I'm wondering if this is considered "OK." I don't do it myself, but in some pieces, for example, Scarbo by Ravel, my edition (Alfred, always editing heavily) puts in suggested divisi. I believe that this is against what the composer wished, and that it would be better to learn it the way written, but I do see that the divisi would make it oh so much easier.

What are your opinions on divisi?

It depends.

If you're making significant changes as far as redistribution goes (i.e., totally eliminating a technical challenge such as playing a run in thirds with both hands instead of just one hand as intended by the composer), then I'd say that you shouldn't.

On the other hand, I wouldn't have any qualms about redistributing a note here and there to facilitate things like excessively wide stretches (this is almost a must in the music of Scriabin, Franck, Messiaen, and some Rachmaninoff).

As far as Scarbo itself goes, I would advise against any redistribution. Even though it may not seem like it at first, the music is very pianistic and well written; technical problems will solve themselves over time.

Use your own judgement, but always ask yourself if the problem cannot[/b] be solved the way it is written. If the answer is an absolute yes, then redistribute. Otherwise, I'd stick to the score - the composers usually knew what they were doing.

Do you mean redistribution as in playing something with the other hand in order to make a passage easier or dividing up notes differently between the hands?

It's none of Ravel's business how you decide to get to all his notes (and he's not in a position to complain)!

Rudolf Serkin always felt that one should not redistribute (he was opposed to even scribbling on the score and sullying the composer's intentions). Ruth Laredo has taken the same view in editing Rachmaninoff's music.

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: MacDuff ]