TOM - David Diamond's Copy with Inserted Poem and Annotations

New York: Arrow Editions. 1935. Color frontispiece by Ben Shahn. 37 pp. Ballet scenario by the noted poet, owned by composer David Diamond and with annotations in Diamond's hand. Diamond has numbered sections of the piece in the left margin and added a few scattered check marks throughout. Hardcover, brown cloth stamped in silver. Fine. 6.25 x 8.75 inches (16 x 22 cm). Laid in is a typed copy of "Lawd My Hope," a poem by Cummings written at Diamond's request to be sung as part of the ballet. Folding creases, a few sums in fountain pen at the head; very good. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.5 x 28 cm).

From the collection of David Diamond, considered one of the preeminent American composers of his generation. He enjoyed wide success in the 1940's and 1950's, before the serial and modernist trends largely pushed him into the shadows. The New York Times described him as "part of what some considered a forgotten generation of great American symphonists, including Howard Hanson, Roy Harris, William Schuman, Walter Piston and Peter Mennin." Among his many close friends in the world of music were Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.

E. E. Cummings' TOM, based on the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin, was written as a ballet scenario in 1935 but, despite receiving critical acclaim, was not picked up by a ballet producer. The young David Diamond, on hearing from Aaron Copland that no music had yet been composed for the ballet, wrote to Cummings to ask for permission to set it. Cummings agreed, and was pleased with Diamond's music; it would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship for the two men. At Diamond's request, Cummings added an original spiritual, "Lawd My Hope," to be sung by the chorus of slaves in the ballet.  (17643)

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