Sikorski dies
mainThe pioneering music publisher Hans Sikorski has died in Hamburg, aged 94.
Joining his father’s firm in 1968 when Eastern Europe was in turmoil, he spotted an opprtunity to provide a home for both official and marginal composers in Russia and elswhere.
Alongside deals he signed with the Soviet bureaucracy, he also published dropouts like Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke, Ustvolskaya, Raskatov, Knaifel, Smirnov and Firsova. His broader catalogue included Moritz Eggert, Krzysztof Meyer, Jens-Peter Ostendorf and Peter Ruzicka.
The Sikorski firm was bought out 18 months ago by Concord and merged with Boosey & Hawkes.
I believe Boosey represented Sikorski for many years.
I’ll bet Mr. Sikorski died a wealthy man. Oh my, this edition was so overpriced. This was a constant stumbling block if you’re a Shostakovich enthusiast . . . which I am.