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John Walsh, father and son sharing the same name, were famous London music publishers during the first half of the eighteenth century. John Walsh senior started publishing engraved music before 1696 at 'The Harp and Hoboy' in Catherine Street, Strand. He seems to have been the first 'Musical instrument maker and music seller to the King'; in this case William III. This royal appointment continued with John Walsh junior up to the first few years of the reign of George III. He reprinted from Dutch sources popular continental music (Corelli for example) at low prices using pewter instead of the more costly copper. He commenced stamping pewter plates in 1710 instead of engraving them as would have been the norm. Walsh's shop was sufficiently far from St Paul's Churchyard and the Temple Bar where the usual music trade congregated and this relative isolation enabled him to build up his large music publishing concern. In 1710, Walsh was in full trade with both the City and West End trade; publishing single songs and the Italian operas, instrumental works; the whole range of the then current music. Handel, on his arrival in England, naturally turned to him as the principal publisher and 'Rinaldo' appeared in 1711 by which it was said that Walsh made one thousand pounds. Walsh senior was intimately connected with Handel from here on. They appear to have continually squabbled as proved by Handel publishing by subscription, through Cluer and Meares, being evidently dissatisfied with Walsh's treatment of him. Walsh senior died in March 1736 and was buried in the vaults of St Mary's, Strand. The Gentleman's Magazine announced that he had left £30,000. Walsh junior succeeded to the business left by his father and also to the Royal appointments as music seller and instrument maker. The younger Walsh continued in the same vein as his father; the paper and engraving were the best, and he continued the Handel publications (except 'The Messiah' which Handel preferred to keep in manuscript rather than accept the customary 20 guineau rate). There are, however, copies of 'Songs in the Messiah, an Oratorio by Mr Handel' which bear the Walsh imprint. When Walsh junior died in January 1766 (leaving £40,000 according to the 'Public Advertiser') the business was taken over by William Randall and later Hermond Wright who restricted their business to reprinting Walsh's earlier publications. The premises in Catherine Street ceased to be a music publishing house at about 1800. |