Early Years

The Schott publishing house was established in Mainz in 1770, the year of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth, by the young copperplate engraver and clarinettist Bernhard Schott (1748 - 1809). Schott has subsequently remained a family-owned company and its head office is still situated in the original publishing house built in a patrician style in 1792 which has now been listed as a historic building. During the early years of the publishing firm, the Electorate of Mainz had its own court orchestra and the city enjoyed a rich cultural life including public concerts. There was a large market for musical material of the most popular works of the day created by the numerous musicians in the residence city, music-making members of the aristocracy and the newly established court opera. This initially prompted Bernhard Schott to issue works by the leading composers of the Mannheim school including Carl Stamitz, Franz Xaver Richter and Georg Joseph Vogler alongside virtuoso music for social events and Spieloper [light comic operas with spoken texts].

Overview:

1. Early Years
2. Privilegium exclusivum
3. Cutting-Edge
4. Franz Schott and Richard Wagner
5. Passage of ownership to Ludwig Strecker
6. Modern Times
7. Today and Tomorrow