AMQS from the American composer and teacher, dated Appledore, August 1887. Paine has penned four measures for piano in A major, marked Allegro moderato, and dedicated the autograph to Miss Clare Hamilton. Tipped to a mount with creases; otherwise very crisp and in fine condition. 20.5 x 13.4 cm. Read More...
Small signed photograph of the important composer and songwriter, together with an amusing typed letter signed from his secretary to actor Monty Woolley. The letter, dated April 25, 1936, asks whether Woolley received the most recent telegram from the Porters: "Also, on the opening night in New York, Mr. Porter sent you a large floral offering, and Mrs. Porter sent you a LARGE gardenia [...] P. S. Also, Mrs. Porter hasn't received a 'bread and butter' letter from you since you departed from the land of sunshine and flowers." Photograph with one small corner crease, overall fine. 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.3 x 8.9 cm). Letter with light toning and folding creases; overall fine. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.5 x 27.8 cm).
Typed letter signed from the important French composer to the violinist Jelly d'Aranyi, regarding the Paris premiere of his work Tzigane. October 18, 1924. 1 p. on his monogrammed letterhead. Ravel writes (translated from the French): "Dear friend, I found your letter when I returned home last night: you are really terrible. You telegraphed me that you accepted; I immediately told Pierné, and now I find out that you cannot do the first rehearsal, the most important one, because since the one on Saturday is public, we cannot work seriously. The first rehearsal for 'Tzigane' is now fixed for November 30. If I cannot count on you, tell me right away, please; I must inform the committee immediately. Thank you in advance, dear friend, and believe me very truly yours, Maurice Ravel. [P.S.] I told Prunières that you were playing on the 30th: he made no objection." Addressed on the verso to D'Aranyi, with typed address corrected in another hand to the address of her sister, Adila Fachiri, with original postmark and stamps. Light toning and folding crease; overall fine. 4.5 x 8 inches (11.4 x 19 cm). Read More...
Signed halftone photograph of the important French composer, who is shown working at his desk and has inscribed at the foot to French violinist Marcel Chailley "as a souvenir of the quartet in F." The photograph is taken from a Dutch publication on Ravel, with a text on the verso about Ravel's Ma mère l'oye. Right edge rough, with some light toning, patches of rubbing and several tape repairs on the verso; overall in very good condition. 6 x 9.5 inches (15.7 x 24.1 cm). Signed photographs of the composer are surprisingly uncommon. Read More...
Carte de visite photograph of the important opera composer, photographed by Mayer & Pierson of Paris. Rossini is shown seated in an armchair, with his left hand resting on a table. Fine. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.1 x 10.2 cm).
Early bust-length cabinet photograph, ca. 1870, of the influential French composer in formal dress, signed with his name alone "C. Saint-Saens" on the verso. Spotting over the image and verso, otherwise in good condition. The image by Barenne of Paris, 10.5 x 15 cm. From the Gavy-Bélédin collection, once part of the 'bibliothèque municipale de Nantes' (see stamp, lower right) later returned to the family and sold at auction. Signed photographs from this period are very scarce.
Autograph musical quotation from the German-Polish pianist, composer, and teacher whose works have been the subject of a recent rekindling of interest. Two measures of music for piano in E flat major and 2/4, signed and dated New York, December 8, 1891. It was in this year that Scharwenka made his first tour of the United States and decided to settle in New York and open an American branch of his Scharwenka Music Academy. Two vertical creases and one spot from a mounting remnant on verso; otherwise in fine condition. 17.5 x 9.2 cm.
Original press photograph showing a military band and an enormous crowd gathered outside Vienna's City Hall at a concert to commemorate the centenary year of Schubert's death. Dated June 23, 1928. The Viennese celebrated Schubert in 1928 with multiple festive concerts through the year, as well as a Centenary Exhibition and the unveiling of a Schubert Fountain. Small creases and chips; otherwise in fine condition. 25.5 x 16.1 cm. See: G.E.R. Gedeye, "Schubert All the Year," in: The Rotarian, Vol. 33, No. 4, Oct. 1928, pp. 33-34.
Leipzig: chez F. Kistner. [after 1840]. First edition, later issue.. 11 pp. Engraved throughout. [PN] 974. Unbound, as issued. The work was composed in 1829–30 and first published by Kistner in November 1831 with a price of 12 Gr. This later issue was repriced at 15 Ngr. Light toning, with one crease to title page. Overall very good. 10.25 x 13 inches (26 x 33 cm). Read More...
Original press photograph showing the young conductor in military uniform, making an energetic gesture on the podium. Shapey was later to become a well-known conductor, composition professor at the University of Chicago and composer of over 200 works, dubbed a "radical traditionalist." On the verso: "Philadelphia - On a special furlough from Ft. McClellan, Ala., Pvt. Ralph Shapey conducts the 90-man Robin Hood Dell Symphony Orchestra, which has been led by the world's foremost maestri. Shapey, who won enthusiastic plaudits from the audience and critics for his direction of Debussy's 'Festivals,' was one of three young debutant conductors offered an opportunity to audition at the Dell in the unique 'Philadelphia Finds' Competition being staged in conjunction with the famous outdoor symphonic series." Dated August 7, 1942. Very slight warping; otherwise a striking image in very fine condition. 22.8 x 18 cm.
Autograph musical manuscript from the English composer of operettas, bearing an apparently unpublished march for piano, as well as a further musical sketch on the verso. The page is headed "New March S. S. America," suggesting that it may have been composed on one of Solomon's transatlantic voyages. 81 measures in E minor, penned over 12 systems and 2 pages. The march's fanfare-like opening leads into an energetic theme, which is contrasted with a more gentle trio in E major. On the verso of the sheet, Solomon has sketched what appears to be another march in F major, beginning with four bars in two staves and then expanding the same theme below to 16 measures of three staves. Folding creases and heavy wear to the sheet, with some edge losses and toning, but legible throughout; overall very good. 10.25 x 13.5 inches (26.3 x 34 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph of the important American composer and lyricist, who is shown in an attractive studio portrait and has signed and inscribed at the lower right: "Ray— / Thanks for making it all not only painless but interesting— / Fondly, Steve S. / June 24, 1982." A few small edge chips and creases, else fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.6 x 25.5 cm).
Signed photograph of the important composer and lyricist, who has signed and inscribed at the left and added a brief autograph musical quotation at the lower right of the first two measures from his song "Comedy Tonight." Semi-glossy lightweight photo in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.4 cm).
Autograph signature of "The March King," American bandmaster and composer of over 140 military marches. Dated 1929. On a small card, 10 x 4.5 cm, in very fine condition.
Autograph musical quotation of three measures in pencil from the "Waltz King," identified below in ink as his autograph by his third wife, Adele Deutsch. She has penned (translated from the German): "That the above bars were written by my husband, Johann Strauss, I confirm with my signature / Frau Johann Strauss / Vienna, October 1927." Folding crease and light toning; overall fine. 8.25 x 6.25 inches (21 x 16 cm), tipped to a slightly larger mount. Read More...
Copyist manuscript of Johann Strauss II's Juristen-Ball Polka schnell, op. 280, reduced for piano solo. Neatly penned over 3 pages. Ownership initials to the title: J. D. H. Biofolium with toning, edge wear, tape remnants, some slight splits; overall very good. 10.5 x 13.75 inches (27 x 35 cm).
Strauss' Juristen-Ball Polka was composed for a ball given by the law students of Vienna University in January 1864.
Original single-sheet program from a performance by the composer/conductor and his orchestra on May 30 1912 at the Lincke'sches Bad in Dresden. The program included waltzes, opera overtures, and other pieces by both Johann and Josef Strauss, Saint-Saens, Weber, Offenbach, Sarasate, and Jurek. Light folding creases, toning and foxing; overall in fine condition. 6.75 x 10.75 inches (17.1 x 27.5 cm). Read More...
Original 1912 broadside playbill from an April 9, 1912 performance of Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier at the Königliches Opernhaus in Dresden. The performance, directed by Georg Toller, starred sopranos Margarethe Siems and Eva von der Osten, who had starred in the premiere of the opera one year earlier. Overall toning, folding creases with some splits and tears; overall very good. 8.5 x 15 inches (21.8 x 38.2 cm). Read More...
An interesting collection of autographs from European and American musicians, scholars and other noted figures, many signed in Wandsee, Austria during a 1931 summer course at the Austro-American International Conservatory of Music. Signed over four album leaves, the autographs include a clever musical greeting from composer Jeno (Eugene) Zádor, who has spelled out in notes and letters "Am schönen Mondsee herzlichster Gruess" ("Greetings from beautiful Mondsee"); an autograph signature from novelist and playwright Lion Feuchtwanger, dated Berlin, July 1931; an autograph signature from Austrian philosopher Otto Neurath, signed "for the World Social Welfare Museum" and dated July 1, 1931; and a later signature from poet, journalist and congressman John Steven McGroarty, dated September 21, 1942. Further signatures include Austrian music historian Paul Stefan, Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler, philanthropist and Hollywood Bowl organizer Artie Mason Carter, and several others. Four leaves with light overall toning, but otherwise in fine condition. Each 8.25 x 12 inches (21 x 31 cm).
Uncommonly early signed photograph of the renowned Austrian pianist, poet, and author, inscribed to the concert promoter Geraldo Uhlfelder and dated May 1961. Deckel-edged photograph, inscribed in red ballpoint and stamped on the verso by Uhlfelder's concert agency. In very fine condition. 4.5 x 6.5 inches (11.6 x 16.8 cm). Read More...