Western Music Company
Encyclopedia
The Western Music Company (WMC) was a Canadian music publishing
and retailing
firm based in Vancouver
. Founded in 1930 by Herbert Drost, the company was initially a retail store for sheet music but soon expanded to include records and instruments to its merchandise. The company also operated branches in Winnipeg (1938-56), Toronto (1948-55), and Victoria, BC (1945-9 and 1954-73). In 1970 the company was acquired by Leslie Music Supply of Oakville, Ontario.
In 1937 WMC began to publish sheet music; much of which was published for use in competitions/festivals and for school and church use. The company was the sole Canadian agent for Novello & Co, J.B Cramer & Co, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd
, and other British firms for many years. In the United States the WMC's publications were sold by the British-American Music Co of Chicago. By 1960 the company had published more than 450 original works by Canadian composers like W.H. Anderson
, Dalton Baker, Hugh Bancroft, Keith Bissell
, Frederick Chubb, George Coutts, T.J. Crawford, Arthur Egerton, Robert Fleming
, Leonard Heaton, H.E. Key, Burton Kurth, Kenneth Meek, Adelmo Melecci, Bernard Naylor, Clermont Pépin
, Max Pirani, Alfred Whitehead
, and Healey Willan
among others. The firm also published the treatise Full-throated Ease by James Terry Lawson (1955).
In 1934 WMC began issuing a monthly magazine, Western Music News. The magazine was primarily a promotional vehicle for the company's merchandise but did also include articles on musical life in Canada and profiles on Canadian musicians. The magazine became a bi-annual publication in 1941 and ceased publication after 1955.
Music publisher (sheet music)
The term music publisher originally referred to publishers who issued printed sheet music....
and retailing
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
firm based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Founded in 1930 by Herbert Drost, the company was initially a retail store for sheet music but soon expanded to include records and instruments to its merchandise. The company also operated branches in Winnipeg (1938-56), Toronto (1948-55), and Victoria, BC (1945-9 and 1954-73). In 1970 the company was acquired by Leslie Music Supply of Oakville, Ontario.
In 1937 WMC began to publish sheet music; much of which was published for use in competitions/festivals and for school and church use. The company was the sole Canadian agent for Novello & Co, J.B Cramer & Co, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd
Edward Arnold (publisher)
Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd is a British publishing house with its head office in London. The firm has been publishing books for over 100 years. It is a member of the Hodder Education group. Edward Arnold publishes books and journals for students, academics and professionals.-Bibliography:*...
, and other British firms for many years. In the United States the WMC's publications were sold by the British-American Music Co of Chicago. By 1960 the company had published more than 450 original works by Canadian composers like W.H. Anderson
W.H. Anderson
William Henry Anderson was a Canadian composer, choir director, tenor, and voice teacher of English birth. He produced a large amount of vocal music, including more than 150 songs and 40 anthems as well as a significant amount of carols and other choral works...
, Dalton Baker, Hugh Bancroft, Keith Bissell
Keith Bissell
Keith Warren Bissell was a Canadian composer, conductor, and music educator. He was particularly known for his choral music, which often implemented elements of Canadian folk music. A passionate educator, he was a pupil of Carl Orff and was influential in popularizing the Orff Schulwerk...
, Frederick Chubb, George Coutts, T.J. Crawford, Arthur Egerton, Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming (composer)
Robert James Berkeley Fleming was a Canadian composer, pianist, organist, choirmaster and teacher.Robert was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. At a young age his family settled in Saskatoon where he first studied with his mother...
, Leonard Heaton, H.E. Key, Burton Kurth, Kenneth Meek, Adelmo Melecci, Bernard Naylor, Clermont Pépin
Clermont Pépin
Clermont Pépin, was a Canadian pianist, composer and teacher.He was born Jean Joseph Clermont Pépin in Saint-Georges, Quebec in 1926. Pépin studied with influential Canadian composers Claude Champagne and Arnold Walter , and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia from 1941 to 1944 with...
, Max Pirani, Alfred Whitehead
Alfred Whitehead
Alfred Ernest Whitehead was an English composer, organist, choirmaster, and music educator who was primarily active in Canada. He taught music at several Canadian institutions of higher learning during his career and held the post of organist/choirmaster at a number of prominent Canadian churches...
, and Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
among others. The firm also published the treatise Full-throated Ease by James Terry Lawson (1955).
In 1934 WMC began issuing a monthly magazine, Western Music News. The magazine was primarily a promotional vehicle for the company's merchandise but did also include articles on musical life in Canada and profiles on Canadian musicians. The magazine became a bi-annual publication in 1941 and ceased publication after 1955.