Birchard

Historical Publication Info

cover 1920s

History

Founded 1901 by the musicpedagogist Clarence C. Birchard (1866-1946) in Boston. The company concentrated in producing works of an educational nature as well as in new works by American composers like Bloch, Copland, Hanson, Ives and Varèse. Birchard was very interested in American music and even commissioned composers to write works for his school and community series.

The firm continued operation after Birchard's death until 1957, when it was purchased by the Clayton F. Summy Co. of Chicago. The new concern was re-named Summy-Birchard Co. and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, ultimately relocating to Princeton, New Jersey with another name-change to the Birchtree Music Group. Other companies absorbed by Summy-Birchard include Arthur P. Schmidt (1960) and McLaughlin & Reilly. In 1988 the firm, including its best-known copyright - Happy Birthday to You - was sold to music-industry giant Warner-Chappell.

Editions

Imprints, Addresses, Agencies

Imprints

C.C. Birchard & Company (1901-1956)
Summy-Birchard Co. (1957-ca.1980)
Birchtree Music Group (ca.1980-1988)

Addresses

Boston (1901-1956)
Evanston (1957-ca.1980)
Princeton (ca.1980-1988)

Plate Numbers

Plate	Composer	Work	Year
1409	Roussel	Psalm 80, Op.37 (vocal score)	1929
1413	Shepherd	Horizons	1929
1794	Shepherd	Song of the Pilgrims	1937
2003	Shepherd	Psalm 42	1950

Sources Consulted

1. Birchard, C.C. in Oxford Music Online

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