History of ABRSM Publishing
The Associated Board's publishing department was started in 1921 in order to provide suitable music for the exams, and to provide both performing editions of classical works and new instructional compositions. One of its first editors was Sir Donald Francis Tovey, who not only led the way in re-establishing authentic musical texts of classical works but also contributed illuminating performance commentaries which are still very highly regarded. In 1985 a separate company was established - ABRSM (Publishing) Ltd - as a result of the continuing expansion in the former publishing department's business.
In more recent years ABRSM Publishing has continued Tovey's pioneering efforts with scholarly performing editions of keyboard works by, amongst others, J S Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, C P E Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms, prepared by such distinguished editors as Walter Emery, Arnold Goldsbrough, Howard Ferguson, Stanley Sadie, Denis Matthews and Richard Jones. The Associated Board republishes neglected keyboard and instrumental works of the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1992 publication was completed of a series of graded albums of Baroque keyboard music, followed in 1996 by five volumes of Baroque flute music, and in 1998 by four volumes of Baroque violin pieces, all edited to a high standard by Richard Jones with the intention of educating performers to a better understanding of style in the performance of music of this period. Dr Jones's editions of J S Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, Part I, received the “Best Standard Publication” award from the Music Retailers Association. The complete edition is now regarded as probably the best performing edition available.
Serious contemporary music is represented in the Spectrum series. The collections for solo piano entitled Spectrum (1996) and Spectrum 2 (1999), were both recipients of Music Industries Association awards. Spectrum 3 (2001), also for solo piano, is an international collection of 25 pieces by composers from 25 different countries. Spectrum for Cello (2004) is a collection of music to reflect the diversity of compositional trends apparent in new music today, with pieces ranging in difficulty from Grades 1-8. All the albums within this series have been recorded.
The needs of beginners and younger performers are also met with albums in more popular styles, such as Finger Jogging Boogie, the Party Time! series and Rhythm and Rag. A new syllabus for jazz horns complements the syllabus for jazz piano and jazz ensembles already in existence. This has led to the publication of graded pieces, quick studies and aural tests for clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet and trombone.
The Board's latest innovation, the creation of a new form of assessment for group learning - Music Medals - has led to the publication of Music Medals Ensemble Pieces and Option Practice Books. In addition to these publications All Together! an excellent resource for instrumental and singing teachers who teach pupils in groups was published to coincide with the launch of Music Medals.