Elkus, Jonathan. (b. 1931) [Ives, Charles. (1874–1954)]
Inscribed Scores and Music Manuscript
A small collection of early musical scores and one musical manuscript by the American composer known for his concert band compositions and his editions of Charles Ives, most of them inscribed in the 1960's to 1970 to David Greene, Elkus' colleague at Lehigh University, and to his wife, Mildred Greene. The collection includes the 14-page autograph score to Elkus' work Triptych, for bassoon quartet and mezzo soprano, and the finished score of the piece, dedicated to the Greenes and inscribed to them "always with the affectionate greetings of Jon E." Also present are inscribed scores to Elkus' opera Helen in Egypt, and choir, chamber and vocal works The Dorados, The Oxen, Postcards from the Rockies, and Two Sonnets, an inscribed copy of an autograph page from his opera The Outcasts of Poker Flat, as well as the uninscribed score and a typewritten libretto to Elkus' opera Medea.Also included in the collection is a copy of Charles Ives' Lincoln, the Great Commoner, apparently edited by Elkus, with the autograph note "New Music Edition, January 1953." The piece was composed in 1922-3 but first performed in 1967.
With the exception of the manuscript and one printed score, the music is in ozalid or other copied forms. Light toning; manuscript with some rust marks; overall in fine condition.
Contents:
Postcards from the Rockies, for solo piano, inscribed to Greene and dated March 28, 1962. 8 pp. 11 x 14 inches.
Autograph manuscript of Triptych. 14 pp., pencil, 8.5 x 11 inches.
Triptych (dedicated to David and Mildred Greene), inscribed to the Greenes and dated December 12, 1962. 12 pp., spiral bound, 11 x 14 inches.
Printed score to The Dorados, for male choir and piano, inscribed to the Greenes and dated November 6, 1963. New York: Mercury Music Corporation, 1963. 10 pp. 7 x 10.5 inches.
Two Sonnets, for voice and piano, inscribed and dated November 1964. 7 pp., spiral bound, 11 x 14 inches.
Outcasts of Poker Flat, photocopied manuscript page with various colorful notes, inscribed to David & Mildred Greene with the date June 4, 1966, with a typewritten title page from the opera.
The Oxen, for voice and piano, inscribed and dated April 18, 1970. 4 pp. 11 x 14 inches.
Helen in Egypt, vocal score, inscribed and dated November 4, 1970. 38 pp., spiral bound, 11 x 14 inches.
Medea (1963), vocal score, 101 pp., spiral bound, 11 x 14 inches. With a typewritten libretto, 11 pp., and a synopsis, 1 p. 8.5 x 11 inches.
Charles Ives: Lincoln, the Great Commoner, score. 16 pp., spiral bound, 11 x 14 inches.
Elkus "studied composition with Cushing and Denny at the University of California, Berkeley (BA 1953), with Bacon and Ratner at Stanford University (MA 1957), and with Milhaud at Mills College (1957). He taught at Lehigh University from 1957 to 1973 and became director of music at Cape Cod Academy in 1979. In 1993 he was appointed Davis Lecturer in Music and Director of Bands at University of California, Davis. He has been guest conductor with concert bands throughout the USA and in 1998 was made arranger to the United States, Marine Band. As an editor, Elkus has been closely associated with the music of Charles Ives...Elkus's musical vocabulary draws on several 20th-century idioms, resulting in a highly individual style with strong definition of pitch and chord centres." (Richard Swift, Grove Music Online.)
(13574)Manuscript Music Printed Music Signed Document/Item Classical Music Opera