Printed Music
In London, John Walsh was a pioneer in printing and selling music efficiently. Shortly after his arrival in the city, George Frideric Handel had the “famous airs” from his opera Rinaldo published by Walsh in 1711. The son and successor of the business John Walsh Jr. (1709-1766), continued this collaboration. From 1739 he even procured an exclusivity contract which allowed Walsh Jr. to be the sole publisher for Handel’s music.
Less sober are the editions from the printer and publisher John Cluer (ca. 1681-1728). Cluer’s career focused on music publication, experimenting with printing techniques. In contrast with Walsh who used tin plates, Cluer’s prints are made with engraved copper plates. The illustrated title-pages are particularly remarkable which make the editions more luxurious. Cluer would publish a total of nine of Handel’s operas. The first was Giulio Cesare in 1724.
