Edwin F Kalmus & Co

I’d give zero stars if I could. Not the first time my order arrived after more than two weeks but I kept going back hoping each time would be different. The last time I ordered music from Kalmus I placed it 1 month before school started (I’m a high school orchestra director) to be ready for the school year and the first concert. My music was two months late and they gave no reasons why. Basically said, “We are trying to get everything out.” I’m sure every company I’ve done business with are always trying to get everything out — and none are ever as late as Kalmus or lack communication.

Ended up not being able to use the music. Two months late…

They had 2 months (more perhaps?) delay on my order. I then cancelled my order because they were not able to delivery in due time. I asked for my money back, several times. They never reacted. They still have my money. Very disappointing, unethical and in my opinion illegal. Perhaps they went out of business?

Basically they sell cheap and nasty musics, but sometimes they have important critical editions, like some scores of Borodin, Saint-Saens, Dvorak, Richard Strauss, and so on.
You have to know exactly what you want, otherwise you would become a irresponsible musician and waste your money for those immaculate musics.

Sheet music that has Kalmus name on it should be avoided at all costs. Too many mistakes, and the “good” versions are the ones that simply copied from original editions, acquired at some point by Kalmus. Unfortunately, Kalmus is making newer “editions” of those good ones, adding more mistakes, and changing some unnecessary details that make the score look worse. I am not sure what is accomplished by such poor job. in terms of editing.

Very responsive to customer service issues. The first reprint publisher to have such an amazing array of orchestral titles.