PIANOVERSALRegister Rules

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Piano music from 1880 to the present

PIANOVERSALRegister lists piano compositions from 1880 to the present.

PIANOVERSALRegister is committed to the artistic work of all composers worldwide, without restriction as to gender, nationality, religion, political conviction, aesthetic orientation or degree of renown.

Browse through this unique knowledge base! But please note: all contents of PIANOVERSALRegister are protected by copyright. Public use is not permitted without the express authorisation of PIANOVERSAL. The usual copyright rules apply. In academic and music-journalistic work, quotations are permitted with correct attribution of sources. Further important information on copyright can be found in the Terms and Conditions.

1. PUBLISHING CRITERIA AND RULES

The entries in PIANOVERSALRegister were compiled as accurately and completely as possible. To ensure this, the following publishing criteria and rules were applied.

Languages
The basic languages of PIANOVERSALRegister are German and English. Entries in French, Italian and Spanish are given without further translation. Where any other language is used, a translation of the entry has, wherever possible, been added in square brackets [ ... ] in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish.

Titles of compositions are given in the original language of the work or directly in translation. Where other languages are used, translations in German and English are provided in square brackets [ ... ] wherever possible.

Internationally understood terms such as „Sonata“, „Suite“, „Rondo“, „Nocturne“, „Concerto“, „Duo“ etc. are given without translation.

All information on the works under „Information on the composition“ (see below) has, wherever possible, been given in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish.

Composer names appear alphabetically in German or English spelling. Spellings in all other languages have also been entered under „Name variation“ as alternative spellings and appear in the search help.

2. Compositions and work categories in PIANOVERSALRegister

Principle: All forms of composed piano music are present in PIANOVERSALRegister.

The following categories can be found:
-Piano concertos
-Piano solo
-Piano duos or several pianos
-Piano trios (piano, violin, violoncello)
-Chamber music with piano (all scorings)
-Voice with piano
-Other keyboard instruments
-Without category

Each category follows its own principles.

Piano concertos
All compositions for solo piano with orchestra, chamber orchestra or chamber ensemble count as piano concertos. This category also includes concertos for several solo instruments with orchestra or chamber ensemble (e.g. triple concertos, concertos for two pianos and orchestra, etc.).

Instrumental concertos with other solo keyboard instruments (e.g. harpsichord, celesta, organ, synthesizer, clavichord, fortepiano, harmonium, toy piano) are listed in the category „Other keyboard instruments“.

The piano must have a leading solo role. Symphonic works with orchestral piano are not listed.

Piano solo
This category lists all works composed for piano solo. It also includes works that incorporate other instruments (e.g. percussion, voice, synthesizer) or technical means (e.g. tape, video, live electronics, prepared piano, amplification). The basic principle for this category is: the work must be performable on stage by one performer alone.

Corresponding solo works for other keyboard instruments (e.g. harpsichord, celesta, organ, synthesizer, clavichord, fortepiano, harmonium, toy piano, keyboard) are listed in the category „Other keyboard instruments“.

Piano duos / several pianos
This category lists works for two pianos and works for piano four hands, as well as all scorings for a larger number of pianos or pianists (e.g. piano six hands, works for three or more pianos, works for two pianos eight hands, etc.). The principle is: at least two performers on stage are required to perform the work. It also includes works that incorporate other instruments (e.g. percussion, voice, synthesizer) or technical means (e.g. tape, video, live electronics, prepared piano, amplification).

Piano trios
This category lists works for piano trio in the scoring piano, violin and violoncello. It also includes works that incorporate other instruments (e.g. percussion, voice, synthesizer) or technical means (e.g. tape, video, live electronics, prepared piano, amplification).

Corresponding works with other keyboard instruments (e.g. harpsichord, celesta, organ, synthesizer, clavichord, fortepiano, harmonium, toy piano, accordion, keyboard) are listed in the category „Other keyboard instruments“.

Chamber music with piano
This category lists instrumental chamber music compositions with piano in all scorings (duos, trios, quartets, quintets, chamber ensemble, etc.).

The specific formation piano trio (piano, violin, violoncello) is listed in a category of its own (see above).

Voice with piano
This category lists all works for voice with piano, choir with piano, as well as compositions for voice and chamber ensemble with piano. It also includes works for speaking voice(s) with piano or for speaking voice and chamber ensemble with piano (e.g. melodramas, works of a scenic character).

Corresponding works with other keyboard instruments (e.g. harpsichord, celesta, organ, synthesizer, clavichord, fortepiano, harmonium, toy piano, keyboard, accordion) are listed in the category „Other keyboard instruments“.

Other keyboard instruments
This category lists all compositions for other keyboard instruments in all scorings and categories (solo, chamber music, instrumental concertos, voice). „Other keyboard instruments“ are, for example, harpsichord, celesta, organ, synthesizer, clavichord, fortepiano, harmonium, toy piano, Wurlitzer, electric piano, keyboard. The list is not exhaustive.

Without category
Works were entered here that for some reason cannot be assigned to any of the categories above, but that use keyboard instruments in some form.

Further notes
Arrangements and transcriptions: only arrangements and transcriptions of their own works written by the composers themselves were included in the work lists. Arrangements by others are not listed.

3. Work entries

Composition title
The composition title was given as precisely as possible according to the title set by the composer, together with an opus number or catalogue number where available.

Year of origin
A year of origin is given for every composition. The year of origin is the year in which the work was completed. Where the year of origin is uncertain or unknown, the most probable year was given. Under „Information“ the entire period of origin is sometimes described in detail. Any uncertainties of dating are mentioned there as well. Revisions or different versions of the work are also indicated there.

Additional information about the works
Additional information can be found under the heading „Information on the composition“. This includes: -movement indications -titles of individual parts of the composition -duration of the work -exact period of origin or further information on its genesis -place, date and performers of the première -details of later revisions and versions -dedications, etc. This list is by no means exhaustive; anything of interest was noted here.

Information about the composer
The following information about composers has been collected: (*mandatory)

Name*
Name variation
First names*
Place of birth*
Date of birth*
Place of death
Date of death
Information / estate: further sources of information about the composer are listed here, e.g. official websites, foundations, societies, interest groups, collections, estates, etc.
Publishers: publishers with whom the composer’s scores are published are listed here. Record labels are not listed.
Sources/consultations*

Sources and publishing criteria
Every entry of a work in PIANOVERSALRegister has at least one, and often several, source references, in order to ensure objective traceability of the contents. The source references appear in PIANOVERSALRegister under Sources/consultations in the general information about the composers.

Each source carries a date (month/year) of consultation or, in the case of printed sources, the usual reference format for print media.

Criteria
Compositions included in the list meet at least one of the following criteria:

I. Works published as sheet music (music trade, publishers’ catalogues, library holdings)
II. Works mentioned in a published work list (print or web)
III. Works performed in concert (concert programmes)
IV. Works released as recordings (physical media, broadcast, digital media)
V. Works mentioned in encyclopaedias, in public catalogues, on digital information platforms or in specialist publications (print or web).
VI. Works appearing in work lists made available to PIANOVERSAL GmbH by the composer or their representative.

©PIANOVERSAL

Basel, 15 June 2017 (revised 18 June 2026)

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