A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Metzler

by A. J. Hipkins

METZLER. The founder of this well-known business was Valentine Metzler, a native of Bingen on the Rhine, who opened a shop in Wardour Street for the sale of flutes and other instruments about the year 1790. He married an Englishwoman, and his only child was George Richard Metzler (1797–1867), so well and kindly remembered by many of the musical profession and trade in this country. The firm is said to have entered upon music publishing in 1816, and removed in course of time to 37 Great Marlborough Street, where, on the site of the original shop, but including neighbouring houses, the present warehouse stands. The only surviving child of George Richard was George Thomas Metzler (1835–1879). He gained a practical knowledge of the pianoforte in Germany, and had a distinct literary bias, which he followed as far as opportunity permitted. He became known as a writer of words for songs, Mrs. George March (Virginia Gabriel), Mme. Sainton-Dolby, Henry Smart, and J. L. Hatton, having set his graceful lyrics to music. In 1867 Frank Chappell, who had acquired his knowledge of business in the Bond Street firm of that name, joined the late G. T. Metzler in partnership, and from his suggestion the important agency of Messrs. Mason & Hamlin, which practically introduced the American organ into this country, became a specialty of the Metzler business. Frank Chappell died in 1886, and since that date the business has been carried on by the trustees of the estate (1888). The new premises referred to were completed and opened in 1878. So comprehensive is their plan that there may be said to be no musical instrument in present use, or even part of a musical instrument, unrepresented in the stock, while the valuable copy rights of the publishing department include all manner of works, from full scores of modern operas to popular instruction books.

[ A. J. H. ]