Fall 2017 Catalogue


Showing items 1 to 20

248 items in this catalogue total,
currently filtered to 247




1. [Anonymous].
Missa Choralis Unisona - 18th Century Musical Manuscript

Four leaves of autograph music manuscript, apparently taken from a ca. 18th-century Bavarian or Hungarian choir book and containing the vocal part for two anonymous congregational masses, the first titled "Missa Choralis unisona canenda cum Organo pro Parrochiali Ecclesia D. Joannis Baptiste Bajovarie." Although in mensural notation, the music of the two masses appears to be written in a Classical style for unison voices, sometimes breaking into very simple two- or three-part harmony; the organ part mentioned in the title is not present. The first mass is written over 5.5 pp. and contains a full Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, Sanctus and Agnus. The second mass is written over 2.5 pp. and is much shorter, including only Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus. 8 pp. in all. Toning and wear to the edges; overall in very good condition. 11.75 x 17.5 inches (29.5 x 44.5 cm). Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Manuscript Music
Classical Music

2. Barber, Samuel. (1910–1981).
Essay For Orchestra, op. 12 - Autograph Musical Manuscript Page

Autograph musical manuscript page of the important American composer's Essay for Orchestra, op. 12, in a short score reduction. The first 19 measures of the work are penned in 4 systems of 3 staves, the music including phrasing, dynamics, and indications of instrumentation. Barber has signed boldly at the upper right with the opus number. 1 p. on manuscript paper, trimmed at the edges, verso blank. Slight inkblot and smudge to the beginning of the third system; small are of edge wear at the lower right; overall light toning. Crisply penned in black ink and overall in fine condition. 9.25 x 11.25 inches (23.6 x 28.5 cm). Autograph manuscripts by the composer are uncommon. Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Manuscript Music
Classical Music

3. Brahms, Johannes. (1833–1897).
Large Autograph Inscription and Engraving

Beautiful large full autograph signature from the composer, who has penned his signature, a greeting and the date Vienna, March 1896 on a flower-bordered album leaf, sold together with a striking original portrait of the great composer. Overall toning, heavier to the portrait, which has also been trimmed to just inside the lower plate mark; each mounted to rigid backing. Overall in very good condition. 8.75 x 6 inches (22.5 x 15.4 cm); the portrait 7.25 x 9.5 inches (25 x 18.5 cm).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Photograph
Signature
Art
Classical Music

4. Berlin, Irving. (1888-1989).
Autograph Signature

Vintage fountain pen signature from one of America’s greatest songwriters, signed "Irving Berlin” on an off-white card. Slightly toned, sold together with the original transmissal envelope. 5 x 3 inches.

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signature
Song

5. Bland, James A. (1854-1911) & Butler, Samuel..
"Slavery Chains Am Broke At Last" - Original Sheet Music

Boston: John F. Perry & Co. 1880.

Original sheet music for an 1880 spiritual-style song celebrating the abolition of slavery, in the original decorative wrappers featuring two small “slave” engravings on the front cover and large and detailed engravings for other songs on page 2 and the rear cover.  The song, with music by Samuel Butler and words by James A. Bland, is for voice and piano, with a four-part chorus, and is dedicated to the well-known African-American minstrelsy performer Billy Kersands. While the front cover cites another song, “De Golden Wedding”, this imprint is apparently complete as issued, being identical to the Library of Congress copy displayed online. 6 pp., including covers. In very fine condition with only slight wear to the edges and spine, and one colored pencil mark on the cover. 11 x 14 inches (27.2 x 35.5 cm). Read More...


Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Printed Music
Song
Culture, Ethnicity & Gender

6. Britten, Benjamin. (1913–1976).
Signed Photograph at Work

Signed photograph of the great British composer at work at his desk, the keys of his piano visible in the foreground. He has signed boldly over the image. Slightly poor contrast to the signature, light silvering and mounting remnants on the verso; overall in very good condition. 5 x 3 inches (14 x 9 cm).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Photograph
Classical Music
Large signed original photograph of the important composer, inscribed to noted art critic and lecturer John Russell and Rosamond Bernier Russell on behalf of both Cage and his partner, dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham. Cage is shown giving a talk ca. 1970's and has elegantly penned at the foot: "From John and Merce to John and Rosamond (just before Egypt!)" Image 10.75 x 7.25 inches, total size 14 x 11 inches. Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Photograph
Classical Music

8. [Cage, John. (1912–1992)] Thomson, Virgil. (1896–1989).
Signed Excerpt on Cage from "American Music Since 1910"

Typed excerpts about John Cage, from Thomson's 1972 volume American Music Since 1910, signed by the author. Thomson gives a colorful and direct description of his colleague, describing him as having "all the tough qualities of the traditional mountaineer submissive to no authorities academic or federal." On light yellow paper; in very fine condition. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 28 cm).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Document/Item
TLS
Classical Music

9. Cage, John. (1912–1992).
Signed Photograph

Signed photograph of the composer who experimented with the nature of sound and devised new systems of musical notation. His innovative ideas on composition and performance influenced musicians, painters, and choreographers. 4" x 6" black and white post card photograph by Regina Vater, signed by the composer "John Cage" in the upper right corner. Fine.

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Photograph
Classical Music

10. Coward, Noël. (1899-1973) [Dietrich, Marlene (1901-1992)].
"My blue alpaca jacket is the smartest thing ever seen" - Autograph Letter to Marlene Dietrich

Autograph letter from the English playwright and wit to Marlene Dietrich, thanking her for the present of a blue alpaca suit, announcing plans to visit Southern France with Binkie [Hugh Beaumont] to discuss his new play [Relative Values?], and sending his love. [London], 13 July 1951. 2 pp., 8vo, on Coward's letterhead. Folding creases; overall very fine. 5 x 8 inches (12.8 x 20.2 cm). Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Autograph Letter
Song
Theater
Film

11. Coward, Noël. (1899-1973).
Signed Photograph

Vintage signed photograph, boldly signed in blue ink and sold together with a secretarial note "With Mr. Noel Coward's compliments + thanks." Mounting traces on verso, else fine.  Photograph 3.15 x 4.75 inches (8 x 12 cm.); note 4.5 x 3.5 inches (11.4 x 8.9 cm.).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signed Photograph
Song

12. Creston, Paul. (1906-1985).
Signed Letter about his Favorite Music

[1960]. Wonderful 1-page typed letter signed by the great American composer, signed "Philomusically, Paul Creston." In part: "In answer to your question regarding my favorite piece of music 'of all time' I must say that I have never been able to determine what ONE work in music, painting or sculpture was my favorite. The reason is that no ONE composer - if he/she were to present his/her entire philosophy of music in one composition - it would require a Suite of about a 100 hours' duration. Therefore, I decided that I would determine which compositions are my favorites of all time." In the letter, he names compositions by Bach, Ravel, Stravinsky, and William Walton. A great letter with important content. In excellent condition.

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
TLS
Classical Music

13. [Dante the Magician] [Jansen, Harry August. (1883-1955)] Jansen, Alvin H..
"Dante's Sim-Sala-Bim" - Original Sheet Music

Prague: Universum. 1931. Original sheet music to a song about the internationally known Danish magician and his magical catchphrase, "Sim Sala Bim," with an extremely striking cover design showing Dante as a devil below brightly colored lettering. The words and music are attributed to Alvin H. Jansen, perhaps a relative or alter ego of Dante, whose given name was Harry August Jansen. The music includes only the words and music, without chords or accompaniment, suggesting this small-format brochure could have been handed out to groups to sing. 4 pp. with light toning and slight foxing; overall in fine condition. 5.25 x 6.5 inches (13.5 x 16.5 cm).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Printed Music
Performing Arts & Media
Song

14. Debussy, Claude. (1862-1918).
Autograph Letter about "L'après-midi d'un Faune" and friendly relations between musicians

An interesting autograph letter from the important composer, thanking a friend for his positive review of "L'après-midi d'un Faune" and remarking on the rarity of friendly relations between musicians. 1 p. on Debussy's Parisian letterhead, dated "Thursday" in Debussy's hand; another hand has dated at the foot: December 22, 1894. Translated from the French, in part: "Many thanks for the nice article dedicated to the prelude to 'L'après-midi d'un Faune,' and also for the artistic collegiality with which you approach it! This is something so rare among musicians, especially among those who have already "arrived"; they immediately become like dogs defending a bone they have laboriously acquired! One must praise those who, like you, recognizing another art from their own, are incidentally not the loudest voices." 14 x 9.5 cm. Fine. 

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Autograph Letter
Classical Music
[Paris]: [Rombaldi]. [1943]. A rare publication relating to Debussy's beloved symphonic poem, from the collection of the magnificent soprano Jessye Norman. The volume contains a color facsimile of Debussy's manuscript and 13 fine lithographs by René Demeurisse. Unbound, as issued. Original printed wrappers and glassine. Glassine toned; internally very fine, and overall in very good condition. 10.5 x 13.5 inches (26.5 x 34 cm). Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Book
Opera
Dance
Classical Music

16. d'Indy, Vincent. (1851–1931).
Autograph Musical Quotation with Original Photograph

Autograph musical quotation from the French composer, mounted together with an original photograph. D'Indy has penned three measures from the theme of the first movement of his Piano Sonata op. 63, signed boldly and inscribed at the foot. The quotation is mounted below an original half-length photograph of the composer as an older man. Lightly mounted on card (both easily removed on request) and slightly irregularly trimmed; overall in fine condition. 5.5 x 9 inches (14 x 23 cm).

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
AMQS
Signed Photograph
Classical Music

17. d'Indy, Vincent. (1851–1931).
2e. Quatuor pour 2 Violons Alto et Violoncelle (op. 45) - Score

Paris: Durand & Fils. 1908. [PN] 5411. 8vo. 65 pp. Light wear to front wrapper, two splits to spine, but binding intact and overall in very good condition. 7.25 x 10.75 inches (18.7 x 27.5 cm). Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Printed Music
Classical Music

18. Dutilleux, Henri. (1916-2013) & Stern, Isaac. (1920-2001) & Dutoit, Charles. (b. 1936).
Autograph Signatures from Violin Concerto Performance

Bold autograph signatures of the composer, violinist and conductor on an 8 x 5 inch sheet, obtained at performance of the Dutilleux concerto, entitled L'arbre des songes ["The Tree of Dreams"], a 1985 commission by Stern himself. Dutoit conducted the world premiere recording of the work with Stern. Mild toning around the edges, a number of unidentified signatures on the verso, fine.

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Signature
Classical Music
Original program from the fifth of the experimental electronic music "Vortex" concerts, dated January 12-27 [1959], with works by Berio, Ligeti, Ussachevsky, Takemitsu, and others. The series of concerts took place from 1957 to 1959 in the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco "to explore the esthetic possibilities of technological developments in auditory and visual media," and featured elaborate lighting and visual effects directed by Jordan Belson, and sound projected from 38 loudspeakers. With a minimalist block image of a sunburst on the cover; 4 pp. Light toning and a few small pen marks on the program listing; overall in fine condition. 7 x 7 inches (17.8 x 17.8 cm). Read More...

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Program, unsigned
Classical Music

20. Elgar, Edward. (1857 - 1934).
Original Cabinet Photograph

Original cabinet portrait photograph of the great English composer, ca. 1890's. On the original photographer's mount: Elliott & Fry, London. 4.25 x 6.5 inches [10.5 x 16.5 cm]. 

Show all available items in this catalogue matching:
Unsigned Photograph
Classical Music