Original sepia photograph of the important pianist and composer with his wife, Natalia Satina. Blindstamped at the lower right by the photographer, Hofphotograph Hahn (Nachfolger) of Dresden. In very fine condition. 4 x 5.5 inches (10 x 14 cm). Read More...
Small signed photograph of the great pianist and composer, apparently a passport photograph, ca. 1930's-1940's. Rachmaninoff has signed neatly along the left side of the image. In very fine condition. 2.5 x 2.5 inches (6.1 x 6.4 cm).
Autograph signature from the important French composer, neatly penned on a large album leaf and dated February 5, 1932. Below Ravel's signature, a further large unidentified signature has been penned and dated Vienna, February 6, 1932. Light toning; overall in fine condition. 8 x 12 inches (21 x 31 cm).
Original program from the 1946 Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun, boldly signed on the cover by the star, Ethel Merman, producers Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers, composer and lyricist Irving Berlin, authors Dorothy and Herbert Fields, choreographer Helen Tamiris, and costume designer Lucinda Ballard. The program comes from the preview performance of April 29, 1946 (the show opened on May 16); seven of the signatures are signed in pencil and one (Lucinda Ballard) in ink. Mounted on a larger album leaf. Large loss at the upper left, not affecting the signatures; staple binding partially detached. Overall in good condition, with signatures very good. 6 x 9 inches (15.5 x 22.8 cm).
A pair of signed photographs from the legendary song-writing team. Richard Rodgers is shown in an 8 x 10 doubleweight portrait photograph, inscribed and signed at the foot (light smudging to the inscription, but overall in fine condition, 20.3 x 25.2 cm). Oscar Hammerstein is shown in a smaller portrait photograph as a younger man, signed rather lightly at the head and stamped by the photographer Vandamm of New York (mounted on card and irregularly trimmed to 3.75 x 4.5 inches [9.3 x 11.2 cm], overall very good.)
Carte de visite photograph of the composer, signed by Rossini at the foot and signed again on the verso with the inscription: "Souvenir de Reconnaissance offert a Mr Ster[n]berg Hermann, Paris. G. Rossini 1866." Photographed by Carjat of Paris, with the photographer's device on the verso. 6 x 10.5 cm. Small chip to lower recto edge, slightly affecting two letters, else fine. Read More...
Original and finely painted watercolor on vellum of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, playing a viola da gamba, after the Italian Baroque painter Domenichino's well-known depiction of the saint (Louvre INV. 793). Ca. 1700. Oval; in contemporary carved and gilded wooden frame. 19 x 24 cm. Read More...
Important autograph letter from the French composer to the English music critic and pedagogue Herman Klein, regarding their collaboration on the oratorio The Promised Land (La Terre promise), op. 140. Paris, October 18, 1887. Saint-Saëns thanks Klein for good news about a performance about his "Psaume" [Coeli enarrant, op. 42], and apologizes for missing Klein on his visit to Paris: "I sent you a message to ask you to dine with me but, either because I had the wrong address or for some other reason, the message did not reach you." He goes on to write about the proposed oratorio, for which Klein would be the librettist: "If the oratorio can be arranged for Norwich, that will be very good; as you say, I will have all the time necessary to devote myself to it, which seems indispensable for a work of this scope. You will take care of dealing with an editor; I would like Novello, but Mr. Littleton junior has been so disagreeable to me recently that I would not like to deal personally with him. Perhaps the success of the Psaume will make him more manageable. Moïse will probably be my last work; it must crown my career worthily." 4 pp. on a bifolium. Light toning; overall very fine. 4.25 x 6.5 inches (10.6 x 16.6 cm). Read More...
Autograph letter from the French composer, organist, pianist, and conductor to pianist Berthe Marx-Goldschmidt, apologizing for missing an invitation from her and sending best wishes to her colleague, Pablo de Sarasate. Paris, April 3, 1899. Translated from the French: "Dear Madame, I was absent—on Easter vacation! I came to Paris this morning to look for a few pages of orchestra which I needed in order to correct some proofs out in the country where I am, and I found your beautiful invitation! In haste, I apologize [...] Please do send all my best thoughts to Sarasate!! And to you, dear Madame, my faithful, respectful, and admiring wishes. Massenet." 4 pp. on a bifolium. Light overall toning with some mounting remnants to the final page; folding creases; overall fine. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.5 x 17.7 cm). Read More...
Wien: bei A. Diabelli et Comp.. [ca. 1824]. First Edition. Complete parts to Schubert's four part songs for male voice quartet, op. 17: Jünglingswonne von Mathisson [D. 983] -- Liebe [D. 983a] -- Zum Rundetanz [D. 983b] -- Die Nacht [D. 983c]. 3 pp. (Tenor 1); 3 pp. (Tenor 2); 3 pp. (Bass 1); 3 pp. (Bass 2). Unbound, as issued, with title printed as p. 1 of Bass 2 part. Engraved throughout. [PN] C. et D. no. 1176. Toning, edge wear and creases; large split to fold of wrapper. Title number-stamped at the upper left, with another catalog number in pen at the upper right and an ownership stamp. Overall in very good condition. 9.5 x 13 inches (24 x 33 cm). Read More...
An attractive autograph signature from the important pianist and composer, dated London, April 6, 1870. Framed together with an engraved portrait. Oblong 12mo.
Clara Schumann frequently performed in London, making 19 concert trips there between the 1850's and 1880's.
52. [Schumann, Robert. (1810–1856)]. Frauen - Liebe und Leben. Lieder - Kreis... Illustrirt von Paul Thumann. - FROM THE COLLECTION OF JESSYE NORMAN
Leipzig: Verlag von Adolf Tike. [ca. 1895]. 25th. 4to. Half-title; Frontis portrait decorated with 2 portrait medallions; Title; Unpag. 22 Sheets, 9 inset prints on chine colle, each with protective sheets, the verses surrounded with floral frames, pages edged fully in gilt, decorative endpapers. Red cloth binding with elaborate gilt stamping to the upper board and spine. A very well-preserved specimen of this sumptuous production, from the collection of the magnificent soprano who recorded the Schumann song cycle with Irwin Gage in 1976. Read More...
A very brief autograph musical quotation from the important composer, who has penned one note and one rest on a small piece of manuscript paper. He has penned in Russian: "As a good memory / D. Shostakovich" and dated Moscow, January 13, 1972. 9 x 3 inches (23.2 x 7.8 cm).
New York: Boosey & Hawkes. c. 1954. Score of the American composer, pianist, conductor, and educator's piano work "Variations in G" (1949), initialed by him on the title page with his address. He has penned at the lower left of the title: "L. S. / 39 Dorchester Rd. / Buffalo, N. Y. 14222 / USA." [PN] B. & H. 17392. 19 pp. Light overall toning and some slight edge wear, but overall very fine. 9 x 12 inches (23 x 30.3 cm). Read More...
Original ticket to a Parisian ball given as part of the annual celebrations of the Société Orphéonique Parisienne du 17e Arrondissement on March 11, 1899. The ticket has been altered by hand to give entrance to 1 person, another hand has added a name at the upper left, and the ticket has been stamped on admission. An attractively designed invitation in fine condition. 5 x 4 inches (12.5 x 9.7 cm).
New York: Hal Leonard. [Copyright 1968]. Vocal score to the 1964 musical, boldly signed on the cover by the composer and lyricist. 243 pp. Softcover. Very slight wear to the signature and a few light creases; overall in fine condition. Read More...
Boston: W. H. Cundy. 1874 [1876?]. Original sheet music to a set of four short waltzes, apparently by the important Austrian composer (although his authorship has been called into doubt) and "respectfully dedicated to the citizens of the United States on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence." Piano reduction. No. 9 of the series "Choice Gleanings by Eminent Composers." Engraved throughout. [PN] 108. 7 pp. Unbound, as issued, with original wrappers. Toning and some light edge wear; overall fine. Read More...
Original photograph of the important composer and conductor, boldly signed by Strauss on the mount and dated Salzburg, 1922. Also signed at the corner of the image by the photographer, Edith Barakovich, and with her embossed stamp at the lower right. Affixed to embossed cream matte, 6.25 x 7.25 inches; 10.5 x 13.5 overall. Read More...
AMQS of the famous clarinet motif suggesting Till's laughter, from the tone poem written in 1894–95, chronicling the misadventures and pranks of the German peasant folk hero Till Eulenspiegel. Two bars, signed beneath "Richard Strauss," on a sheet measuring 15 x 10 cm, simply matted and framed to 25 x 19 cm overall. Vertical crease to the page, else fine.
A brief autograph musical quotation from the important composer, who has penned two measures of a theme from his 1934 melodrama Perséphone, signed below, and dated Paris, January 16, 1936. The quotation is the opening of the tenor solo in Part II of the work, beginning with the text "Perséphone confuse, se refuse à tout ce qui la seduit." Elegantly penned on a small card, in very fine condition. 5 x 3.25 inches (13 x 8.2 cm). Read More...