Ballard
Free public domain sheet music from IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library
Contents |
History
Robert Ballard (1525-1588) started the business Le Roy & Ballard with his cousin, Adrian Le Roy. They received the privilege to print music from Henri II in 1551. They then became music printers to the king, as would the next 7 generations. Le Roy continued the firm with Ballard's widow until he died in 1598.
The firm Le Roy and Ballard was particularly famous for the beauty of their printing. They published over 3,000 works in 350 editions in the first 47 years. They printed 25 books of chansons between 1551 and 1585; 1,963 chansons total. They published much of Lassus, a friend of Le Roy's, and others. The material used to print was good enough that it went largely unreplaced for almost 200 years, which would become the firm's eventual downfall.
Pierre Ballard (1575-1639), Robert's son, took the helm next. He became official music printer to Henri IV in 1607. He had 8-10 children, among which Robert III.
On the 24th of October, 1639, Robert Ballard III (1610-1673) was named sole musical printer to the king, Louis XIII. The firm retained a monopoly while Robert ran it; they printed works by Du Mont, Mace, Lully, and others. He printed orchestral scores for the first time, including the stage works of Cambert.
His eldest son, Christophe (1641-1715) took over upon his death. He was also named sole music printer to the king. His brother, Pierre printed music as well, but he eventually had to turn it over to Cristophe. The firm reached another high point at the turn of the 18th century, with 4 presses, and several helpers and two apprentices. Ballard was practically the only music printer of the time. Works by Lully, Brossard, Campra, Charpentier, Collasse, Couperin, Dandrieu, Marais, and others were among the names in their catalogue. The Ballards were threatened by the new engraved plate method, as they still used movable type.
Cristophe's son, Jean-Baptiste-Cristophe (1663-1750) received the "royal privilege" when Cristophe died. He moved the shop to rue Saint-Jean-de-Beauvais, and received his title. He printed a great many 'Parodies,' 'Amusements,' etc. to try to garner a wider audience. He also printed works of Lully, Destouches, and Campra, and published Rameau's famous Nouveau système. The house began to decline at this time.
His son Cristophe-Jean-François (1701-1765) also was named as the previous six were. The firm basically ended during his tenure. The police described him as 'lazy, untalented' and other, unkinder words. The Ballards were abolished in 1790. Christophe-Jean-François's son, Robert-Cristophe (d. 1812), took over from his widow, and tried to carry on, moving frequently. The last was his son, Christophe-Jean-François II, who died in 1825.
Editions
- First and Second Editions of Lully's Operas.
Plate Numbers
| Plate | Composer | Work | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
