Customer Reviews

BOOSEY & HAWKES: THE PUBLISHING STORY

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Stories of music publishers are not often told but this is an opportunity to read about the background to the famous Boosey & Hawkes company.

The most interesting parts of the book are about the 1940s, when Ralph Hawkes was most active and the company acquired the rights to the works of important composers such as Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov as well as being the publishers of Copland and Britten. However the story becomes much less compelling after the death of Hawkes in 1950, and the account of the most recent decades focuses on boardroom battles and takeovers rather than interaction with composers, which would be of much greater interest to most readers.

There are also some minor but irritating errors (for example Hubert Foss becomes "Herbert") and overall this book left me with a rather flat impression. However the earlier parts remain a worthwhile read.

This book gives the very interesting story of a music publisher which has been a major factor in the contemporary music of the 20th century. It gives detailed behind the scenes looks at the personalities of two very different individuals who combined to publish many of the 20th centuries greatest composers. It is a great eye-opener to an aspect of the music world that very few people ever think about.

A must read for every serious musician.