A short autograph letter from the French Romantic composer, addressed to the French journalist, music critic and music publisher Léon Escudier and thanking him for a "superb and warm" article about his works. Translated from the French, in full: "My dear Escudier (I believe it was Leon who was the author), I came to shake your hand and thank you for the superb and warm article. There has rarely been written on my compositions something which is so remarkable in its insights, and which has made me so happy. Yours, H. Berlioz." 1 p., with an additional cover page addressed to Escudier. No place, no date. One tear, some small chips, smudges, and toning; overall in very good condition. 4.25 x 5 inches (10.5 x 13 cm). Together with a later sepia postcard portrait of the composer, 5 x 7 inches (12.5 x 17.7 cm). Read More...
45. Engelbrunner, Nina d'Aubigny von. (1770-1847) . Briefe an Natalie über den Gesang, als Beförderung der häuslichen Glückseligkeit und des geselligen Vergnügens. Ein Handbuch für Freunde des Gesanges, die sich selbst, oder für Mütter und Erzieherinnen, die ihre Zöglinge für diese Kunst bilden möchten. ["Letters to Natalie on Singing"] - ONE OF THE EARLIEST TREATISES ON MUSIC PEDAGOGY WRITTEN BY A WOMAN
Leipzig: Bei Voss und Compagnie [gedruckt bei J. B. Hirschfeld]. 1803. First Edition. 8vo (8.375 x 5.0625 inches; 212 x 128 mm.). xiv, 234 pp. Eight folding letterpress plates with music. Nineteenth-century half polished marbled calf over black sprinkled paper-covered boards, smooth spine divided into compartments by decorative gilt bands, with black leather label decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt. Title with early ink signature of A. G. Ritter (German composer and organist August Gottfried Ritter, 1811-1855), another signature cancelled. Eitner I, page 236. Fétis I, page 168. See also: Manfred Elsberger, Nina d'Aubigny von Engelbrunner. Eine adelige Musikpädagogin am Übergang vom 18. zum 19. Jahrhundert. Untersuchungen zu ihrem Hauptwerk Briefe an Natalie iiber den Gesang (Munich: BUCH & medi@, 2000). Read More...
New York: Gershwin Publishing Corporation. 1935. First edition, 2nd issue. A remarkable copy of this important work, inscribed by Todd Duncan, the first singer to play the role of Porgy. Signed and inscibed on the title verso, opposite the Index of Scenes "To --- / Best wish from 'Porgy' 1935 / Todd Duncan 1989." Read More...
Program for the American pianist and composer's performance with James Melton and the Reiman Symphonic Orchestra on January 19, 1934, signed on the front cover in fountain pen by Gershwin, tenor James Melton, and conductor Charles Previn. In very good condition, with tape reinforcement along hinge. 2 pp., 5.5 x 8.5 inches.
Signed autograph musical manuscript of a song for voice and orchesta, "Sonnez les Matines," by the French composer of opera and song whose work was admired by Debussy and Fauré. The song, for one singer and an orchestration of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, timpani, harp, and strings, begins with the text "Pourquoi ne me bercez-vous plus..." 86 measures in A major, written in black ink on 24-staff Lard-Esnault (ed. Bellamy) manuscript paper. Corrections have been made by scraping and rewriting on three pages. The title page, with Hüe's signature, is written in blue pencil, and page numbers and rehearsal numbers have also been added in blue pencil. This manuscript was apparently used by the conductor; the song was included in Hüe's collection Jeunes Chansons sur de vieux airs (1905), with piano accompaniment. 15 pp. Toning to the cover and title page; slight edge wear and small tears to the spine, but overall in fine condition. 10.75 x 14 inches (27.5 x 35.5 cm). Read More...
68. [Japanese Music]. Original Drawings of Imperial Court Instruments
An interesting collection of detailed original Japanese drawings, showing the construction and decoration of Imperial Court instruments. 39 x 27 cm (15 x 10.5 in). 12 pp. Bound with a single string. Pen and ink on very delicate rice paper. Slight chipping/small tears to outer edge, central vertical crease, overall fine. Undated, ca. 1900.
Beautifully hand-lettered and illuminated certificate from the Hot Club de France, awarding Duke Ellington the Grand Prix du Disque de Jazz 1970 for his "70th Birthday Concert" recording. Signed by the founder of the Hot Club, influential jazz producer and critic Hugues Panassié. Provenance: Duke Ellington Estate. Light toning within a rectangular border; overall in fine condition. 11 x 8.5 inches (27.7 x 21.3 cm). Read More...
Palermo: 1966. Second Edition. Luigi Sanfilippo's catalog of Ellington's works, inscribed by the author to Ellington on the half-title: "Friendly a little gift to the great E. K. Ellington." With Sanfilippo's original business card. Few scholars began to work on Ellington's huge musical and cultural output until after his death, but Sanfilippo had begun the mammoth task of cataloging his recorded music in the 1960's. As he writes in the preface, there was a very positive response to his work: "The surprising success of the 1 edition of this book, and above all, the warm encouragement by collectors troughout [sic] the world, have made me decide, after barely one year, to publish a second edition of my modest work." 112 pp. Burgundy leather, stamped in gold; moire endpapers. Area of scuffing to the back cover; light traces of paper to the front cover; edges slightly rubbed; intact and overall in very good condition. 6.5 x 9.75 inches (16.5 x 25 cm). Provenance: Duke Ellington Estate.
Paris: Éditions de la Montagne. 1929. French edition of excerpts from Stein's The Making of Americans, translated and with a preface by Georges Hugnet and signed and inscribed on the half-title by Hugnet to the Romanian and French avant-garde poet Tristan Tzara. 8to. Softcover. 122 pp. From an edition of 302 copies, this copy not numbered. A fine uncut copy, inscribed to Tristan Tzara by Hugnet (translated from the French): "To my dear Tristan Tzara on behalf of Gertrude, this little book excerpted from a very big one, with all my best, Georges Hugnet, St Malo, June 1929." Also included are three copies of an order form for the book. Light toning to the covers, some slight dents to the edges and very small losses to the spine. Read More...