A highly interesting collection of 25 letters from mostly American (some of them, European-born) composers active in the late twentieth century with comments on issues such as musical influence, listening habits and aesthetic preferences. Read More...
An interesting collection of ten signed brochures, each featuring one twentieth-century composer, generally with a lengthy bio and list of works composed to date of issue. Issued by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI for short) and inscribed/signed to title unless stated otherwise. Each 9 x 4 inches (23 x 9.5 cm). Generally in fine condition, as described: Read More...
A chilling example of anti-Semitic Nazi writing on music (in German). Berlin: Bernhard Hahnefeld, 1939. 94 pp. Handstamp of George Perle to front endpaper. Handstamp of Adolf-Hitler-Schule Köln Aachen to p. 4; shelf mark of its library to upper board and p. 4. 7.25 x 5 inches (18.5 x 12.5 cm). Browned; boards bumped; spine lost. Otherwise in good condition. From the collection of American composer George Perle. Read More...
A copy of the anti-Semitic "Dictionary of the Jews in music," the quintessential publication of Nazi musicology and maybe the most notorious reference work of the entire discipline. First edition. Berlin: Hahnefeld, 1940. 393 (202) pp. Only the front matter counts pages; the dictionary, from page [11], counts columns instead (two per page), as do many German dictionaries, including MGG. Original binding. Handstamp of George Perle to head of front endpaper. Handstamp of "Adolf-Hitler-Schule Waldbröl" to center of endpaper. Handstamps, "Ausgabe 1" and "Ausgabe III", spread over verso of front endpaper and page [1]. 7.75 x 5 inches (19.4 x 12.3 cm). Spine mostly detached, with some loss. From the collection of the American composer George Perle. Read More...
Large AMQS by the American composer, conductor and pianist, the beginning of "Tria Carmina Paschalia"; four measures in full score (six staves) for SSA, guitar and harp. Inscribed, "for Steve Juscik / with best wishes / Dominick Argento." No date. Sheet from 12-staff pad. 5.5 x 8 inches (14 x 20.5 cm). Horizontal fold; in fine condition. Read More...
AMQS by the American composer, best known for his operas and songs. Twelve measures from an unidentified song, neatly penned on one staff marked "S A" (i.e. soprano and alto) with text underlay, beginning, "Oh I'm H-A-P-P-Y And I know the reason why." Dated New York, NY, June 24, 2003. Upper half of sheet cut from a 12-staff pad. 5.5 x 7.5 inches (14 x 19 cm). In fine condition.
Drawing, charcoal and white chalk on toned paper, mounted and framed with a handwritten text in pencil giving the composer's name and dates and curiously describing the work as a drawing after the "oil painting," "Handzeichnung nach dem Ölgemälde von Fr. Aug. von Kloeber | etwa 1815/16". The image measuring 4 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches, attractively framed and glazed to 12 1/2 x 9 x 3/4 inches. Unsigned, in fine condition, with crease near center left, spots of light foxing, some gentle toning, not examined out of frame. Read More...
8. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). [Op. 59, 74, 95, 127] Sammelband of String Quartets Nos. 7—12, including First Editions of Op. 127 and 74
Sammelband (in four partbooks) containing six string quartets from the German composer, including a first edition printing of his Op. 127 and a likely first edition of his Op. 74. Upright folio; engraved thoughout, contemporary half vellum with red, structured boards and gilt lettering, "L. v. Beethoven's Quartetten No. 7–12.", followed by name of partbook in Italian. 12.5 x 10 inches (31.7 x 25.5 cm). Signature, "Diettrich," to verso of front endpaper of all partbooks except Violino Primo. Numbering, opus numbers and some dedications added in black ink to headers of first pages of quartets; metronome marks and other annotations throughout in red or purple ink; rehearsal letters and other annotations throughout in blue crayon; occasional corrections in lead pencil. Violoncello partbook partly rebacked, others fully rebacked; occasional dampstaining; else in fine condition. Apparently compiled in 1914 by Georg Diettrich, a violinist and Royal Prussian chamber musician in Berlin. Read More...
9. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827) [Mitropoulos, Dimitri. (1896–1960)]. Grand Quatuor en partition pour deux Violons, Alto, et Violoncelle composé et dédié à Son Excellence Monsieur le Baron de Stutterheim, Lieutenant Maréchat de Camp Impérial et Royal d'Autriche &c: par L. v. Beethoven, Oeuvre 131." – From the collection of Dimitri Mitropoulos
Mayence [Mainz]: Schott. [1827]. First Edition. Disbound upright quarto. Lithograph. [PN 2692]. Title (verso blank); 1–50 pp. Light foxing throughout, wear (erasure?) to lower center of title page and first leaf, first two leaves creased to lower right corner, remnants of wrappers and string along left edge, else in fine condition. Kinsky, p.398; Hoboken 519; Dorfmuller, p.351. From the library of Dimitri Mitropoulos, though without any stamps or markings. Uncommon, only one copy having appeared at auction in over 60 years. Read More...
Book in German by a scholar from the circle around Otto Erich Deutsch to whose memory it is dedicated; the title translates as "Beethoven sites in Austria." Vienna: Elisabeth Lafite, [1970]. 180 pp. Original blue full cloth boards and dust jacket. With inscription to half-title, "For Shirley and George Perle in commemoration of a beginning friendship 22 October 1981 Rudolf Klein." 8.5 x 6.25 inches (21.8 x 16.4 cm). In fine condition. From the collection of American composer George Perle.
Original poster signed by the composer and conductor for a production of A Quiet Place & Trouble in Tahiti at Kennedy Center Opera House from 21-28 July, 1984, with signature in ink to upper left. 18.75 x 26.75 inches (47.6 x 67.9 cm.). In pristine condition. Read More...
An original doubleweight photograph of the important composer and conductor shown in semi-profile from below, taken by fellow composer David Diamond and with his raised stamp lower left, inscribed in blue ink to verso "Credit: Photo / David Diamond" and in pencil "Venezia 1954." 9 x 6.75 inches (23.3 x 17.5 cm). In very fine condition. Read More...
New York: The Dial Press. 1946. "The Partisan Reader", an anthology of essays, stories and poems published in the first ten years of the Partisan Review between 1934 and 1944, personally owned by the important conductor and composer and with Bernstein's ownership stamp "Leonard Bernstein" to the front free endpaper. 688 pp. Yellow cloth boards, no dj. Wear to corners and spine extremities, mild toning throughout, overall fine. Read More...
Single leaf torn from unidentified printed concert program, apparently from the U.K. 17-18 pp. Verso contains text of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, signed by the composer to the margin. 9.5 x 7.5 inches (24 x 19 cm). Slightly foxed, else fine.
AMQS signed from the English composer in black ink, three measures on two staves (piano reduction), with autograph caption, "from 'Two Poems' (No. 1) for Orchestra [H.118] after Richard Jefferies / 1916-17" and signature in full. The quotation begins at rehearsal letter 6 (= measure 36) of the composition. Additions in different ink, faded, "for James J. Romney[?]" and "London Oct. 14 1936" to foot. Cleanly cut from "Passantino Brand No. 1, 12-stave medium" music paper. Oblong format, 4.25 x 9.25 inches (11 x 23.2 cm). Formerly mounted using photo corners; two clean vertical folds. In fine condition overall. Uncommon. Read More...
Original Willinger of Berlin studio photograph of the important Italian composer/pianist, shown in a conducting pose with outstretched arms, boldly signed and inscribed to Paul Heinecke, Director in New York office of the important music publishing house Breitkopf & Haertel, Busoni's publisher from 1883 - 1924. Dated New York, 1915. Stamped by the photographer on the verso. Slightly trimmed, light chipping along the left edge, else fine. 14.7 x 20.6 cm [5.75 x 8.2 inches]. Busoni corresponded with his publishers for more than 40 years, at times exchanging as many as 15 letters per month, and the correspondence, including some 1500 letters, is published. The present signed photograph represents a further testimony to this important relationship.
ALS of the Italian composer, pianist, and teacher, based in Berlin since 1894, to [August] Spanuth. In German. No date. 1 p. Bifolium; graph paper. Translated in full: "Dear Mr. Spanuth, I have just received a telegram that calls me to England immediately. I myself am desperate. Sometimes all world turns against you. London, address: Schultz [!] Curtius. Most cordially Yours F. Busoni." Read More...
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A fine pair of vintage sepia postcard photographs of the important Italian composer/pianist/conductor. The verso of both cards advertises a 1910 Jordan Hall (Boston) recital appearance. In fine condition. 3.25 x 5.5 in (8.5 x 13.5 cm.).
Signed halftone photograph of the great American composer at his desk, with printed caption, "Aaron Copland," to lower margin. Signed "Aaron Copland / 1979" in light blue ink to lower margin, with added inscription in dark blue, apparently later, "For Benny Andrews." 8.5 x 5.25 inches (21.1 x 13 cm). Horizontal crease; else in very good condition.
Signed copy of the first page (single sheet only) of the published full score (manuscript facsimile, Templeton Publishing, 1957) of the American composer's Dance Overture, Op. 62 (1954). Inscribed, "especially for Steve Juscik – Gratefully – Paul Creston." 11 x 8.5 inches (28 x 21.5 cm). In fine condition. Read More...