärenreiter selection is organised by instrument and by composer, covering solo repertoire, accompanied works, ensemble music, methods and etudes. Bärenreiter Urtext editions are the standard reference text for much of the core string repertoire, which is why teachers and conservatoires specify them by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Urtext mean?
An Urtext edition aims to present the composer's own text as accurately as the surviving sources allow, without the editorial fingerings, bowings and dynamics that editors added in later performing editions.
Why do teachers ask for Bärenreiter editions specifically?
Because Urtext editions from Bärenreiter are widely treated as the reference text for core repertoire. Competitions, conservatoires and exam boards often specify them so that everyone is working from the same musical text.