Adolf Martin Schlesinger
Encyclopedia
Adolf Martin Schlesinger (4 October 1769 – 11 October 1838) was a German music publisher whose firm became one of the most influential in Berlin in the early nineteenth century.
, and was born Aaron Moses Schlesinger in Sülz, Silesia
. He began in the book business in Berlin in 1795, operating from his house and founded a music publishing
house there, the Schlesinger'sche Buchhandlung, in 1810, initially situated in Breite Strasse. The firm expanded over the next decade to include leading composers such as Carl Maria von Weber
, Ludwig van Beethoven
, and Felix Mendelssohn
. It also published military music for the Prussia
n state.
Schlesinger's ongoing lobbying
on the issue of musical copyright
(prompted by pirating
of his publication of Weber's Der Freischütz
), was a major factor in the introduction of the influential Prussian copyright law of 1830. The prosperity of the business enabled the firm to move in 1823 to spacious premises at no. 34, Unter den Linden
, where the mahogany
fittings were designed by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel
.
A contemporary description of Schlesinger represents him as 'a short, stout, portly gentleman, whose energy, entrepreneurial spirit and business sense one immediately noticed when he fixed one with his single eye (the left one was missing).'
In 1824 Schlesinger launched a music magazine, the Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, with Adolf Bernhard Marx
as editor. On Marx's advice, he undertook the first publication of J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion
after Mendelssohn's pioneering revival of the work (from manuscript sources) in 1829.
Schlesinger's Jewish origins led to slighting references about him by some other publishers and contemporary composers. Schlesinger was characterised by Beethoven in his correspondence as 'a beach-peddler and rag-and-bone Jew'; and Beethoven complained in a letter to the publisher Peters
in 1826 that 'Schlesinger [..] has paid me a dirty Jewish trick'. Peters had previously asked Beethoven not to offer Schlesinger his Missa Solemnis
, because 'a Christian
Mass
composed by Beethoven cannot come into the hands of a Jew, and especially such a Jew.' Despite these comments, Beethoven was perfectly happy for Schlesinger to publish, subsequently, his late quartet
s and sonata
s.
Schlesinger also published music by Gaspare Spontini
, Luigi Cherubini
, Johann Nepomuk Hummel
, Carl Loewe, and others.
in 1838, leaving his widow a substantial fortune.
Schlesinger's son Moritz Adolf (Maurice) Schlesinger
later started a branch of the firm in Paris
, and another son, Heinrich, took over the Berlin branch and sold it to Robert Lienau
in 1864.
The Paris firm became a leader of musical taste, publishing the music of Chopin
, Liszt
, and Meyerbeer
among others. It also published the principal Paris musical magazine, the Revue et gazette musicale. The composer Richard Wagner
worked for Maurice Schlesinger in Paris in 1840-41, turning out hack
arrangements of opera
excerpts. Wagner's autobiography pointedly refers to Maurice Schlesinger's Jewish origins.
Career
Schlesinger was JewishHistory of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
, and was born Aaron Moses Schlesinger in Sülz, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. He began in the book business in Berlin in 1795, operating from his house and founded a music publishing
History of music publishing
- Early publishing:Music publishing did not begin on a large scale until the mid-15th century, with the first printing of music. The earliest existence of printed music dates from about 1465, and then only liturgical chants were printed...
house there, the Schlesinger'sche Buchhandlung, in 1810, initially situated in Breite Strasse. The firm expanded over the next decade to include leading composers such as Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
, Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, and Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. It also published military music for the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n state.
Schlesinger's ongoing lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
on the issue of musical copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
(prompted by pirating
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
of his publication of Weber's Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
), was a major factor in the introduction of the influential Prussian copyright law of 1830. The prosperity of the business enabled the firm to move in 1823 to spacious premises at no. 34, Unter den Linden
Unter den Linden
Unter den Linden is a boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, the capital of Germany. It is named for its linden trees that line the grassed pedestrian mall between two carriageways....
, where the mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
fittings were designed by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
.
A contemporary description of Schlesinger represents him as 'a short, stout, portly gentleman, whose energy, entrepreneurial spirit and business sense one immediately noticed when he fixed one with his single eye (the left one was missing).'
In 1824 Schlesinger launched a music magazine, the Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, with Adolf Bernhard Marx
Adolf Bernhard Marx
Friedrich Heinrich Adolf Bernhard Marx was a German composer, musical theorist and critic.-Life:...
as editor. On Marx's advice, he undertook the first publication of J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion
Matthäuspassion
The St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, , is a musical composition from the Passions written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander . It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew to music, with interspersed chorales and arias...
after Mendelssohn's pioneering revival of the work (from manuscript sources) in 1829.
Schlesinger's Jewish origins led to slighting references about him by some other publishers and contemporary composers. Schlesinger was characterised by Beethoven in his correspondence as 'a beach-peddler and rag-and-bone Jew'; and Beethoven complained in a letter to the publisher Peters
Edition Peters
Edition Peters, also known as C.F.Peters Musikverlag, is a German music publishing house, founded in Leipzig in 1800.From the 1860s it was largely run by members the Hinrichsen family, who were Jewish. The company was confiscated by the Nazis and administered by the "Trustee of Jewish Property"....
in 1826 that 'Schlesinger [..] has paid me a dirty Jewish trick'. Peters had previously asked Beethoven not to offer Schlesinger his Missa Solemnis
Missa Solemnis (Beethoven)
The Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823. It was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg, under the auspices of Beethoven's patron Prince Nikolai Galitzin; an incomplete performance was given in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when the Kyrie,...
, because 'a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
composed by Beethoven cannot come into the hands of a Jew, and especially such a Jew.' Despite these comments, Beethoven was perfectly happy for Schlesinger to publish, subsequently, his late quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
s and sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
s.
Schlesinger also published music by Gaspare Spontini
Gaspare Spontini
Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini was an Italian opera composer and conductor, extremely celebrated in his time, though largely forgotten after his death.-Biography:...
, Luigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini was an Italian composer who spent most of his working life in France. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries....
, Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel or Jan Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era.- Life :...
, Carl Loewe, and others.
Death and succession to the firm
Schlesinger died in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1838, leaving his widow a substantial fortune.
Schlesinger's son Moritz Adolf (Maurice) Schlesinger
Maurice Schlesinger
Moritz Adolf Schlesinger , generally known during his French career as Maurice Schlesinger, was a German music editor. He is perhaps best remembered for inspiring the character of M...
later started a branch of the firm in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and another son, Heinrich, took over the Berlin branch and sold it to Robert Lienau
Robert Lienau
Robert Lienau was a German music sheet publisher, who in 1864 acquired the publishing firm founded by Adolf Martin Schlesinger in Berlin in 1810, and gave the company his own name. He moved the main offices of the firm to Frankfurt am Main....
in 1864.
The Paris firm became a leader of musical taste, publishing the music of Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, and Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer was a noted German opera composer, and the first great exponent of "grand opera." At his peak in the 1830s and 1840s, he was the most famous and successful composer of opera in Europe, yet he is rarely performed today.-Early years:He was born to a Jewish family in Tasdorf , near...
among others. It also published the principal Paris musical magazine, the Revue et gazette musicale. The composer Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
worked for Maurice Schlesinger in Paris in 1840-41, turning out hack
Hack writer
Hack writer is a colloquial and usually pejorative term used to refer to a writer who is paid to write low-quality, rushed articles or books "to order", often with a short deadline. In a fiction-writing context, the term is used to describe writers who are paid to churn out sensational,...
arrangements of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
excerpts. Wagner's autobiography pointedly refers to Maurice Schlesinger's Jewish origins.