University of Leeds

CHASE

CHASE

Note on Gérard's Alard plate numbers

The plate number format for Les maîtres classiques du violon appears inconsistent - 'C.M.' does not obviously relate to E. Gérard. However, all Gérard publications up to 1887 (when the firm was sold) use the 'C.M.' format, although this is sometimes followed by 'Meissonnier', sometimes 'Gérard' and sometimes with no further text. In 1860 Gérard took over the firm of Joseph Meissonnier. In the mid-1850s, J. Meissonnier publications used plate numbers with the format 'C.M. [number]'. Thus, Daniel Auber's Manon Lescaut was published by 'J. Meissonnier fils, Companie [sic] musicale, 18 rue de Dauphine' with the plate number 'C.M.5184' - this can be dated to 1856. Alfred Quidant's song 'Petit enfant que j'ai l'âme attendrie' was published at around the same time (French plate numbers are almost worthless as dating tools - see Cecil Hopkinson, A Dictionary of Parisian Music Publishers 1700-1950, 1954) by 'J. Meissonnier fils' with the plate number 'C.M. 8792. 2 J. Meissonnier fils'. 'C.M.' stands for Meissonnier's 'Companie musicale'. When Gérard took over Moissonnier, the firm used the same Paris address (18, rue Dauphine), and described itself as 'E. Gérard et Cie. (Compagnie musicale)'.