Cast bronze portrait medallion of the important composer by Pierre Turin. Obverse: Bust-length relief in profile, turned to the left. Bearded, wearing jacket, hair parted on the left. Inscribed below the image CLAUDE DEBUSSY. With the name P. TURIN below the beard. Reverse inscribed CLAUDE DEBUSSY / 1862-1918 / CETTE MEDAILLE / A ÉTÉ FRAPPÉE / A L'OCCASION / DE L'ÉRECTION / DES MONUMENTS DE / CLAUDE DEBUSSY / A PARIS / ET A ST GERMAINE EN LAYE. Rectangular, 1.5 x 2.25 inches (4.2 x 5.9 cm). Niggl 538. 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. Read More...
Uniface bronze left-facing bust portrait medal of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer. Inscribed around the recto "Franc Liszt Nostri Saecvuli Clavichordii Orpheus" and signed to the lower neck "C. Lange." 49 mm. This example of the medal, which Niggl (1134) describes with text also to verso, has seemingly been roughly separated somehow from it's other half, the recto rather rough and pierced with a small nail head, probably from a prior mounting. Niggl also records that Liszt had been presented with a silver example of this medal by Baron Prokesch von Osten on behalf of Hungarian art lovers. Despite condition issues, this is a very rare early medal, 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.
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...
New York: G. Schirmer. ca. 1934. First Edition (1st issue; only known copy). Full score of the arrangement, in manuscript facsimile, from the Collection of Dimitri Mitropoulos. Oblong folio, spiral bound in textured green boards. Photographic reproduction of autograph score by Presto Reproduction, New York (see hand stamp to final page). No PN. No title page; titling to first page of music. 46 pp. From Mitropoulos's personal collection. Stamp to lower margin of front page identifies the score as property of G. Schirmer, Inc., for rental only. 13.5 x 18.5 x inches (34.5 x 47 cm). Reproduction is excellent, but manuscript had defects before reproduction; most notably, last two measures are partly lacking. Light wear to edges, else in fine condition. Read More...
46. Schubert, Franz. (1797–1828). [D. 779 no. 18–34] Valses sentimentales pour le Piano-Forte... Oeuv. 50 Cah. 2
Vienna: Diabelli & Comp. [1825]. First Edition. Unbound oblong folio. Engraved. PN D. et C. No. 2074. 11 pp. Title in French. Blindstamp of C. F. Hientisch, Breslau [now Wrocław, Poland] to foot of title. 10.25 x 13.25 inches (26.2 x 33.7 cm). Rebacked in paper, spine largely separated; inner bifolia detached at spine. Browned and somewhat brittle, with frayed edges and minimal loss; some soiling. A rare lifetime edition of one of the composer's most popular works. Read More...
TLS by the "March King" to the eminent American music scholar, c/o G. Schirmer, New York. December 6, 1917. 1 p. Letterhead paper of U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. In full: "Many thanks for the two copies of the 'STAR SPANGLED BANNER'. I am making an instrumentation for band on this authorized version and a publisher has already applied to me asking to print the version. What shall I and what can I do? Very sincerely yours, John Philip Sousa, Lieutenant , USRNF." 10.5 x 8 inches (26.5 x 20 cm). Read More...
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...
Berlin: Riese & Erler. [1955]. Suite for violin and piano. 1 score (40 pages) and part ; 34 cm. Pl. no. R.11.057E. The piano score inscribed on the title by the composer to the marvelous French violinist who committed suicide in 1982 after a long struggle with depression: "Christian Ferras, dem faszinierenden Geiger, in aufrichtiger Bewunderung! Grete Zieritz / Berlin, 25/IV/1956." Together with an oversized matte photograph of Ferras by Claude Poirier. Read More...
1907 memorial cast bronze portrait medallion of the important Hungarian violinist and Brahms collaborator, obverse depicting head and shoulders of Joachim with violin; Joachim's name ("Josef Joachim") and dates are engraved; sculptor's name below first "J". Obverse depicts a muse playing a harp. 60 mm. 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. Heidemann 248; Niggl 974; Wurzbach 3968. A very scarce medal.
114.
[Instrumentalists]
Schweitzer, Albert. (1875–1965). "...that you will regret one day to have deferred its publication" – Autograph letter and secretarial letter, both signed
Two letters of the Alsatian physician, theologian, philosopher, organist and musicologist to G. Schirmer, Music Publishers, New York. Read More...
A fine example of this large uniface lifetime portrait in high relief of the pianist-composer in right profile, cast bronze with warm brown patina, 7 inches (18 cm) diameter, signed and dated 1842 at lower center, inscribed with sitter's name to left, and signed “Propriété de l’auteur - Benezecht”, below. With remarkable provenance from the collection of Alfred Cortot (Christie's Paris, 2019), one of the great pianists of all time, as well as an important collector of antiquarian music and historical music memorabilia. Christie's label affixed to verso. Nigl 2007. Extremely fine. Read More...
Unusual full color lithograph reproduction of a self portrait caricature in Meyerbeer's Le Prophète, by the great tenor and talented caricaturist, here shown in profile and signed to a light area in ink "Enrico Caruso / N.Y. 1918." The caricature is contained in a fabulous decorative gold lithographic frame. Two horizontal creases and small tears and creases to edges, else fine. 9.5 x 11 inches (24 x 28 cm). Presumably excised from a souvenir program, this is the only signed color image of Caruso we have ever offered. Read More...
New York: Knopf. 1966. First edition. 4to. (179), (1) pp. Text by LeRoy Leatherman and illustrated with photographs by Martha Swope. Inscribed by Martha Graham to her biographer and fellow dancer, Agnes de Mille, on title-page. Additionally inscribed by Lee and Swope on Dedication page. Publisher's brown cloth, stamped in gilt; in publisher's worn dust-jacket. An extraordinary association copy from the library of Graham's longtime friend, contemporary, and biographer, Agnes de Mille (1905-1993). Read More...
Ca. 2955 souvenir program of "Louis Armstrong And His Concert Group / Satchmo The Great" boldly signed in blue ink "Louis Armstrong" and in red "Barney Bigard" to the front cover and to their respective inside program portraits by Danny Barcelona, Mort Herbert, Billy Kyle and Trummy Young. Slightest toning around the edges, overall very fine. 9 x 12 inches.
Superb signed General Artists Corporation promotional photograph of the great jazz singer and pianist, shown in full song at the microphone. He has boldly signed in black ink and inscribed to Paul McMahon. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.5 cm). Read More...
170.
[Jazz & Song]
[Ellington, Duke. (1899–1974)]. Signed program of the Duke Ellington Orchestra from its 1933 British tour
Souvenir program from the first British tour of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, which took place in June and July 1933 (publication without date or place). 24 pp. Cover, titled "A Concert of the Music of Duke Ellington / Presented by Jack Hilton /By arrangement with / Irving Mills," signed by the following band members: Joe Nanton, Fred Guy, Juan Tizol (ball-point pen), Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, [illegible], Otto Hardwick, Sonny Greer; all signatures in pencil except Tizol's, which is in ink. In between, there is a signature by "Richard Jones"; this calls the jazz pianist Richard M. Jones (1892–1945) to mind, but there is no Richard Jones listed in the biography section of the program. Includes biographies of all musicians and annotations to all of the 33 pieces performed; the lineup is listed in the center of the program, pp. 12–13. "Chronological List of the Compositions of Duke Ellington" to inside back cover. Cover measures 12 x 9 inches (20.5 x 23 cm); pages proper of program measure 11 x 8.75 inches (28 x 22.3 cm). Brown, sugary stains (cola?) to cover; inner bifolia detached; frayed at edges; tear to foot of back cover; still, a well-preserved copy. Read More...
Vintage matte finish doubleweight 11 x 14 inch studio portrait photograph of the Australian-American actor and one of Hollywood's greatest heartthrobs, who has signed, "Hello Bertha! / All the best / Errol Flynn", in blue ink. Light silvering along lower section, otherwise in fine condition.
Original Giorno Poetry Systems pressing of the experimental 1981 double album, a collaboration between the three poets which was recorded during their "Red Night" spoken word tour of 1981. Each has signed to the cover. Gatefold cover: VG+, 2 LPs: VG+. Together with the original records, both of which have not been playtested, but appear to be in fine condition. Light scuffing to cover, overall fine. Read More...
Four issues of the influential experimental literary journal that featured Surrealist, Expressionist, and Dada art and artists, including literary, visual and musical contributions. Issues 24 and 25 with toning and moderate soiling to covers, some wear to edges, but overall fine; Issue 26 with more significant wear around edges and tears and separation along upper and lower spine; Issue 27 with chipping around the edges, toning and small stains to front and rear, spine paper torn and separating at head, with separation from front wrapper (still firmly attached, however); otherwise, all issues generally clean throughout. Read More...
Collage, monogrammed by the artist in the lower right corner. Framed and matted, the image 25.5 x 16 cm (10x6¼¨); frame 51 x 39 cm (20 x 15¼¨). Unexamined out of frame. Faint soiling to mat and scuffs along edges of image; else fine. Read More...