Music Minus One
Music Minus One (MMO) was an American educational music company founded in Westchester, New York. The company released play-along albums intended to accompany a melodic instrument or vocalist as an aid for practice and music education.
Music Minus One
- Name
- Music Minus One
- Founded
- 1950
- Activity
- record producer
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Music Minus One (MMO) was an American educational music company founded in Westchester, New York. The company released play-along albums intended to accompany a melodic instrument or vocalist as an aid for practice and music education.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Music Minus One. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q6941617 · wikipedia · Music Minus One
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Music Minus One • Industry — Music production and recording • Founder — Irv Kratka • Hq Location City — Westchester, New York • Hq Location Country — United States • Parent — Hal Leonard • Website — www.musicminusone.com
Background
Background
Music Minus One was founded in 1950 by Irv Kratka, then a 24-year-old college student. The company's first recording was based on Franz Schubert's Trout Quintet, with one instrumental part omitted in each version so performers could play along with the remaining ensemble. In subsequent years the company expanded into chamber music, jazz, opera, vocal music and educational accompaniment recordings. Musicians appearing on MMO recordings included Stan Getz, Hank Jones, George Barnes, Max Roach, Julius Baker, Elaine Douvas, Armando Ghitalla, Stanley Drucker and Christian Reichert. MMO produced approximately 900 albums covering genres including classical music, chamber music, opera, lieder, popular music, jazz and religious music. During the expansion of its classical catalogue, Music Minus One developed long-term recording collaborations with a number of orchestras and conductors. Numerous concerto and accompaniment releases were recorded with the Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra under conductor Emil Kahn. Music Minus One also maintained an extensive collaboration with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra and Bulgarian conductor Nayden Todorov, particularly in classical and opera accompaniment recordings.
Sale to Hal Leonard
Sale to Hal Leonard
In 2016 the CEO of Hal Leonard Corporation, Keith Mardak, purchased Music Minus One.
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1950
The full dated record · 3 entries
1950
Music Minus One established.
1950
Music Minus One is recorded from 1950.
1950
Music Minus One was established or created in 1950.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6941617: Music Minus One
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Music Minus One”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,934 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Music for a CauseOrganisation
- Music for NationsOrganisation
- Music for PleasureOrganisation
- Music from MemoryOrganisation
- Music of LifeOrganisation
- Music of the WorldOrganisation
- Music Republic RecordsOrganisation
- Music West RecordsOrganisation
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Music Minus One?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.