A comparative study of the eschig editions and the '1928 manuscript' of Heitor Villa-Lobos's Twelve etudes for guitar

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) composed his cycle of twelve guitar studies in the 1920s. The cycle has become one of the most widely-played works for the instrument, seminal building blocks for study, important works the twentieth century concert repertory. Éditions Max Eschig of Paris published the first edition in 1953 and the second edition in 1990. This company is the sole publisher of the cycle and of most of Villa-Lobos’s music. The company’s editions have been the single trusted sources for the work. Recently, however, things have changed. In the mid-1990s, a manuscript of the cycle, ostensibly dating from 1928 and in Villa-Lobos’s hand, emerged. This remarkable version is meticulously notated and full of markings not shown in the editions. The current leadership at Éditions Max Eschig does not seem to think the 1928 Manuscript is worth investigation. However, it offers many insights into the Eschig editions and the problems they have raised for performers. In the following study, I will show a careful analysis of the discrepancies between the 1928 Manuscript and the 1990 Edition. The analysis will reveal the importance of the 1928 Manuscript. It will also show the flaws of the 1990 Edition. It will enhance the guitarist’s understanding of the cycle and contribute to its scholarship.