New York: G. Schirmer. 1958. First. Vocal Score. Piano reduction by the composer. 4to. Softcover. Lithograph. [PN 44349]. Title (Licensing note); Characters (Synopsis); Synopsis (vb); 1–269 pp. Barber has inscribed to the conductor who lead the work's premiere, "For Dear Dimitri— / with appreciation boundless / affectionately, / Sam / Capricorn [Barber's house in Mount Kisco, NY] October '58" in black ink to the title page. Partial internal separation of wrapper from spine, general wear to cover and spine, else in fine condition. Read More...
Signed original doubleweight A. Laviosa of NY photograph of the British conductor and cellist, who has inscribed in fountain pen ink to the Box Office Treasurer of the New York Philharmonic, "To Edward Hochner / with all good wishes / John Barbirolli." Very fine. 6.75 x 9 inches (17.1 x 22.9 cm.).
Original caricature of the important British conductor, signed by the noted American illustrator and caricaturist Sam Norkin. Barbirolli is depicted conducting in concert dress, during his time as the conductor of the New York Philharmonic (1936–1943). Black and white ink on card, with pencil caption at the foot. Some light toning and wear; overall fine. 9.5 x 13.5 inches (24 x 33 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph of the Israeli pianist and conductor at the podium, his arm raised in a dramatic gesture. Signature to a dark area, else in very fine condition. 5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.8 cm.).
Throughout his career, Barenboim has served as Music Director for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, La Scala, and the Berlin State Opera and Staatskapelle Berlin.
A short autograph note from the German composer, the half-brother of Clara Schumann who taught at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik and, with Brahms, edited the complete works of Schumann and Chopin. He has written a short request (translated from the German): "Please provide Mr. Beal with a room," and signed at the foot in pencil. Toning and mounting remnants; overall very good. 5 x 4.25 inches (13 x 11 cm).
Secretarial letter on behalf of the Scottish novelist and creator of Peter Pan to actor Monty Woolley. August 9, 1927. 2 pp., handwritten, on letterhead of the Stanway hotel, Cheltenham. Text, in full: "Dear Sir, Sir James Barrie directs me to thank you very much for your letter and expresses his great regret at the impossibility of his being able to leave England. He much appreciates the honor of the invitation and is so sorry not to be able to come to Boston. He is also very sorry not to be able to have the pleasure of meeting you, but he has left London for some time. Yours faithfully, C. Greene (for Sir James Barrie)." Toning and some light soiling; overall fine. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.5 x 17.8 cm). Read More...
A lovely hand-colored photograph postcard of the Spanish coloratura soprano, with a facsimile signature above and an autograph signature at the left, dated 1905. On the verso, the postcard is addressed to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño, with the original stamp and postmark. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.7 x 13.7 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph from the tango chanteuse who was popular in Paris in the 1930's. Small halftone photograph clipped and mounted to a postcard, boldly signed below. Dated on the verso: May 8, 1936. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm).
From the collection of Monique Paravicini Simon (1916-2003), who was active in the world of dance and involved in the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo.
Rare early original photograph of the celebrated American actress from the famous Barrymore clan whose performance in None But The Lonely Heart earned her the 1944 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. A very early image by Otto Sarony of New York, with his stamp on the mount, ca. 1910. Mounted bottom chipped/torn, a few stray pencil marks etc., overall fine. 5 x 7.2 inches (12.5 x 18.5 cm), mounted to an overall size of 8 x 10.8 inches (20.5 x 27.5 cm.).
Signed card from the flautist, with inscription "Best wishes from Georges Barrère," mounted to paper along with a half-tone photograph clipped from a magazine. Fine. Paper measures 7.25 x 5.25 inches (18.4 x 13.3 cm.), card 3.25 x 2.25 inch (8.2 x 5.7 cm.). Read More...
Autograph letter. 4 pp. January 22, 1930. From the pianist and composer and pianist (and aviation instructor for the U.S. Armed Forces!), addressed to "My dear Miss Vermont." He details his recent employments, including as head of the piano department at the College of Music of Cincinnati, but notes that "unfortunately the climate was too hard for me there, and this forced me to leave this splendid position." He is seeking employment for the following year in California after he completes a concert tour in Europe. A little musty, but overall in fine condition and sold together with two different single-sheet NY Town Hall recital programs, each with an inset photograph of Barsukov.
Rare and unusual original pair of Columbia Recording Corporation 12″ inch test pressings, one marked "Pt 1, Mikrokosmos, Bartok" and the other "Pt IV, Mikrokosmos, Bartok," both signed by the composer on the label: "Accepted / Bartok." Framed to an overall size of 16.75 x 30.75. In very good to fine condition, with some paper loss to each label. Read More...
Typed letter signed ("Béla Bartók"), in Hungarian, 1 page, folio (13½ x 8¼ in.), Budapest, September 14, 1937. To the literature historian and general secretary of the Hungarian Academy of Science, Géza Voinovich (1877-1952) about the publication of the Hungarian folk songs collected by Bartók and Kodály: "Since September 1924 the work for printing [the collection] is on the way. During that time I have revised the transcript of all the phonograph cylinders - 1062 cylinders - at the same time Kodály selected from the existing literature any related material….The material to be published comprises circa 12 thousand melodies, and the publication will consist of about 4000 pages 4to. In three years it will be possible to give the entire material to print…." Read More...
12188. Bartók, Béla. (1881–1945). Signed Letter about Hungary in WWII and The Commission of the Arts and Sciences of Independent Hungary
2-page TLS, signed "Bartok Bela." October 27, 1942. In Hungarian, an important letter addressed to the Hungarian-born composer and publisher, Albert Szirmay, who had emigrated to New York in 1923 and took a post as music director for Chappell Music, becoming editor for such Broadway luminaries as Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. The letter concerns Hungary's role in WWII and Bartok's involvement as Chair of the Committee of Hungarian Scientists and Artists. Mentioning "the fateful fight carried out against the dictator" and lamenting that "the Hungarian government has declared war on the Axis side of the democracies," he knows that "President Roosevelt...you are on our side" and states that "in this situation...the representatives of Hungarian culture, who in America our principled beliefs are free to declare," must speak for the "the millions of Hungarians who are struggling." He goes on to invite Szirmay to join the newly formed Committee and a retained copy of Szirmay's letter of acceptance is included together with the original letter from Bartok. 8.5 x 11 inches, minor toning and a small tear along one of the original folds, else fine. Read More...
Budapest: Rózsavölgyi & Cie.. [1909]. First Edition in score. Miniature score of Bartók's Quartet no. 1, op. 7 (BB 52, Sz 40, W 20, Somfai 308.) [PN] R. & Co. 3287. 38 pp. 5.25 x 7.5 inches (13.5 x 19 cm). Two slight creases to the cover, some toning; overall in fine condition. Read More...
Berlin and Leipzig: W. de Gruyter and Co. 1931. Sonderabdruck aus den Ungarischen Jahrbüchern Band XI, Heft 3. Ungarische Bibliothek. Für das Ungarische Institut an der Universität Berlin herausgegeben von Julius Farkas. 8vo pamphlet. 25 cm. 17, [1] pp. Inscribed in ink on the title "Prof. Dr. Guido Adler / hochachtungsvoll [yours respectfully] / Béla Bartók." In fine condition. Read More...
Neatly penned autograph letter, one page, 5 x 6.5, no date but postmarked April 6, 1922. Addressed on the reverse in Dukas’s own hand to Henri Prunières and signed "Paul Dukas." The letter apologizes for missing a visit from the addressee and from "Monsieur Béla Bartok, whose acquaintance I would have been delighted to make. All the more so since I must respond to your kind invitation for Saturday. I have to be in Valenciennes on Sunday to help with the concert of the Societé du Conservatoire there. And if I don't take the train at 5:10 in the evening on Saturday, I will have to get up at 6:30 to leave on Sunday morning! So in this case despite all my regrets, I must excuse myself..." A scarce and rather charming letter from the French composer, critic, scholar and teacher best known for his "L'apprenti sorcier "(The Sorcerer's Apprentice) and his opera "Ariane et Barbe-bleue." Read More...
Signed postcard from the great Hungarian composer who has amusingly signed "B2" and neatly penned "Pozsony, 1902 dec. 31" and "Boldog Új Évet!" ["Happy New Year!"] to recto corners surrounding a raised relief-printed image of a pig in a horseshoe eating a four-leaf clover, meant to evoke luck. Verso addressed in his hand to the great violinist Adila Aranyi [Fachiri]. Fine. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm.). Read More...
Budapest: Rozsnyai Károly. [1906]. First edition of the Hungarian Folksongs for voice and piano, a collection to which the two great Hungarian composers each contributed ten songs, signed by Bartók on the title page. [PN] B. K. 4to. Softcover, 26 pp. Spine reinforced with fabric tape; wear and soiling to the covers with some small losses at the edges; staple binding partially detached; signature crisp and overall in good condition. 9 x 12 inches (23.5 x 30.5 cm). Read More...