Diabelli

cover 1835

Contents

History

Anton Diabelli (1781–1858) made his first forays into the world of music publishing by publishing his own works on a subscription basis, as he was a composer of no mean talent. However, he only started a firm on contacting Peter Cappi (nephew of Johann Cappi, who worked with Artaria), and thus the name was Cappi & Diabelli at first. They showed a remarkable propensity for publishing popular and lasting compilations and anthologies of contemporary music.

Diabelli, musician as he was, could recognize good targets for publishing, and made somewhat of a name as a publisher with Schubert's works. He not only published first editions of Schubert's earliest opus numbers, but quite a few later (such as the earliest extant edition of the Quintet that we have). Indeed, he managed to publish Opp. 17 and 12-14. Of course, he also published the Diabelli Variations of Beethoven to complement Vaterländischer Künstlerverein, a compilation of variations by various well-known composers, of which Beethoven's "one variation" was supposed to be a part. This anthology is actually very interesting, historically. Supposedly, the purpose of the variations were to be a "patriotic anthology," showing off Viennese talent. However, what he really accomplished was to show off his own contact prowess and establish himself as a publisher.

In 1824, Cappi retired, causing the rename of "Anton Diabelli & Cie./Comp." This period was easily the firm's most productive. Upon Schubert's early death in 1828, the firm acquired a large chunk of his manuscripts from his brother, Ferdinand, and thus continued to champion his music. Diabelli proceeded to purchase several other publishers, including Leidesdorf and Artaria, among others. Cappi's replacement, Spina, took over upon Diabelli's death in 1858. He renamed the firm "C.A. Spina, Vormals Diabelli." The productivity of the period is evinced in the 8000-odd plate numbers between 1825 and 1858. They purchased Pietro Mechetti's firm in 1855, adding another 6000, and eventually stopped, at 24,670. In 1872, the firm acquired the catalogue of one A. Bösendorfer, but was soon purchased by Friedrich Schreiber. Schreiber then merged with August Cranz, and in 1879 the company was officially named part of August Cranz.

Imprints

Addresses

  • Graben No. 1133, Wien

Plate Numbers

Plate Composer Work Year
307 Ries 3 Violin Sonatas, Op.30 (parts) 1818
790 Schubert Am Grabe Anselmos, D.504 (1st version)
Antigone und Oedip, D.542
1822
1822
872 Schubert Am Strome, D.539 1822
873-4 Schubert 36 Originaltänze, D.365 1822
996 Schubert 8 Variations on a French Song, D.624 1822
1167 Czerny 3 Fugues, Op.31
1216-7 Schubert 38 Waltzes, Ländler and Ecossaises, D.145 1822
1381 Diabelli Vaterländische Künstlerverein 1824
1748 Bathioli 24 Angenehme harmonische Lectionen
1800 Schubert An Mignon, D.161 1825
2090 Czerny 3 Sonatines faciles et brillantes, Op.104 1827
2126 Eybler 3 Violin Sonatas, Op.9 (parts)
2247-8 Diabelli 4 Leichte und angenehme Rondino, Op.140
2795 Czerny Grand exercice, Op.245 1830
2849 Beethoven Rondo a capriccio, Op.129 1828?
3041 Sechter Variations on 'God Save the King', Op.41 1830
3146 Strauss Sr. Chineser-Galoppe, Op.20 1829
3326 Saint-Lubin 3 Violin Duos, Op.31 1830
3652 Czerny Quatuor concertant No.1, Op.230 1830
3667 Kunerth Symphony No.1 (parts) 1830
4044 Lachner 4 Lieder, Op.27 1832
4218 Pössinger 3 String Trios, Op.43 1833
4365 Pössinger 6 String Quartets, Op.49 (parts) 1833
4370 Czerny Rondino No.20 sur "Das Ständchen", Op.284 1833
4532 Czerny La rivalité, Op.293 1833
4904 Diabelli Gran Variazioni sopra la cavatina dell’ Opera Tancredi, Op.104
5140 Lachner Sonata for Piano Four-Hands, Op.39 1834
5206 Schauroth Sonate brillante 1835
5780 Lachner 3 Scherzos, Op.26
6163 Lachner Symphony No.3, Op.41 (full score) 1840
6170 Lachner Symphony No.3, Op.41 (duet arr. by V. Lachner) 1837
6531-43 Liszt 12 Lieder von Franz Schubert, S.558 1838
6884 Reicha Art du compositeur dramatique 1842
6985 Fahrbach Neueste Wiener Fagottschule, Op.17 1840
8451-53 Liszt Müllerlieder von Franz Schubert, S.565 1847
8555 Halm 6 Grandes études de concert, Op.59 1842
8557 Halm 6 Grandes études pathétiques, Op.61 1847
8715 Wallace Maritana (overture) (4-hands arr. by Czerny) 1848
Plate #Full PlateComposerWorkIMSLP #Full YearYear

Sources Consulted

  • 1. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie.
New York and London: Macmillan Publications, 1980.

External Links

Authority control

VIAF

Links

Scores published by Diabelli