Editor: Matthew Mills
Jensen Piano Works
-
About the Composer
-
About the Edition
-
Publications
Adolf Jensen (1837–1879) was a German pianist, composer, and music teacher who holds a significant, though often overlooked, place in the German Romantic tradition. Born in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), he was largely self-taught, later receiving instruction from figures like Louis Ehlert. Jensen's brief but productive life—he died of tuberculosis at just 42—was heavily influenced by Robert Schumann in his early career, but he quickly developed a distinctive, melodically appealing style that also incorporates elements from Chopin and Liszt.
Jensen's reputation today rests primarily on his large output of art songs (Lieder), but his solo piano works are equally characteristic of his sensitive and lyrical musical voice. His piano music is essentially Romantic, focusing on the intimate character piece (a short work expressing a specific mood or idea), often showcasing virtuosic yet tender writing.
His piano writing is distinguished by its lyrical appeal and sophisticated use of keyboard figuration, demonstrating that although he often worked on a smaller scale, his craftsmanship was exceptional.
The Complete Solo Piano Works of Adolf Jensen: A New Urtext Edition
We are pleased to announce the publication of the definitive collection of the complete solo piano works by the German Romantic composer Adolf Jensen (1837–1879).
While Jensen is perhaps best known for his Lieder, his solo piano output stands as a sensitive and technically rewarding pillar of the mid-19th-century character piece tradition, strongly influenced by Schumann and Chopin. This music is essential for understanding the transition between the early and late Romantic periods.
Introducing the Matthew Mills Edition
This new comprehensive edition is presented in a meticulous Urtext format, compiled and edited by the distinguished piano scholar, Matthew Mills.
Key Features:
-
Complete Repertoire: Gathers all known solo piano works, including the most well-known suites like Erotikon (Op. 44) and Wanderbilder (Op. 17), alongside the significant Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor (Op. 25).
-
Source Integrity: Mills’s extensive research involved consulting all available autographs and first editions, resulting in a text that reflects the purest state of the musical text, providing performers and scholars with an authoritative foundation for study and performance.
-
Scholarly Apparatus: Includes a detailed critical commentary section, addressing textual variants and editorial decisions.
This edition is an indispensable resource for performers, educators, and libraries committed to exploring the full range of German Romantic keyboard literature. It provides the clarity and accuracy needed to appreciate and perform Jensen's lyrical and sophisticated contributions to the piano repertoire.
| Volume | Work(s) | Release | Format (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPW1 | Innere Stimmen, op. 2 | Available now | perfect-bound booklet |
| JPW2 | Valse brillante, op. 3 | Available now | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW3 | Fantasiestücke, op. 7 | Available 2024 - publication delayed | perfect-bound book |
| JPW4 | Romantische Studien, op. 8 | Available 2024 - publication delayed | perfect-bound book |
| JPW5 | Berceuse, op. 12 | Available now | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW6 | Jagdszene, op. 15 | Available 2025 - publication delayed | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW7 | Der Scheidenden, op. 16 | Available 2025 - publication delayed | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW8 | Wanderbilder, op. 17 | Available 2024 - publication delayed | perfect-bound book |
| JPW9 | Präludium und Romanze, op. 19 | Available 2025 - publication delayed | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW10 | Four Impromptus, op. 20 | Available 2025 - publication delayed | perfect-bound book |
| JPW11 | Sonata in F𝄰 minor, op. 25 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW12 | Valse-Caprices, op. 31 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW13 | 25 Klavier-Etuden, op. 32 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW14 | Lieder und Tänze, op. 33 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW15 | Deutsche Suite, op. 36 | Coming in 2026 | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW16 | Impromptu, op. 37 | Available 2024 - publication delayed | perfect-bound book |
| JPW17 | Two Nocturnos, op. 38 | Available 2024 - publication delayed | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW18 | Alla Marcia, Canzonetta, und Scherzo, op. 42 | Available 2025 - publication delayed | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW19 | Idyllen, op. 43 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bond book |
| JPW20 | Erotikon, op. 44 | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW21 | Ländler aus Berchtesgaden, op. 46 | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW22 | Waldidyll, op. 47 | Coming in 2027 | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW23 | Erinnerungen, op. 48 | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW24 | Scènes carnavalesques, op. 56 | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW25 | Ricordanza | Available now | saddle-stitched booklet |
| JPW26 | Shorter Piano Works, volume 1 (opp. 3, 12, 16) | Coming in 2025 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW27 | Shorter Piano Work, volume 2 (opp. 19, 36, 37, Ricordanza) | Coming in 2026 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW28 | Shorter Piano Works, volume 3 (opp. 38, 42, 47) | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book |
| JPW29 | Collected Works for Solo Piano, volume 1 (opp. 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19) | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book linen-wrap hardback |
| JPW30 | Collected Works for Solo Piano, volume 2 (opp. 20, 25, 31, 32, 33, 36, Ricordanza) | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book linen-wrap hardback |
| JPW31 | Collected Works for Solo Piano, volume 3 (opp. 37, 38, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 56) | Coming in 2027 | perfect-bound book linen-wrap hardback |