An uncommon AMQS from the American avant-garde composer, pianist, author, and inventor who co-patented a 'Secret Communications System' with actress Hedy Lamarr in 1941. AMQS on an off-white card imprinted "Collection of Bernard J. Klug." Antheil pens two bars from one of his works, signing below in bold ink, "October 29, 1954, George Antheil." In fine condition. 5 x 3 inches (12.7 x 7.6 cm).
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: Novello and Company. 1901. Upright folio. All three cantatas by the British composer—Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, The Death of Minnehaha and Hiawatha's Departure—bound in one volume, with original publisher's boards. No PN. Each cantata separately paginated. [i] Half title, "Hiawatha's Wedding-Feast.", [i] blank, [i] general title (for the entire work), 1–127 pp.; [i] half-title, "The Death of Minnehaha.", 1–113 pp.; [i] half-title, "Hiawatha's Departure.", 1–164, 164a, 165–191, 16a pp. Page 16a, titled "appendix," includes an alternate ending for the song, "Spring had come," which opens the third cantata, for performance as a standalone piece; page 164a is to be played if the section between rehearsal numbers 73A and 82 is omitted. Formerly at Forbes Library, Northampton, Mass.; the last borrowing date on the list pasted to the lower board is December 1, 1948. Handstamps identify the item as "withdrawn." Conductor's markup in blue and red crayon (first two cantatas only) and in lead pencil. Spine torn and partly detached; some leaves partly detached; some tears (e.g. Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, pp. 28–29); boards worn (especially the publisher's catalogue to the lower board; paper brittle; occasional tape repairs. Still a good copy overall. Read More...
Bronze medal of the influential Spanish composer, a detailed bust portrait by Anna Bass, 1950, bust left, rev. female performing a fire dance at right, kneeling naked male sorcerer utters incantations in front of the flames of a small fire, edge impressed bronze and cornucopia. 68mm, 170.17g. CGMP p.102; Monnaie Exh. Cat. 1965, 44; Niggl 622; cf. DNW 30, 743. With remarkable provenance from the collection of Alfred Cortot (Christie's Paris, 2019), one of the great pianists of all time, famously as well as an important collector of antiquarian music and historical music memorabilia.
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. Read More...
No place [Mexico City?]: No publisher [self-published?]. No date [ca. 1940?]. First Edition. Full score of the work by the Mexican composer for chamber orchestra in memory of the murdered Spanish poet. Upright quarto, stapled, in original wrappers. Lithograph. No PN. Upper wrapper doubling as title, instrument list, 2–79 pp. Inscription, "With best wishes / [illegible signature] / Mexico, May 19, 1947" in blue ink to head of instrument list. Name "Paul Strauss" embossed to top right corner of upper wrapper. From the collection of Dimitri Mitropoulos. 9.75 x 7.75 inches (24.5 x 19.5 cm). Browned and extremely brittle; upper wrapper and first leaf detached, with significant loss to latter; significant chipping and wear to edges; one page with two red pencil markings possibly in the hand of Mitropoulos. Read More...
Autograph letter from the Hungarian-born composer, one of the most important musical figures in late 19th and early 20th century Vienna, to the music publisher Ernst Wilhelm Fritzsch (1840–1902). Dated Gmunden, Austria, October 2, 1875. 3 pp. of a bifolium. In German. Goldmark offers the publisher two Lieder: "You can use them for [publishing] or for 'domestic music making' [i.e. leaving them unpublished]. In the latter case, I am asking not to assign an opus number to them because I might want to include them in some later collection." 6 x 4 inches (15 x 9.8 cm). Horizontal and vertical folding creases but otherwise in fine condition. Read More...
"Song sheet" for In Praise of Music (English version of Frau Musica on a text by Martin Luther; text underlay in English and German) signed by the eminent German-born composer, violist and teacher. New York: Associated Music Publishers, 1945. Quarto. 1 p. (verso blank). PN A.S. 1944380. Two copyright dates: 1928 (for the original version) and 1945 (for the revised version). 10.5 x 7 inches (26.5 x 17.5 cm). Horizontal fold; upper edge frayed; else fine. Read More...
Unsigned uniface bronze portrait medal/plaque of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer, engraved with his signature along the bottom margin. Ca. 1880. 42.0 mm x 52.5 mm, weighing 58.8 grams and in very fine condition.
Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger. [1888]. First Edition. Die Drei Pintos. Komische Oper in drei Aufzügen. Unter Zugrundelegung des gleichnamigen Textbuches v. Th. Hell, der hinterlassenen Entwürfe und ausgewählter Manuscripte des Componisten ausgeführt: der dramatische Theil von C. von Weber, der musikalische von G. Mahler. Klavier-Auszug m. Text. 4to. 223 pp. [PN] 2951. Bound in gray marbled boards with red cloth spine. Boards chipped at edges and corners, partial losses and breaks to spine, small tear to upper left of title, lightly toned, but a clean and quite fine copy internally. The copy of German opera composer and conductor, Manfred Gurlitt, and with his ownership signature dated "Bremen, Dez. 1919" to the head of the title. A rare first edition of the piano reduction, with interesting provenance. Read More...
TLS of the notable Italian-American composer to the influential producer Howard Scott, then at G. Schirmer, Inc., New York. August 14, 1980. In English. 1 p. Personal letterhead paper with the address of Yester House, Menotti's country mansion in Scotland. The letter discusses video clips from two of Menotti's operas—Amahl and the Night Visitors and The Saint of Bleecker Street—to be used in a forthcoming program on French TV. In full: "Thank you for your cable. The 'Amahl' clip might just as well be sent straight to France. It should be sent to / Société Française de Production,/ 36 rue des Alouettes, / Paris 75019 / for the attention of Mr. J.P. Nicole, Room 2274. / Do tell Miss de Paul however that I find it a little bit strange that they should have chosen [Teresa] Stratas's aria, being practically the only moment in the opera where Amahl is not seen. The opera, after all, is about the child and not about his mother. Could they possibly add the sequence where Amahl beats the Page and then falls into his mother's arms? / As for 'The Saint of Blee[c]ker Street', I am quite sure French T.V. would be willing to pay something for the use of three or four minutes of it. I would not think the cost of such a small clip would be prohibitive. Do please let me know exactly to whom they should address their request and discuss the charge. / With my thanks for your help, / Yours sincerely, /Gian Carlo Menotti." Date of receipt (August 20, 1980) hand stamped in red to head. Two marginal notes in pencil: "got union clearance" regarding Amahl and the Night Visitors and "Can't get Union Clearance 'Soberman'[?]" regarding The Saint of Bleecker Street. Repair to head; some creases. 10 x 8 inches (25.5 x 20.5 cm). Read More...
Proof copy (blueline) of the piano-vocal score of the opera by the very versatile American composer. Dated "1949" to head of first page. 79 pp. Facsimile from 12-staff "Albanene 195L" transparent music paper by Arnold Arnstein, New York. Printed on one side only and accordion-folded (blank pages remain hidden if connected leaves turned on right side). The format of the first two sets, which were originally connected, is slightly larger (13.5 x 9.5 inches / 34.5 x 24.4 cm) than that of the third set (13 x 9.5 inches / 32.5 x 24.2 cm). The first set contains the prelude, scene I (paginated consecutively from [1] to 25) and, on its final page, the beginning of scene 2. The second set contains the remainder of scene II (paginated from 2 to [12]). The third set contains scene III (paginated [1] to 16) and IV (paginated [1] to 25). There are numerous corrections in pencil and occasional ones in blue ink. Several leaves torn and frayed (especially outer leaves of the three sets), some browning, ink stain to p. 17 of scene 3, occasional brown stains, e.g. to top right corner of first page. Read More...
Solid bronze portrait medal by Elisa Beetz Charpentier (1875 - 1949). 50 mm (2 inches); 70 grams; 5 mm (edge/relief). Ravel is shown in profile looking to the right. The verso shows a musical excerpt with two frogs hopping onto the staves, referencing the composer's "Histoire Naturelle" on the poems of Jules Renard. With the artist's monogram lower right both sides, recto with the year MCMXXX. In very fine condition. CGMP Vol. 3, p. 36; Niggl 1654. 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.
An intriguing grouping of eight rare early and first edition separate number piano-vocal or pianoforte solo (2) scores, as follows. All oblong folio, 38.5 x 27 cm or 35.5 x 26 cm (Rigoletto); scattered minor foxing, generally fine - very fine. Of particular note are the four numbers issued by Fabricatore from Alzira. The opera was first staged in Naples and Ricordi's edition did not appear until 1846, making these almost certainly the first and unreported issues of the opera. Hopkinson notes that in the 1846 Ricordi edition, the Fabricatore are given as Verdi's agents or distributors in Naples but that "I have not encountered any of their publications" (Bibliography of Giuseppe Verdi, p. 42). Read More...
Typed letter signed from the important Brazilian composer to Gretl Urban, Vice President of Associated Music Publishers, New York, NY. Rio de Janeiro, July 1, 1946. In English. 1 p. Letterhead paper of the Brazilian Ministério de Educação e Saúde (Ministry of Education and Science). Villa-Lobos recommends Brazilian composer and conductor Eleazar de Carvalho, then still young and rather unknown, to his publisher. He wants to assist his compatriot with an upcoming conducting tour in the U.S. and asks his correspondent to lend him some scores at no fee "although I know you can rent that orchestra's material." Oblong format. Browned and brittle. 6.5 x 8 inches (16.5 x 20 cm). Read More...
Attractive grouping of ten original publicity photographs of the great Chilean-born pianist, ca. 1940–1970s. Overall in fine condition, with some minor toning and one photograph irregularly trimmed. Each 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
Signed program of a recital of the Budapest String Quartet at Town Hall, New York, on February 18, 1934. 6 pp. Inscribed to cover (counted as p. 1) by first violinist Josef Roisman, "To / Donn Purvis / in remembrance / 30 years ago. A long time! Joseph[!] Roisman / Jan. 1964," and signed by second violinist Alexander Schneider (with enigmatic date, "March 1904," added) and cellist Mischa Schneider. Not signed by violist Stephan (or István) Ipolyi, who had left the quartet in 1936 and died in 1955. 9 x 6 inches (23.2 x 15 cm). Slightly frayed and somewhat browned; else in fine condition. Read More...
Scarce original program from the important Italian composer/pianist/conductor, who led this May 1, 1914 orchestral performance at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna, Italy. Works by Weber, Beethoven, Liszt and by Busoni himself were performed, with soloists Arrigo Serato and Giuseppe Borgatti. 1 p. In very fine condition. 6.5 x 9.25 inches (16.5 x 23.5 cm.).
Charles Vandamme of Paris headshot of the French pianist in his later years, in a pensive position, his head resting on his right hand, and signed in blue ink with the date 1952. Photographer's signature in negative to lower left corner. 7.25 x 4.75 inches (18.3 x 12 cm). In fine condition.