Heugel, Jacques Leopold

Heugel, Jacques Leopold, French music publisher, son of Henry Heugel; b. La Rochelle, March 1, 1811; d. Paris, Nov. 12, 1883. In 1839 he became a partner of the publisher Jean Antoine Meissonier (b. Marseilles, Dec. 8, 1783; d. Saint Germain-en-Laye, 1857), who had commenced business in Paris in 1812. They took over the important weekly Le ménestrel in 1839, which had been founded by Jules Lovy in 1833; the firm continued its publication until 1940, except for a break during the Franco- Prussian War and World War I. After Meissonier retired in 1842, Heugel became sole owner of the firm. His son, Henri Georges Heugel (b. Paris, May 3, 1844; d. there, May 11, 1916), became a partner in 1876 and his successor at his death. His nephew, Paul Chevalier Heugel (1861–1931), provided the funds for the purchase of the Hartmann catalog in 1891 and entered the firm as partner, later serving as its director (1916–19). His son, Jacques Paul Heugel (1890–1979), then headed the firm until 1944, when it became a société anonyme and he was made president and general director. His sons, François Henri and Philippe Gérard Heugel, joined the firm in 1947 and eventually took control of its affairs. In 1980 it merged with Leduc. The Heugel catalog is impressive, especially notable for its scores of major French composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. It also publishes the comprehensive practical eds. of early music known as Le pupitre, which was established in 1967.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire