New York: Harper & Brothers. 1956. Hardcover, in dust jacket. 266 pp. Light blue cloth with black spine and gold letters. Dust jacket carries original retail price of $3.50, is lightly worn at extremeties, but overall very good. Copyright page with the letters "L-F," indicating publication in November of 1956. In fine condition throughout. Signed and inscribed in ballpoint pen on the first free endpage by the 35th President of the United States, "To Helen Real - with very best wishes, John Kennedy." Read More...
London: Boosey & Hawkes. [1965]. First edition. Upright folio. 4 pp. Original wrappers, in very fine condition. A miniature scored for solo baritone and 3 clarinets, 4 stanzas - each a "free" haiku - written by W.H. Auden after the assasination of the President.
A large original photograph, signed and inscribed by the composer to his greatest interpreter, the celebrated French soprano, Marthe Chenal (1881 - 1947): "A Mademoiselle Chenal - 'La 'Sanga' incomparable.' En toute reconnaissance, admiration, et fidéle amitié. Isidore de Lara. Jan. 5, 1909." Photograph measures 15 X 22.5 cm, overall 26.5 X 32 cm. Scattered marks on photograph, mount rather stained, but with a clear and strong inscription and overall very good. Read More...
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. 1898. Piano-vocal score, with text in Italian and German. Upright 8vo. 362 pp. [PN] V.A. 1666. Bound in full crimson leather. A scarce edition by the important German Jewish conductor, best remembered as a close friend of Richard Wagner and the conductor of the first performance of Parsifal at Bayreuth in 1882. On the first free endpage, Levi has inscribed the score "mit freundlichen Grussen" in the year of its publication to Dr. H. Welti, writer and husband of the great coloratura soprano Emilie Herzog. In very fine condition throughout.
A bold autograph signature on music manuscript paper from the master composer whose work was made very famous worldwide when Stanley Kubrick featured his composition "Atmosphères" in the 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey." Sold together with a recent photo print advertising the film and a program page from the 1964 NY Philharmonic premiere of "Atmosphères." The concert also featured the premiere of "Pithoprakta" by Xenakis, in the "New Orchestral Sounds" section of a program of The Avant-Garde, lead by Leonard Bernstein and also featuring violinist Zino Francescatti.
Leipzig: Bernhard Schlicke. 1883. First edition. 4to. xv, 402 pp. Original gold-stamped black cloth boards. Slightly rubbed, spine extremeties worn, otherwise fine throughout. Scarce. Read More...
A fabulous group of two signed 3x5 photos and 4 unique 3x4 original "snapshots" by William Hendrickson. All unpublished and likely unique copies from a lieder performance by the great mezzo soprano with Leonard Bernstein as pianist.
An interesting original program from a 1942 Massenet Centenary Commemoration in Buenos Aires, a "Concierto Sinfonico Vocal Extraordinario," conducted by Albert Wolff under the sponsorship of the Asociacion Wagneriana de Buenos Aires.
An extraordinary collection of thirteen original broadsides from the original Covent Garden run of Mendelssohn's Antigone. The first, dated January 2nd 1845, advertises that "This evenening...will be performed (for the first time in England) the Lyrical Tragedy of Antigone, From the Greek of Sophocles, with the celebrated Music by Dr. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy." 12 additional similar broadsides are included, each with different weekly attractions advertised, each with a different date, but each leading with the day's performances of Antigone. The latest broadside is dated February 13th, 1845. All of them advertise, among other attractions, the "Note-oriously [sic] Original Comic Pantomine, written by Mr. Nelson Lee, entitled Harlequin Crotchet and Quaver or, Music for the Million," which followed each night's performance of Antigone! An amusing caricature of three harlequins identified as "Sharp," "Flat," and "Natural" is printed below. Each broadside measures 24 X 52 cm, with a second panel of the same size opening from the vertical fold (so, when fully open, 44 X 52 cm). All in very fine condition, a few with minor chips or stains in margins. While original broadsides from significant performances of this period are indeed scarce, it is extremely uncommon to find a series of well-preserved broadsides from a single run such as this. Read More...
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. [1843]. First edition. Oblong folio. 69 pp. Engraved. [PN] 6821. In original yellow printed wrappers, back panel lacking and spine heavily worn, chipping and light stains to margins, otherwise good. With the ownership stamp of conductor and pianist, Friedrich Jahoda (1909 - 2008).
A fine original pencil drawing of the popular American baritone, shown in some of his most famous roles. Boldly signed by both Merrill (in ink) and by the artist, D.A. Ahrens. Ca. 1950, 14 X 10.5 inches.
A superb original glossy 8 X 10 inch photograph, in very fine condition and boldly signed by the American cellist and conductor who led the National Symphony Orchestra from 1950 to 1969. Read More...
99. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. (1756–1791). Concerto pour le Clavecin ou Piano-Forte avec accompagnement de grand Orchestre. Oeuvre 46me. [Concerto in D Major. KV 537]
Offenbach sur le Mein: Jean André. [1794]. First edition, first issue. Solo piano score of the so-called "Coronation" Concerto. Upright folio in self-printed wrappers. 20.5 X 28 cm. Title; 2-24. [PN] 715, 707 (p. 16), 725 (p. 20). Spine reinforced with paper, title a little grubby, with one stain (visible also on verso, first page of music). Otherwise a remarkably clean and bright copy throughout. Haberkamp p. 304 (plate 268), recording only 5 copies worldwide and only one in the United States. Because the left hand of large portions of outer movements, and of the entirety of the second movement are missing from the autograph score, the first edition is an important primary source. Read More...
100. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. (1756–1791). Concerto pour le Clavecin ou Piano-Forte avec accompagnement de grand Orchestre. Oeuvre 44me. [Concerto in F Major. KV 459]
Offenbach sur le Mein: Jean André. [1794]. First edition, first issue. Rare complete set of the orchestral parts (11). Upright folio in self-printed wrappers. 20.5 X 28 cm. Vln primo: 5 p., vln secondo: 5p., vla: 5 p., b: 4p., fl: 4p., ob primo: 4p., ob secondo: 3p., fag primo: 4 p., fag secondo: 3p., cor primo in F: 2 p., cor secondo in F: 2 p.. All engraved throughout. [PN] 684. Slight staining at head of Title-page (violino primo), otherwise in very fine condition throughout. Haberkamp p. 226 (plate 185), recording only 6 complete sets of orchestral parts worldwide. Hirsch IV, 82. Read More...