Breitkopf & Härtel

How to get 300 years of a company's history, combined with an equally long period of music and cultural history, between two book covers in a sophisticated and sensible way? How to select from the nearly incalculable quantity of material, how to separate essentials from what is less important? The start of the narrative is easy to find in the events of January 1719, though not so, where and when a break or even a turning point along its course ought be made. During the last three years, our editor Thomas Frenzel has been confronted daily with such daunting questions.

The result is not just a chronicle or publishing-house history. You will rather be granted a keyhole glimpse, and you will be taken on a journey through 300 years of European music and cultural history. Illustrated is the formation of the entire music publishing industry as well as the emergence of Leipzig as a city of music and the 'center of the world book trade,' together with the fact that Breitkopf & Härtel significantly contributed to both developments.

The highest standards of content, paper, printing, and binding emphasize the intrinsic value of this Breitkopf & Härtel production - unique in 300 years.

Te are sure that you, reader and viewer, will get at least as much pleasure as did the editor from certain historical peculiarities in its content and language.