Barenreiter’s headquarters have been based in Kassel, Germany since 1927. The firm was founded four years earlier in Augsburg by Karl Votterle.

Beginning with the participation in the German singing movement during the 1920s, Protestant church music and the burgeoning interest in early music, the company quickly developed its distinctive profile. Close contacts with musicological research led not only to the publication of the milestone encyclopaedia Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (now in a second, completely revised and expanded edition), but also to a host of new critical complete editions, used extensively by both scholars and musicians all over the world. These include  the complete editions of works by Schutz, J. S. Bach, Handel, Telemann, Gluck, Mozart, Schubert and Berlioz, which have been joined recently by Faure and the series “L’Opera francais” and the “Works of Gioachino Rossini”. The works by these composers and many others appear as scholarly-critical performing editions under the “Barenreiter Urtext” seal of quality, guaranteeing the latest in musicological research prepared in accordance with clearly defined editorial guidelines.

In the area of contemporary music, Barenreiter works with internationally-renowned composers of different backgrounds, stylistic directions and ages. These include Dieter Ammann, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer and Miroslav Srnka.

Barenreiter produces editions which offer the latest in musicological research together with an excellent layout, high quality printing. Great value is also placed on a customer orientated service. Barenreiter is the first choice for scholars and musicians alike.