Editio Musica Budapest Zeneműkiadó, as the legal successor to the publishers before the Second World War, is proud to have been able to edit and distribute the works of Béla Bartók, both in Hungary and worldwide, for 74 years. In much of Europe, the copyright for most of Bartók’s works expired in 2016. As a result, editions by several publishers are expected to appear, and the concern is that some might be based on obsolete scores of dubious reliability. Thus, it is particularly timely that Bartók’s works finally be made available as part of a complete, scholarly, authentic edition. Publishing a composer’s oeuvre also provides an opportunity to make available previously unpublished youthful works, unknown versions of works, and as yet unpublished movements, all eagerly awaited by performing musicians. A complete edition of a composer’s work entails the editing of the entire oeuvre based on standardized principles, and musical texts based on all the sources and authoritative editions, with a historical introduction and detailed critical notes.

Preparations for the planned 48 volumes of the Bartók Complete Critical Edition began under the direction of László Somfai, and now continues in the Bartók Archive, part of the Institute for Musicology in Budapest, directed by László Vikárius. The Archive was founded in 1961 to hold the Bartók estate in Hungary, and is the only special collection and place of research dedicated to Bartók’s life and works. Editio Musica Budapest Zeneműkiadó publishes the series jointly with G. Henle Verlag of Munich, which has garnered an outstanding international reputation for its critical editions. This partnership ensures ideal conditions for the publishing and international distribution of a complete edition of the highest quality. Due to the high production cost of the volumes and the intensive scholarly, editorial, and typographical work required, we anticipate the publication of two volumes each year.

Following the publication of the volumes of the complete critical edition, which can be used as reference works, works already published will be made available in the more economical, practical sheet-music format known as Urtext editions. In this way, we hope the Bartók Complete Critical Edition will become the main edition for the composer’s oeuvre throughout the world.