Rare early photograph of the 23-year oldcomposer seated at the piano, by Kadel & Herbert News Photos. Clip on the verso with text "George Antheil is probably America's youngest composer. He has been conducting his own compositions for the past two years for the Berlin Philharmonic. Antheil was born in Trenton, New Jersey and has been studying aboard for the past four or five years." 8 x 6 inches (20 x 15 cm.). In fine condition.
An uncommon original 1940 photograph of the avant-garde composer seated at the piano while scoring the Fairbanks/Hayworth film "Angels Over Broadway." 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25 cm.). Margins a little nicked/creased, else fine.
Manuscript sheet from a lined note block in the hand of the great American composer with heading, "Addenda for brochure!" Contains notes on some of the composer's works and their first performances: Hermit Songs; Despite and Still;String Quartet, Op. 11; Nocturne (Homage to John Field). Initialed by the composer "S.B.", to foot. Verso blank. No date, but not before April 30, 1974, which Barber gives as the date of the first performance of Despite and Still. 13 x 8.5 inches (34 x 21.5 cm) Read More...
Vienna: Joseph Czerný. [1829]. First Edition (of this arrangement). Disbound upright folio. 31 pp. Engraved throughout. [PN] J. Cz. 2639. Flauto: Title, 2–13 pp.; Violin: blank, 2–9 pp.; Viola Primo [sic]: blank, 2–9 pp.; Viola Secondo [sic]: blank, 2–9 pp.; Violoncello: blank, 2–9 pp. Part names in English added in ink to title and initial blank pages; markup in pencil including directives in English uniformly added to all parts. 13 x 10 inches (33.3 x 25.4 cm). Outer bifolium of Flauto part detached and torn to spine; minor tear to other leaves of Flauto; damp staining to outer edge of Flauto; all parts somewhat foxed. In envelope from Hawkes & Son, London, with 9-pence stamp showing the profile of King George V (reigned 1910–36). Kinsky p. 51 (Übertragungen, "d"). Read More...
London: Faber and Faber. 1965. "Rehearsal score" (short score rather than piano-vocal score) by Imogen Holst. Folio. 14 x 10.75 inches (35.5 x 27 cm). 123 pp. of music; front and back matter unpaginated. [PN] F&F2. Printed "Production Notes" by Colin Graham, 20 pp., 11 x 8.5 inches (28 x 21.5 cm), inserted in a pouch to the inside of the lower wrapper. The edition (except the "Production Notes") is bilingual, with title page, text underlay and most of the front matter in English and German. Wrappers somewhat worn, with loss to foot of spine and stains to back cover; pouch for "Production Notes" torn open; score in very good condition, with occasional marks in pencil. Read More...
Cabinet card photograph of the pioneering and highly regarded Afro-British musician, who takes a place among the earliest Black composers to work in a classical idiom. By Elliott & Fry, London. 6 x 4.25 inches (15 x 10.9 cm). Traces of earlier mounting to verso, else very fine. Uncommon. Read More...
18. [Handel, George Frederic. (1685–1759)]. "Samson. Ein Oratorium aus dem Englischen des Milton von Händel." - 1834 Manuscript German Translation Libretto
18mo. 18pp. Manuscript edition of the libretto for Handel's Samson, in German translattion, according to information given along the lower front cover, prepared for a performance given on March 26, 1834 in the hall of the [Boys'?] school in Ansbach by the singing society ("den 26. Merz [sic] 1834 im K: [=Knaben?] Schulsaale zu Ansbach von dem Singverein"). Light foxing throughout, reinforced blue paper spine, in very fine condition. Read More...
21. Ligeti, Gyorgy. (1923–2006). Notenbilder. Kunstmappe mit sechs Faksimiles nach Musik-Autographen von György Ligeti und mit dem Reprint eines Ligeti-Portraits von Klaus Böttger: Volumina; Etudes pour Piano; Monument; Violinkonzert; Klavierkonzert; Requiem.
Mainz / München: B.Schott's Söhne / kunst publik Monika Limbacher GmbH. 1991. 36 x 46 cm, i, iv, 7 pp. Superb full-color facsimile leaves from six works of Ligeti, each of them from “composing” scores for the final draft of the respective work, illustrating how the compositions take shape with constant revision, crossing out, and varied use of color. The set also includes a beautiful reprint of an original lithograph-portrait of the composer by Klaus Böttger. Double sheet (title / text by Eckhard Roelcke: György Ligeti in conversation, with 6 black and white illustrations / imprint), 1 transparent sheet; Text by Hannes Reinhardt: Klaus Böttger); 1 sheet (green tinted, numbered, titled, signed and dated in pencil. Original etching by Klaus Böttger: image: 23 x 16.5 cm, sheet: 34 x 26, 8 cm) and 6 individually with pencil number and signed by Ligeti (with full name). On Vélin Arches paper, a total of 10 sheets, loose in a white folder with white title print in relief embossing. This example from the special edition of ten Roman numeral copies, D II/X of the A edition (150 ex.): No.II of X of the artist's or publisher's copies, additionally signed by Ligeti and Böttger following the imprint. With 2 inserts, including a complete list of Ligeti's published works. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and a representative of New Music.
Bronze uniface portrait medal/plaque of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer, by Beran [L]ajos in honor of the Liszt centenary celebration at the Lipótváros Casino in Budapest. 48 x 80 mm, a little rubbed, a few small scratched, but overall in very fine condition.
Impressive right-facing bust portrait medal of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer. Signed to the lower edge "ED. GEERTS. SULPT. F." and surrounded recto by small circle design. Verso with laurels and the engraved text "A / FRANZ LISZT / SOUVENIR / DU 29 MAI 1881 / LES ARTISTES MUSICIENS / DE / BRUXELLES." 65 mm. Niggl 1116. Edges and verso with some scratching and soiling, small shallow surface crack from the lower neck, else fine. With remarkable provenance from the collection of Alfred Cortot (Christie's Paris, 2019), one of the great pianists of all time, famous as well as an important collector of antiquarian music and historical music memorabilia. Read More...
Autograph music manuscript, a partial draft of the song ‘Ich möchte hingehn’ (LW N31; S.296), n.d. [c.1858-59]. 3¼ pages on two leaves, 192 and 196 x 300mm, the paper cut down from larger sheets, ruled with 12 staves per page, scored for voice and piano, four systems of three staves per page except for the final page, 104 bars (9 of which cancelled), pages 1 and 2 marked ‘3’ and ‘4’ in autograph, autograph cancellations and emendations (worn and split along central vertical fold and a little tattered at the horizontal margins of the second leaf, erasure marks). Read More...
Autograph musical quotation from the important conductor particularly known for his connection with Gustav Mahler, and who has penned five measures from the opening of the composer's Symphony no. 2. Walter identifies the work, signs and dates Munich, July 1919. On a small sheet with some toning and water damage to the upper edge, not affecting the text; mounted on a stiff white sheet. 5.25 x 5 inches (13.5 x 11.5 cm) and presented with a fine original photograph (approx. 8 x 10 inches) of Walter conducting. Nicely matted and framed to 21.5 x 17.5 inches. Read More...
Original 1967 press photograph of Menotti and Kennedy at a performance of "Les Ballets Africains" in New York. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18 x 24.5 cm). Crease lower right, irregularly trimmed, else fine.
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. Oblong bound folio. Original blue wrappers. Lithographed throughout. 84 pp. Full titling (but without place and publisher) to wrapper only. First leaf is general title, "Oeuvres Complettes de Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", with vignette by J. G. Schmidt, dated 1799, followed by contents page with incipits of the 14 works included. 13.25 x 10.5 inches (24 x 26.5 cm). Heavily damp stained, general title detached, but else in very good condition. Contents: Read More...
Promotional brochure issued by the Danish composer's publisher, Wilhelm Hansen, Copenhagen. Small upright format; staple-bound. 8 pp. (unpaginated). Photographic portrait to title. Biographical essay by Erling Kullberg, dated 1983. Work list, supplemented and updated to 1989 by loosely inserted leaf. Facsimile page from Symphony no. 4 to final page. Inscription to fol. 1v: "2/5/87 To Ian with greetings from Per Nørgård." 8.25 x 4 inches (21 x 10.5 cm). In fine condition. Read More...
Rare concert broadside from the legendary violinist's first international tour, advertising a January 28, 1829 performance in Dresden at the Königliches Hoftheater. The "Kammer-Virtuoso" of His Majesty the Emperor of Austria was to perform several of his own pieces including the Second Violin Concerto (identifiable by the remark, "Rondo Allegretto, mit Begleitung eines Glöckchens" = with the accompaniment of a little bell), the Sonata Militare, and Introduction and Variationson the Cavatina ‘Di tanti palpiti’ from Rossini’s opera‘Tancredi’. The program was punctuated by arias, duets, and trios performed by a number of singers. Mounted to backing paper. Toning and foxing to the right side, two small areas of voiding, else in fine condition. 8.25 x 14.25 inches (21 x 36 cm). Read More...
Vintage 1952 photograph of Porter and Sullivan as they discuss the script for Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" which was to present "The Cole Porter Story" over two broadcasts. 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23 cm), in fine condition.
Two photographs of the great Russian composer, ca. 1930 and 1950, both printed later. Later image showing him with an unidentified man, the second, a solo portrait with Bolshoi Theatre stamp on the verso, used for promotional purposes by a NY-based Bolshoi theatre representative in the 1990s. Irregularly trimmed, creases to corners, some marks to surfaces, else fine. Approx. 4.5 x 5.5 inches (11 x 15 cm).
ALS of the Austrian-American composer, founder and head of the Second Viennese School, to an undisclosed male recipient, probably at a music publisher. February 19, 1934, corrected to "1935" in another hand. In German. 1 p. Personal letterhead paper with the address of 5860 Canyon Cove, Hollywood, California. In full: "The music you sent me is not what I need. Ideally, I would have a melody (dance song or something like that), if possible at all with some (2–5) strophes of text and if possible at all, American. In variations, I want to write a small motet-like piece but on a closed, extended melody (16–24 measures; bipartite to tripartite). Should I return the music? / Within days I will send you an errata list for the Suite, the first; it must be taken into account when the parts are copied. Could you have the parts revised by a good, educated musician who, if in doubt, could query me (query list, as I will send you one). / My full score is unfortunately not written particularly well. Will you have it copied, or will you engrave immediately? Could I then get a copy by early March? It not not have to be; I only ask, just in case. / Most cordial regards, Yours, Arnold Schoenberg." 11 x 8.5 inches (27.5 x 21.5 cm). Read More...
TLS of the Austrian-American composer, founder and head of the Second Viennese School, to his former student and son-in-law Felix Greissle at G. Schirmer, New York. July 17, 1944. In English. 1 p. Schoenberg's personal handstamp to left head with address of 116 N. Rockingham Ave., Los Angeles, California. In part: "Though my letter to Mr. Reese, by naming only the condition that the publication of my orchestration of Carl Engel[']s Triptych must be guaranteed by Schirmers, makes it quite clear, I feel I should mention it in a formal manner: / I do not ask for a fee for this work. / I do not know why the Goldmann Band does not perform my variations this summer. / I am doubtful whether under thee circumstances one should leave the 'Uraufführung' to him." Extended note to right head in pencil, erased and probably lost. 11 x 8.5 inches (28 x 21.5 cm). Read More...