Senff, Bartholf (Wilhelm)
Senff, Bartholf (Wilhelm)
Senff, Bartholf (Wilhelm), German music publisher and editor; b. Friedrichshall, near Coburg, Sept. 2, 1815; d. Badenweiler, June 25, 1900. As a young man he entered Kistner’s music pubi, house in Leipzig, advancing to the position of managing clerk. He began editing the Signale für die Musikalische Welt, a trial number appearing in Dec. 1842; the first regular number was issued on Jan. 1, 1843. This was one of the most important German music periodicals of the 19th century. It includes reports of musical events, special articles, and correspondence from the music centers of the world, with many celebrated musicians contributing to it. He remained ed. until his death, and publication continued (1917–18 excepted) until 1941. He founded his own publishing business in 1847, his catalogue including original publications of works by Schumann, Liszt, Anton Rubinstein, Raff, et al. His niece, Marie Senff, managed the firm until 1907, when she sold it and the Signale to Simrock of Berlin.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire