Original certificate awarding the important American composer the Governor's Citation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dated September 22, 1971 and signed by Governor Milton J. Shapp and Secretary of the Commonwealth C. Delores Tucker. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Barber studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and maintained a close link to the city throughout his life. The composer's name is hand-lettered and a gold seal with purple ribbons is affixed at the foot. One slight chip to the edge and mounting remnants on the verso; overall in fine condition. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.7 cm).
A fascinating and important collection of autograph letters and telegrams to the important American composer, dating from the premieres of his two operas, Vanessa (1958), and Antony and Cleopatra (1966). Included are autograph letters from Aaron Copland, John Browning (who premiered Barber's Piano Concerto), Rosalind Elias (the original Erika in Vanessa and Charmain in Antony and Cleopatra), Ignace Strasvogel, and other friends and admirers, and telegrams from Leonard Bernstein, Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins, W. H. Auden, Noel Coward, and many others. Read More...
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...
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).
Fine autograph letter from the Scottish Novelist and creator of Peter Pan. Signed "J M Barrie," two pages, 8vo, Leicester Corner, Lancaster Gate, London, 13th April 1905, to Mrs. Pogson. Barrie writes: "There must be some mistake as I have been in communication with no one about the German version of Peter Pan. However, I presume it means that Mr Bright has done so in my name, as he is entitled to do. I shall send him on your card, and it will be a pleasure to me if this matter is answered as you propose. If I am in London at the same time as you I shall be pleased to see you.." Usual horizontal fold, overall in very fine condition. Read More...
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.
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.
Charming photograph of the piano-duo, shoulder-to-shoulder, each sitting at their own instrument, signed and inscribed "To Mrs. Robert Gillespie/ with happy remembrances/ Ethel Bartlett/ Rae Robertson." 8 x 10 inches (21.5 x 25.8 cm). Small crease at the top, three small notches on the left side, otherwise fine. Read More...
A 1987 portfolio of prints titled From Rhapsody (A Suite of Three Prints) by contemporary American artist Jennifer Bartlett (California/New York; born 1941), printed by Patricia Branstead and Sally Mara Sturman with assistance by Susan Rees and published by Parasol Press, Ltd., New York (1987). The three loose prints consist of sugarlift, aquatint and spit-bite over a photo-etching of a grid and are printed on BFK paper. The collection includes images Row 21, Plate 42, Row 36, Plate 252, and Row 138, plate 955 after the original enamel paintings on steel plates in Bartlett’s seminal work Rhapsody exhibited at the Paula Cooper Gallery, New York in 1976. Each is numbered to the verso, and one is signed and dated to the verso. Presented in gray cloth-covered portfolio embossed with title and artist’s name. 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...
A small handmade scrapbook containing two original 1934 Collegium Musicum of Budapest program covers signed by Bartók and Kodály, as well as numerous press clippings relating to the concerts. Bartók has signed in pencil on the cover of the program dated February 12, 1934, in which he accompanied four singers in an concert of Debussy; this program cover serves as the cover of the scrapbook. Kodály has signed the cover of a program dated April 11, 1934, where he performed his own works and those of Bartók. Both program covers have been decorated with clipped halftone portraits of the composers. The remainder of the 12-page booklet includes press clippings and one clipped press photograph from Bartók's performance, all neatly mounted and reinforced with stripes of tape. Toning and light overall wear, but generally in very good condition. 9.25 x 7 inches (23.5 x 17.6 cm). 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...
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...
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...
An important early autograph musical quotation from the Hungarian composer, inscribed to his mother. Bartok has penned 12 measures from his Scherzo in B flat minor (B.B. 21), signed boldly, dated March 26, 1901 and inscribed at the head (translated from the Hungarian): "To widowed Mrs. Bartok," it being convention in Hungary to use the husband's name and then add "widowed" after his death. Matted together with a later photograph of the composer. Visible size 4.5 x 6.5 inches (11.8 x 16.3 cm), handsomely matted in red and gold to an overall size of 14 x 11 inches. Overall toning, but otherwise very fine. Read More...
Group of eight original photographs of the important ballet dancer. Included are a 1991 portrait by Annie Leibovitz showing Baryshnikov in a deep arabesque; a portrait by Gregory Heisler for the American Ballet Theatre; two on-stage photos in costume by Leslie E. Spatt; a portrait by Kenn Duncan for the American Ballet Theatre; and three photographs by Martha Swope of Baryshnikov with other dancers. He is seen with Deirdre Barberry in "The Little Ballet," with Elaine Kudo in "Sinatra Suite," and rehearsing with Gil Boggs for "Cinderella." All photos 8 x 10 inches and stamped on the verso by the photographer. Some light edge wear, but overall in very fine condition. Read More...