William Forster

Contents

History

London instrument maker, retailer and publisher operated by William Forster Sr. (1739-1808) and his son (William Forster Jr.) from ca.1762 to 1824. The elder Forster opened his shop around 1762 at the Corner of Duke's Court, St. Martin's Lane or 133 St. Martin's Lane and continued at the same address through 1785. The firm was moved to 348 Strand, near Exeter Change in late 1785 or 1786 and seems to have been operated taken over William Forster Jr. some years after this date. Forster Jr. reprinted many earlier issues over the years, often without change of imprint. Catalogs were issued in 1780, 1784, 1786, 1800 (all dates approximate).

Imprints, Addresses, Agencies

Imprints
  • William Forster
  • Wm. Forster
  • Wm. Forster & Son
Addresses
  • Corner of Duke's Court, St. Martin's Lane (ca.1762-1785)
  • 133 St. Martin's Lane (ca.1762-1785)
  • 348 Strand, near Exeter Change (1786-ca.1803)
  • 22 York Street, Westminster (ca.1803-ca.1816)
  • 87 Strand (ca.1816-ca.1821)
  • 41 Lisle Street (ca.1821-1824)

Plate Numbers

Forster issued plate numbers in the following format: ###. Dates in italics are estimated.

Plate Composer Work Year
09 Haydn Symphony No.74 in E-flat major, Hob.I:74 (parts) 1781
22 Haydn Symphony No.70 in D major, Hob.I:70 (parts) 1782
24 Hook 6 Cello Duets, Op.58
37 Haydn Symphony No.62 in D major, Hob.I:62 (parts) 1784
45 Haydn Armida, Hob.XXVIII:12 (overture parts)
45 Haydn Symphony No.80 in D minor, Hob.I:80 (parts)
45 Haydn Symphony No.81 in G major, Hob.I:81 (parts)
47 Haydn String Quartet in B minor, Hob.III:37 (parts) 1785
47 Haydn String Quartet in E-flat major, Hob.III:38 (parts) 1785
47 Haydn String Quartet in C major, Hob.III:39 (parts) 1785
47 Haydn String Quartet in B-flat major, Hob.III:40 (parts) 1785
47 Haydn String Quartet in G major, Hob.III:41 (parts) 1785
47 Haydn String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:42 (parts) 1785
82 Haydn Symphony No.86 in D major, Hob.I:86 (parts)
99 Pleyel Symphony in F minor, B.138 (parts) 1790

IMSLP Entries

Plate #Full PlateComposerWorkIMSLP #Full YearYear

Sources Consulted

  • Music Publishing in the British Isles by Charles Humphries and William C. Smith. London: Cassell & Co., 1954.

Authority control

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