Postcard portrait photograph of the Czech composer by Šechtl & Voseček in Tábor, Bohemia, mounted on dark gray paper and inscribed to foot of mount in Czech: "Milostivě paní / pí [?] Marie Gutwirthové / výrazem hlubké úcty a udežnosti [?] /V Mor[avské] Ostravě 12/X/25" (To the gracious Mrs. Marie Gutwirthová / as an expression of deep respect and [unclear]. In Moravská Ostrava, October 12, 1925). Size of photograph 5.25 x 3.5 inches (13.5 x 9 cm); size of mount 11.5 x 8.5 inches (29 x 22 cm). Tear to mount to right foot, else fine. Read More...
Original CDV portrait of the Danish composer, shown smiling at the camera. With the label of the photographer, Schmidt & Mallings, Copenhagen, on the verso. Slightly irregularly trimmed; otherwise in fine condition. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.3 x 9.6 cm).
Original carte de visite photograph of the prolific French composer, photographed by Elliott & Fry, London, [ca. 1872 at about age 54.] On the photographer's mount, cut down slightly. Slightly irregularly trimmed with some slight stains; overall in very good condition. 2.5 x 3.75 inches (6.3 x 9.5 cm.)
Original carte de visite photograph of the prolific French composer, shown seated with his hands folded. Photographed by Fritz Luckhardt, Vienna. On the photographer's mount with original stamp at the lower left. Slight foxing; overall in fine condition. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.4 x 10.3 cm).
Superb portrait of the Australian-born composer and pianist seated at the piano and facing the camera, by Ames, New York. Signed and inscribed to the head in black ink "For Gertrude Gilbert / Warmly / y[ou]rs /Percy Grainger Nov 1916," and adding an autograph musical quotation of the first two measures from A Londonderry Air, in E-flat major. 5.5 x 4.5 inches (14.2 x 11 cm). In very fine condition. Read More...
An unusual AMQS from the celebrated Polish composer whose music was known only to a small number of connoiseurs, until a 1992 recording of his 15-year-old Third Symphony sold over a million copies. Seven measures for S.A.T.B. from his AMEN, Op. 35, marked "Lento e tranquillo," signed and inscribed Katowice, 20.2.99, on a 4 x 6 index card. Read More...
Set of manuscript parts for 2 settings of the Regina coeli for voices and orchestra. The first setting, in C major, is attributed to Joseph or Michael Haydn (variously; not corresponding to any of the Haydn Regina Coelis listed in RISM) and the second, in D major, to Robert Führer. Single covering sheet with title, parts, and composers in one hand, and extensive note in red ink in a later hand. Heavy edge wear and toning to all parts, but overall in very good condition. 10 x 13 inches (25 x 33 cm). Read More...
29. Heller, Stephen. (1833-1888). Autograph Letter Signed - "I will dedicate my Two Etudes, op. 151 (still in manuscript) to you"
ALS from the Hungarian-born pianist and composer, who lived in Paris from 1837. To pianist Caroline Montigny-Rémaury (1843-1913). In French. 3 pp. Bifolium. Dated "May 7" (no year). "In the course of time you have given me the honor to request the dedication of a musical work. I will dedicate my Two Etudes, op. 151 (still in manuscript) to you, and I ask you whether I may put them under the spell of your name and talent. I hope for a Yes, and I ask you at the same time how your name should be engraved: Madame Caroline Montigny, Mme. Montigny-Remaury [! – no accent] – finally, would you please name the inscription." Montigny-Rémaury was a student of Franz Liszt. Heller's op. 151 was composed no earlier than 1875, which allows to date the letter approximately. 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10 cm). Read More...
30. Heller, Stephen. (1833-1888). Two Autograph Letters Signed - "whenever I play a piece to a publisher I feel some kind of nausea"
Pair of ALS from the Hungarian-born pianist and composer, who lived in Paris from 1837. Both to an unidentified female recipient (possibly a writer, addressed "ma chère amie" in the second letter). Both in French, as follows: Read More...
Oblong clipping from the program booklet of the 1959 Aldeburgh Festival, pp. 63-64. "First performances / Conducted by the composers / Hans Werner Henze / Malcolm Arnold / Mátyás Seiber." 5.5 x 7.5 inches (14 x 17.5 cm). Signatures both composers to p. 63. The verso (p. 64) reveals that Henze conducted his Chamber Music (1958) with Peter Pears (tenor) and Julian Bream (guitar) as soloists. In fine condition. Read More...
Upright duodecimo. Staple-bound. Ite, angeli veloces von Paul Claudel... für Alt-Solo, Tenor-Solo, gemischten Chorus und Rochester. Dazu: in der Entfernung aufgestellten Blasorchester und die ... an der Ausführung mitsingend beteiligte Menge der Zuhörer. Text und Singnoten für die mitsingenden Zuhörer (Text and partbook for the audience to join in). Mainz: B. Schott's Söhne, 1955. 16 pp. German text only (translated by the composer). 7.5 x 5.5 inches (18.8 x 13.6 cm). Signatures of the composer, Maria Stader (1911-1999; Swiss soprano), Annemarie Jung (soprano), Ernst Haefliger (Swiss tenor, 1919-2007) and Eugenia Zareska (Polish mezzo soprano, 1910-1979) to first page. In fine condition. Read More...
ALS of the French composer to an unidentified male recipient. Dated "Friday." 1 p. Letterhead paper with Ibert's Paris address. Ibert responds to a letter in which his correspondent disclosed his father's death. Ibert expresses his sympathy before telling that he had to travel to Orléans where his brother-in-law had committed suicide. Then he turns to business (translated from the French): "Upon my return I called Paul from Choudens. Unfortunately, he had already talked to Dervaux about the matter, who had come to an agreement with the musicians of Colonne about it as I understood." 8.5 x 7.25 inches (21 x 18.3 cm). In very good condition. Read More...
34. Ibert, Jacques. (1890–1962). Autograph letter signed - "Fatigue is overcoming me, as I am writing three-quarters of an hour for orchestra in 18 days!"
ALS of the French composer to an unidentified male recipient. Paris, September 22, 1931. 1 p. Translated from the French, in full: "I am in Paris for a few days. Call me. At lunch time (the evening [illegible]) and try to find a moment for [illegible]. Fatigue is overcoming me, as I am writing three-quarters of an hour for orchestra in 18 days! Until soon. Your dedicated friend Jacques Ibert. [P.S.] Thank you for your note on 'Donogoo'!" 7.5 x 6 inches (19.2 x 15.1 cm). Edge split at fold. Otherwise in very good condition. Read More...
Folio (ca. 360 x 260 mm.). Unbound. Autograph title page; 5 pp musical manuscript notated in ink and pencil on 3 leaves of 20- stave music manuscript paper. An unpublished manuscript, composed at the age of 14, primarily written in 2 different inks, with a handful of additions, alterations and cancellations in pencil. Title page inscribed "for my *friend TONY COOKE / SKYRAY - film score / by / Stuart Oliver Knussen / Short Score - complete / 14 Numbers!!" and at the foot "*Dear most illustrious, brilliant and implacable or malicious Joe (i.e. fiend) of a fiendish friend." Titled, dated, signed and notated further at the head of the first page of music: "SKYRAY music to the film," "12th March 1966," and "produced by J.A. Cooke assisted by S.O. Knussen and S. Hughes / Stuart Oliver Knussen." First leaf, recto and verso, including 82 measures of music in orchestral short score for parts one through seven, including timings: 1 ("1 Introduction 30""); 2 (T.E.P. 10""); 3 ("Shot New Theme 20"); 4 ("Jazz Cpt To Skyray Theme"); 5 ("Asteroid leaves SKYRAY 20""); 6 ("T.E.P."); 7 ("E.S.M. 50""). Second leaf, recto, including 28 measures of music in orchestral short score for parts eight through thirteen: 8 ("Climax 3"'); 9 ("Space Music. 25""); 10 ("Attack Preparations. 22 1/2 secs"); 11 ("Repeat Introduction Slower, but FF - Victorious Music. 30""); 12 ("Repeat Theme with 'Pop' group ad. lib"); 13 ("Humorous Endings 5""). Third leaf, recto and verso, titled additionally at the head "a puppet film produced by Tony Cooke, filmed in Cooke-process marionation, MARVELDRAMA / SKYRAY -film score / Piano Version (Short Score) and Orchestral Incidental Music," signed again "Stuart Oliver Knussen" and dated "begun March 12th 1966" and (in a different ink) "finished June 24th 1966 (in a new ink!!)" and including 22 measures of music scored in ink for Piano 1 and 2 and Drums, with additional instrumental annotations in pencil ("trb," "cello," "Trp"), for part 14 ("Theme and Skyray Lift-Off"). In very fine condition throughout. Read More...
Autograph musical manuscript of the first three (of four) movements of the composer's Symphony No. 1. In three parts, in very fine condition throughout, as follows: Read More...
37. Knussen, Oliver. (1952–2018). Two Pieces for Violoncello and Piano. 1. Passacaglia (1965) & 2. Ländler (1966-7) - Autograph Musical Manuscript
Unpublished autograph musical manuscript and inscribed facsimile full score, being the only known copy, of this work composed at the age of 13/14. The Violoncello Solo part, 2 pp notated in ink and pencil on 1 leaf (recto/verso) of 12- stave Academy music manuscript paper, approx. 222 mm x 305 mm, signed "Stuart Oliver Knussen" and titled and dated at the head "Passacaglia for 'Cello + Piano (1965)" and "July 8th-17th 1965 / revised March 1966." Passacaglia written in ink with annotations and additions in pencil across 41 measures; [Ländler] written in pencil across 81 measures. Together with a unique dyeline facsimile full score for Violoncello and Piano, folio, 385 x 280 mm, 12 pp. printed on 6 leaves, with the facsimile title and dedication to first leaf "to Antony Cooke / TWO PIECES for Violoncello and Piano. 1. Passacaglia (1965) & 2. Ländler (1966-7)," inscribed in ink on the verso "To Antony Cooke with best PERSONAL regards / S. O. Knussen." In very fine condition throughout. Read More...
Large half-length portrait photograph of the Czech composer and conductor in formal attire by Langhans in Prague, signed on the photographer's mount "Jar. Křička 1936" with printed Langhans logo to lower margin. Size of photograph 8.75 x 6.25 inches (22.5 x 16 cm); size of mount 13.5 x 10.5 inches (34 x 26.5 cm). Mount browned and somewhat worn; small tear to right edge, else fine. Read More...
ALS of the Austrian pianist and composer to his friend, the English critic Henry Fothergill Chorley (1808-1872). In English. London, February 2, 1841. 1 page. Single leaf. In full: "My dear Chorley / Liszt has been last evening with us and promised to come to dinner tomorrow at half past 6 o'clock previous to Benedict's concert. I hope this may find you and Mr. Reeve disengaged to join us at such short notice. Always yours sincerely I. Moscheles." In very fine condition. 7 x 4.5 inches (18 x 11.5 cm). Read More...
An interesting collection of late 18th and early 19th century manuscripts, various sizes, in the hands of different unidentified copyists. All but the first with the hand stamp of the Glasgow Society of musicians to the foot of the first page. As follows: Read More...