A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bote und Bock
BOTE UND BOCK, a firm of music publishers in Berlin, founded by Eduard Bote and Gustav Bock Jan. 27, 1838. The former retired at the beginning of 1847, leaving Gustav Bock alone in the business until his death, Apr. 27, 1863. His widow became the proprietor, and his brother, E. Bock, undertook to direct the affairs of the firm.
Among the music issued by the house, the works of Neithardt, Hoffmann, Rebeling, von Hertzberg, etc., and in particular the collection of 'Musica Sacra,' edited for the use of the Domchor, deserve mention. The latter is a compilation of the most prominent compositions a capella, by Italian, Netherlandish, and especially German masters of past time. The publishers' catalogue contains also a number of original works by the best composers, and the firm has done much to disseminate a knowledge of the masterpieces of Handel, Gluck, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, by the publication of cheap editions; attention has also been given to modern operatic music, especially that of Gounod and Offenbach.
Gustav Bock established the 'Neue Berline Musikzeitung,' and succeeded in obtaining the help of all the more eminent writers on music, and in maintaining practical relations with them. In 1861 his brother Emil Bock became editor. It now appears weekly, and contains, besides a leading article on the science, theory, or history of music, numerous notices from all important towns; but in recent times its importance has become somewhat lessened.
The present owner of the publishing business is Herr Hugo Bock, into whose possession it passed in February 1873.[ A. D. ]