Postcards from the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, including classes of Widor, Capet, Casadesus, Philipp

Sixteen rare postcards, each depicting one class or venue of the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, France, with their professors or leaders named and identified, ca. 1925.  The students are not identified.  Printed by Ménard, Fontainebleau.  Each card in oblong format, 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 13.8 cm). In fine condition.

A closer look shows that these cards do not all belong to the same series, suggesting that the collection was assembled at a later date. One card is different from all others; the printer's sign on verso is in circular shape, and there are extra credits, "Cliché-Esparcieux," to the lower right corner of the recto side.  The caption is in English only: "American Art Schools of Fontainebleau. /  School of Music — Ensemble class – Professor: Paul Bazelaire.  This card was not torn from a block, as it has no remnants of perforation to any edge.  As the only card in this collection, it was actually used as a post card—by Paul Bazelaire.  His message is addressed to Madame Emery in Paris and postmarked June 12, 1930, suggesting that this card is some years later than the others.  In full, translated from the French: "Madame, Unfortunately I have a committee [meeting] at the Conservatory all afternoon on Thursday the 19th and I cannot welcome your young violoncellist as I had once proposed it to you. I will wait for him [or her?] on 11 AM the same day for half an hour if you do not tell me otherwise. Regards, Paul Bazelaire."  Bazelaire was first and foremost a cellist and teacher, but a capable performer on various instruments and also a successful composer.

Twelve of the other cards are identical on their verso and unquestionableybelong to the same series.  They are all torn from a block, as remnants of the perforation are visible at the left edge.  Their captions are bilingual, in French and English (only the English captions are given here):

The Director's office: M. et Mme. Francis Casadesus, M. Jules Casadesus
Boudoir des Laques (Reception room) / M. Francis Casadesus receiving the american[!] journalists.
Music Library / In the back ground: M. Vincent, librarian / In the fore ground: M. Jules Casadesus, Secretary to the Directors
President Carnot smoking room / French Diction class / Professor: M. Robert Casadesus sr.
Conducting class / Professor: M. Francis Casadesus
Piano class / Dir.: I. Philipp. / Professor: M. P. Silva-Hérard
Piano class (Dir.: I. Philipp) / Professor: M. Robert Casadesus
Piano class (Dir.: I. Philipp.) / Professor: M. Motte-Lacroix

Piano accompaniment class / Professor: M. Paul Fauchet
The Organ class / Professors: MM. Ch. Widor et[!] H. Libert (also depicted and identified: Francis Casadesus and [Maurice] Fragnaud)
Singing class / Professor Mlle Marcelle Demougeot, de l'Opéra [sic] (also depicted and identified: Mme. Flornoy-Tonery)
Opera class Professor: M. Pierre Chéreau

Three more cards are almost identical to the above in their layout, but the printer's name on verso lacks the accent, suggesting a different series:

Violin class: Director: Lucien Capet /Professor: Mr M. Hewitt (card shows no remnants of perforation)
Piano class (Dir.: I. Philipp.) / Professor: M. Decroix

Opera class Professor: M. Pierre Chéreau (recto identical with the opera class card above)

Set in the magnificent chateau and town of Fontainebleau, about 40 miles southeast of Paris, The Fontainebleau Schools were founded in 1921 during World War I when the US sought to build a music school to improve the U.S. military bands, headquartered in France. After the war, Walter Damrosch (then conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and first organizer of the school) and Francis Casadesus  (composer and teacher) decided to continue this successful operation. With the full support of French authorities, as well as that of composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor, who became its first director, the American Conservatory, was granted permission to open in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau. The American Conservatory (Fr. Conservatoire américain de Fontainebleau) intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians. (22302)

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Unsigned Photograph

Classical Music

Autograph Letter

$350.00

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