Enesco, Georges. (1881-1955)
"L'Aurore" and "Piano Concerto in D minor" - Early Manuscript Sketchleaf
Large and detailed early manuscript sketchleaf from the Romanian violinist and composer, whom Pablo Casals considered "one of the greatest geniuses of modern music." Dated December 28, 1897, when Enesco was only sixteen, the leaf shows evidence of several works in progress: after writing the title, parts, key and time signatures for the first movement of his piano concerto in D minor (which was never finished), the young composer has turned the sheet and used the lines in the other direction to sketch a work for choir and orchestra, probably his 1898 cantata "L'Aurore." The last forty-three measures of a movement in 9/8 time are written, with indications for choir, horns, and trombone, and further notes such as "immense buzzing in the orchestra," as well as a French text which deals with pastoral themes. The movement ends with a fermata and double bar. After this, Enesco has signed and written in French, "Composed entirely in the evening of December 28, 1897, from half past nine to half past twelve." The young Romanian was studying in Paris at the time; in February 1898 he would present his first mature work, the Poema Română.On the verso, three further compositional sketch fragments likely from the Piano Concerto: one of 20 measures for a sparse piano texture in B minor; one of 16 measures (with the last 4 crossed out) of an orchestral reduction showing successive entrances of viola, cello, second violin, first violin, and flute and oboe; and one of 19 measures with one, two, and then three voices in 9/8 over an ostinato bass in A minor in 3/4.
One large horizontal crease with slight tears on each side; chipping and wear to the edges; otherwise a very legible manuscript in fine condition. 27 x 35 cm.
Enescu was born in the village of Liveni, today Botoşani County. A child prodigy, he began experimenting with composing at an early age. On 5 October 1888, at the age of seven, he became the youngest student ever admitted to the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied with Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr., Robert Fuchs, and Sigismund Bachrich. He was the second person ever admitted to this university by a dispensation of age, after only Fritz Kreisler (in 1882, also at the age of seven), and the first non-Austrian. Enescu then studied from 1895 to 1899 at the Conservatoire de Paris. André Gedalge said that he was "the only one [among his students] who truly had ideas and spirit." Many of Enescu's works were influenced by Romanian folk music, his most popular compositions being the two Romanian Rhapsodies (1901–2), the opera Œdipe(1936), and the suites for orchestra. He also wrote five symphonies (two of them unfinished), a symphonic poem, Vox maris, and much chamber music.
(12896)Autograph Document Classical Music Manuscript Music