Upright folio. Engraved throughout. [PN] D. 43. L.. Title; 1-20 pp. On t.p. above imprint at right: Prix: 7f. 50c, and with the stamp of Troupenas, who acquired the Isouard firm in 1825, lower right. Title pages lightly stained and toned, spine reinforced with red canvas strip, lightly creased, scattered markings in pencil, overall very good. A scarce early French edition, not listed in Kinsky-Halm.
Early autograph musical manuscript in the hand of the Italian operatic composer. 32 pp. total, numbered in a later hand; pp. 1-16 are in Bellini's hand; pp. 17-32 are in an unknown hand. Half vellum binding with printed cover label titled "Studio del Contrappunto fatto da Vincenzo Bellini, Napoli 1819, Autografo." 11.5 x 9 inches (29.5 x 23.5 cm). Some light edge wear and foxing, especially to the later pages not in Bellini's hand, and one chip to the binding, but overall in fine condition. Read More...
8vo. 6 x 8.5 inches (15.6 x 21.5 cm). Title; letter of dedication; 1 - 37 pp.; Index Psalmorum. Title in ornate woodcut border; typeset music throughout, each section beginning with a historiated initial. Stitched in contemporary paper wrappers with handwritten title, spine chipped and rear cover separated; complete, with only slight loss to the final page and outer edge of two other leaves; overall toning and wear, with edge creases and minor stains, commensurate to the item's age and rarity. Read More...
An interesting collection of nine autograph letters, 1950 - 1974, from the important 20th-century Italian composer to the Romanian-French composer Marcel Mihalovici. Dallapiccola thanks Mihalovici for sending him the score to "Phèdre"; regrets that he was not able to hear the radio because of poor reception; hopes to see and hear him in Paris; brings up the composition of "Prisonnier" ("Un grand scandale est à prévoir..."); informs him that the O.R.T.F will not record[?] "Ulysse"; invites him to Florence; sends a small work ("Sicut umbra..." qui - peut-être - est un petit peu mon portrait"); reports on his busy life, etc. Also included is a TLS from Laure Dallapiccola dated April 12, 1968, concerning a missed rendez-vous when the composer was obliged to leave for a performance of "Ulysse" in Berlin. Various sizes and formats, most also with original transmissal envelopes (generally signed additionally). Read More...
A fascinating collection of 14 autograph letters and cards and 2 telegrams addressed to the important French composer, dated between 1903 and 1917, from musicians and other artistic figures of the era. The letters, from correspondents including conductors, critics, dancers, composers, and visual artists, mention the very positive reception of Debussy's works during the last years of his life, including his 1903 nomination as a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur, the Chicago premiere of his opera Pelléas et Melisande, and Toscanini's 1911 performance of La Mer; other works discussed include his ballet Jeux, the cantata L'enfant prodigue, and his work for piano, L'isle joyeuse. Letters range from 4 x 2.5 inches to 5.25 x 8.25 inches and are overall in very good to fine condition, with some light toning and age wear. All letters in French. Read More...
Autograph musical sketch from an apparently unpublished work for orchestra by the important avant-garde composer. According to the accompanying photocopied letter from the composer dated December 21, 1963, the manuscript is the opening pages of a 1958 orchestra work, which he decided not to continue. The verso of the third sheet, however, bears the title in his hand "Apparitions II," and indeed some of the material in the preceding pages is highly reminiscent of the second section Agitato in the work of that name, composed in of the same year, with similarly muted and jittery music for string orchestral groups in different meters. 3 pp., large vertical folio format with 32 staves. Written in pencil with some eraser marks. Slight toning and foxing, with the upper edge slightly trimmed, else fine. Autograph musical material by Ligeti is of the utmost rarity. Read More...
Piano vocal score. Oblong folio. Engraved throughout. [PN] 3027. 50pp. Text in French and German. Inscribed on the title in an unknown hand to M. Gortebeeck, as a "souvenir de la bonne et belle exécution" of the work on August 19, 1864 at the secondary school of Dendermonde, Belgium, where Gortebeeck was the director of the of the "Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Sint Cecilia." In original pink wrappers, reinforced with contemporary paper along the spine, spine chipped, handling wear and light staining around the edges, title and early page lower margins with evidence of (mostly cleaned) ink staining, a few pages quite toned, overall very good. Read More...