| The book is about the history of C. F. Peters Music Publishers in Leipzig, which was founded as Hoffmeister & Kühnel Bureau de Musique in 1800. The story highlights many fascinating and hitherto unpublished details about composers and major publications. Brief details about collaboration with printers, binders, paper merchants, etc. show the interesting interaction. The emphasis is on the personalities, musicians, musical life and events, and genesis of some publications, rather than on musicological analysis. |
| Seventeen chapters, divided into four parts, follow an 'Introduction' giving relevant background information on Leipzig, centre of Music, Books and Culture in Germany. Part I covers the first hundred years when Bach, Beethoven and Louis Spohr were the core composers. It describes the innovative publishing ideas of Max Abraham, who founded the "Edition Peters" in 1867. Composers included Brahms, Schumann, Bruckner, Liszt, Delius and more and a chapter is devoted to the moving relationship with Edvard Grieg. The foundation of the Peters Music Library which Dr. Abraham presented to the City of Leipzig is described in detail, as is his considerable altruistic contribution to the education of women and to musical charities. |
| Part II concentrates on the period between 1900 and World War I in Leipzig. The intellectual bourgeoisie of Leipzig, which was non-political and non-denominational, is exemplified in the person of Henri Hinrichsen, Dr Abraham's nephew and successor. He expanded the business, including such composers as Christian Sinding, Karl Straube, Richard Strauss, Hans Pfitzner. A chapter is devoted to his unique patronage of Max Reger. The publication of Schönberg's Five Orchestral Pieces and Mahler's Vth Symphony is discussed in depth. Henri Hinrichsen was the founding benefactor of the first all Women's College in Europe. His professional and social involvements are described and his honours from the Kaiser and the King of Norway. |
| Part III, 'Inflation to National Socialism', reveals and highlights customs, attitudes and values of a society during a time of great change. The social, musical and intellectual life and institutions in Leipzig are described in terms of the involvement of Henri Hinrichsen whose many generous benefactions also included the Peters Music Library, the Leipzig Musical Instruments Museum and many others. New publications, his honours from State and University, art collections, family, all find a place. His three eldest sons entered the business. |
| Part IV describes the Nazi period from 1933 onwards, when, as a German of Jewish ancestry, Henri Hinrichsen was humiliated and persecuted. New laws are highlighted. The family suffered. C.F. Peters was confiscated and "aryanized". The events make a fascinating and macabre story, incorporating hitherto unpublished material and documents enabling a detailed explanation of this grotesque sequence of events. Henri Hinrichsen's entire wealth and property were confiscated in a series of "taxes" levied against Jews. Old and sick he escaped to Belgium and penniless existence. Aged 74, he was murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz in 1942. |
| An 'Afterword' covers the post-war period, when C.F. Peters, Leipzig was restored to the Hinrichsen family in 1947, to be confiscated again by the Russians in 1948. The development of C.F. Peters in London, New York and Frankfurt and the ultimate restoration of the Leipzig company in 1991, bring us to the Bicentenary in 2000. |