I find the prices extremely disagreeable, yet it is better to invest in a proper printed version - clearer, and they last a lot longer.</P>
It depends: I for example when I study a piece I always start on a copied version because I write plenty of things on the score (harmonic analysys, fingering, notes, ...), things that I don't need anymore when I am performing. So usually I abuse of the copy trying to preserve the original.</P>
And for the record, the Dupre Preludes and Fugues Op.7 are available on http://imslp.org. (http://imslp.org./)</P>
This is an useful link! Thanks very much! Do you know other similar sites for organ music?</P>
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I haven't found any site with as much organ music as the international music score project. It''s got some goodies though! Especially Reger. </P>
I have to agree with everyone else here: The french scores are ridiculously expensive. I consider myself to be doing well when I can get a french score for a dollar a page. That being said, much of the organ music of the composers you mentioned, and especially Durufle, will eventually be in the repertoire of most serious organists, so essentially, when you are purchasing these scores, you are making an investment for the future. As for Durufle, if you are interested in studying these scores, you are going to become interested in playing them, and you will probably play them for a long time. I am 27 and I know one of durufle's works in its entirety (P and F on Alain) and a couple other movements of other works, and I intend to play these for the rest of my life, as well as work on the rest of his small, but sublime output. So everytime I purchase a score such as these, I don't intend to puchase another of that score unless the previous one is destroyed in some way. As for study notes, I copy pages out of the already purchased music, but I will always perform from printed music. </P>
Also of note, for those in the United States, the prices on the Durufle scores have dropped significantly in the past couple of years, due to a new distributor. Not sure what the situation is in Europe though. As for the dupre scores, some of which are astronomically expensive (70-100 bucks for a 30 page or less score), I think there is plenty of great music to study first that is cheaper. The Op. 7 Preludes and Fugues are a good example. </P>
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