Anton Diabelli

Anton Diabelli (b Mattsee, nr Salzburg, 5 Sept 1781; d Vienna, 7 April 1858). Austrian publisher and composer.

He studied music in Michaelbeuren and Salzburg and in 1800 entered Raitenhaslach Abbey. After the dissolution of the Bavarian monasteries (1803) he went to Vienna, where he taught the piano and guitar, and soon became known for his arrangements and compositions (six masses by him had been published in Augsburg in 1799); many of his works were published in Vienna. His job as a proofreader for S.A. Steiner & Co. (as detailed in Beethoven’s letters) gave him an increasing interest in music publishing, and in the Wiener Zeitung (15 September 1817) he advertised a subscription for some of his sacred compositions, which were to appear from his newly established publishing house in the Schultergasse. On 29 September he moved to no.351 Am Hof. The first notice of publications (Wiener Zeitung, 11 February 1818) announced the appearance of further works, which were soon being distributed by most music retailers; the works in the subscription series were available on 27 April 1818.

Wishing to acquire business premises of his own, Diabelli made contact with Pietro Cappi, who had been practising as a licensed art dealer in the Spiegelgasse since 30 July 1816. After Cappi’s shop passed to Daniel Sprenger on 8 August 1818, the firm Cappi & Diabelli was established in the Kohlmarkt, and advertised in the Wiener Zeitung (10 December 1818). From its beginning the new firm was remarkably active in publishing current operatic and dance music; anthologies such as Philomele für die Guitarre and Philomele für das Pianoforte and Euterpe for piano (solo and duet) were popular for decades. Similar series appeared for other types of music; the popular Neueste Sammlung komischer Theatergesänge reached 429 volumes. A series of light, pleasant melodies for guitar was given the title Apollo am Damentoilette.

As an experienced musician, Diabelli knew how to respond to the musical fashions of the time; and the connection he formed with Schubert established the company’s widespread fame. Financed on commission, he published Schubert’s first printed works; on 2 April 1821 Erlkönig appeared as op.1 and on 30 April Gretchen am Spinnrade as op.2. Opp.1–7 and 12–14 later became the property of Cappi & Diabelli. Diabelli’s long-established acquaintance with Beethoven, however, led to only a few publications: the reissues Beethoven wanted of the sonatas opp.109–11, and a few first editions of the smaller works. The firm also published the Vaterländischer Künstlerverein, including Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations op.120.