Superb AMQS, two instantly identifiable measures from "Petrouchka" boldly accomplished in brown ink, signed "Igor Strawinsky" and dated "II - 3/57." On an off-white album page measuring 6 x 4.4 inches [15.2 x 11.2 cm]. Some light foxing, two hole-punches along the left edge, overall very good. A fine quotation from one of the composer’s most popular and enduring works. Read More...
London: J. & W. Chester. 1922. "8 mélodies très faciles sur 5 notes" ("8 very easy melodies on 5 notes"). Upright folio. 10 pp. [PN] 2090. Signed on the front cover in blue ballpoint ink by the composer with a tracing of his own five fingers and "I Str." With ownership signature to upper right corner ("Ellis B. Kohs"), spine and front and rear interior joints reinforced with archival tape over older tape stains, internally otherwise fine and overall very good. A most unusual and special example of the great composer's signature. Read More...
Boldly signed LP cover of this 1979 recording by Tashi (including Peter Serkin, Richard Stoltzman, Ida Kavafian and Fred Sherry) with guest artists, featuring Quatrain II, Water Ways, and Waves. Japanese issue RCA RVC-2290 STEREO (ARL1-3483). Signed and inscribed in blue ink on the front cover "Dr. Bernhard Witkop / with Admiration / November 19, 1980 / Toru Takemitsu." Small tears and wear to lower cover spine edge, lp untested but in apparently fine condition. Read More...
Boldly signed LP cover of this 1980 recording by Tashi and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, featuring Quatrain and A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden. Japanese issued Deutsche Grammophon MG 1272. Signed and inscribed in blue ink on the back cover "Dr. Bernhard Witkop / with Admiration / November 19, 1980 / Toru Takemitsu." Cover in fine condition,LP untested but in apparently fine condition. Read More...
"Music from the Ether / Concert Demonstration...Produced by Free Movement of Hands in Air." An extraordinary rare souvenir program from one of the first US concert demonstrations of the marvelous instrument. From a concert at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, March 1, 1928. 4 pages. With an evocative color illustration by Hudiakoff and including a description of the instrument and a photograph. Light wear to edges, overall in fine condition. 6 x 9 inches (15.3 x 22.9 cm.). Read More...
London: Universal Edition. 1986. Deluxe boxed set of scores published in celebration of Universal Edition London's jubilee year in 1986 and including 12 scores by leading contemporary composers. Also included is a 2-page booklet (essay) "UNIVERSAL EDITION LONDON 1936-1986 A Short History." Individual scores all fine, the hard-backed containing box very good, with some slight nicks and bumps. 31.3cm x 23.3cm x 4.5cm. The works included are as follows: Read More...
Original Ch. Reutlinger, Paris CDV portrait photograph of the Italian composer, photographed ca. 1873 at about age 60. Notes and stamps on the verso, subject identification in ink to lower mount, overall in fine condition. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.4 x 10.5 cm).
Autograph title-page for part of Götterdämmerung, entirely in the hand of the composer and signed: "Fortsetzung des Klavierauszuges der 'Götterdämmerung' Zur Fortsetzung des Stiches eingesandt von Richard Wagner Bayreuth 14 Febr. 1874", being for Karl Klindworth's piano score of "Götterdämmerung", sent to the publishers Schott for the continuation of work on the engraving of that score. 1 page, cut down from a larger leaf of music manuscript paper, 23.8 x 18.8cm, laid down on card, together with an autograph letter by Carl Armbruster to the organist John Lott, dated 31 May, 1900, elucidating Wagner's autograph, laid down on the verso of the card. Bayreuth, 14 February 1874, light browning, else fine. Contained in a deluxe custom red morocco folder, lined with satin and silk (edges rubbed, one panel of the satin cracked, container else fine). Read More...
Plaster life mask, ca. 1900, of the important composer. Metal hanger with remnants of wire at the upper edge, cast numbering in red ink to rear. A few chips to the edges, but overall fine. 10.5 inches (27 cm) tall.
Original press wire photograph of the great Catalan cellist, enthusiastically wielding a knife over a music-themed cake at his ninetieth birthday celebration in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dated December 29, 1966. Press caption printed vertically to the right of the image. Significant toning and some image loss from fax transmission; otherwise in good condition. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19.2 x 24.3 cm).
Amusing original 1962 press photograph of a seemingly three-armed cellist playing his instrument and reading a book at the same time. "That extra arm belongs to a baby-sitter, but it helps illustrate the busy life led by Fred Hoeppner, cellist, conductor, and teacher..." Dated November 14, 1962. In fine condition. 7.75 x 9.75 inches (19.5 x 25 cm).
Exceedingly rare signed photograph of the great cellist who died so tragically young. Du Pré has signed her name in blue ballpoint to the left margin of the photograph. Horizontal crease through the center diagonal, light bumps to lower corners; otherwise in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
We have only ever encountered one other example of an authentic signed glossy photograph of du Pré!
Signed postcard photograph by Ellis & Walery of London of the great violinist, known for his sensuous and infinitely expressive tone. Elman is shown as a boy, playing his violin and wearing a sailor suit and has signed boldly in fountain pen with his name alone to a light area of the image. Some light surface wear; overall in fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm).
Original photograph of the great violinist known for his sensuous and infinitely expressive tone, shown in a three-quarter contemplative profile view, one hand partly tucked inside his jacket front. 5 x 7 inches [13 x 18 cm]. Bain News Service stamp to verso, in very fine condition.
An early autograph signature from the superb American pianist of Czech birth, a student of Janacek who recorded his complete piano music and premiered works by Barber, Ginastera, Hanson, Martinu and Menotti. On an album page with a mounted halftone photograph showing the pianist at around age 25. In fine condition. 4.25 x 7.25 inches (11 x 18.5 cm.)
London: Schott & Co.. 1933. 8vo. 75 pp. Softcover in black wrappers printed in yellow. Upper edge of spine perished, front cover with a few abbrasions and separating, else fine.
Richly toned and atmospheric original doubleweight photograph of the young violinist ca. 1918. 7 x 9 inches. Photographer's studio number stamp 30371 and later Culver Pictures stamps to the verso, lower right corner and edge torn and partially perished (easily matted out of view), otherwise fine. Read More...
Original carte de visite photograph of the great Hungarian violinist, dedicatee of the Brahms Concerto and many other works. Mounted on card, without photographer's imprint. In very fine condition. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.3 x 10.1 cm).
A rare 1919 Russian program featuring the eminent Russian conductor, composer and double-bass virtuoso, before his immigration to the US and his long tenure as Music Director for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1924-1949), founding of the Tanglewood Festival and mentoring to many American musicians, including Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. 4 pp. The program featured Koussevitzky in the first half, performing his own Double Bass Concerto, Op. 3 under the baton of the young Nikolai Golovanov, who also lead performances of Rimsky-Korsakov's Introduction & Wedding March from the Golden Cockerel and his own Prelude to Oscar Wilde's Salome. The second half was conducted by Koussevitzky, leading Scriabin's Le Poème de l'extase, Op. 54. Small tear to left edge, general toning, overall fine condition. Read More...
Original press photograph ca. 1980 of the three greats-in-the-making, in a candid moment in rehearsal with their instruments. Their 1980 recording of the Beethoven triple concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic and Herbert von Karajan was an early success for Ma and Mutter - who was only seventeen at the time. Light wear to the edges; overall in fine condition. 7 x 5 inches (17.7 x 12.8 cm).