Breitkopf & Härtel is a renowned German music publishing house, founded in 1719 by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf in Leipzig. It is the world’s oldest music publisher1. The name “Härte” was added when Gottfried Christoph Härte took over the company in 1795.

The company has a long history of supporting and collaborating with many famous composers, including Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, and Brahms. They have published the first “complete works” editions of various composers, such as Bach, Mozart, and Schubert.

Their catalogue includes over 1,000 composers, 8,000 works, and 15,000 music editions or books on music.

Breitkopf Urtext: This series guarantees musicologically flawless editions for interpreters.

In the 19th century, Breitkopf & Härtel also manufactured pianos, which were highly esteemed by pianists like Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann.

Breitkopf & Härte continues to be a significant name in the music publishing industry, supporting contemporary composers and providing high-quality editions.