First Edition of The Magic Flute [published as Les Misteres D'Isis, Opera en Quatre Actes.]

Paris: Sieber. [c. 1801]. First edition, full score. . Upright folio. Engraved throughout. [PN] 1666. 2 ff, 1-365, (1) pp. Signed by the publisher at foot of title page, "Sieber" and numbered "104" at the head. Green blue paper over green leather,  impressed crimson leather ownership plate of Mr. Paul D'Arnouville to upper board, skillful restoration to both boards and spine; evidence of erasure under the title and moderate damp staining to upper margin of title and approximately first fifth of the volume, not affecting the printed music. Later gift inscription in ink to the inner front board to the noted musician and collector Leonard B. Smith (see below). Overall an attractive and near fine, copy of this large and rare score. Haberkamp, 1: 378; RISM M 4773. V

Very rare first edition of the full score of "The Magic Flute." No copy of this notable example of early nineteenth-century musical travesty is recorded by RISM in the United States. Essentially a pastiche based on Die Zauberflote, this edition also includes selections from La Clemeza di Tito and Don Giovanni and "was an enormous success, receiving regular performances in Paris for more than 25 years" (Grove Opera, 2: 1073). An unadulterated edition of the score of Mozart's Magic Flute did not appear until that of Simrock in 1814.

The gift inscription inscription in the present copy is to Leonard B. Smith (1915-2002) , American cornetist, concert band conductor, and band music publisher. Though he is regarded as one of the finest cornet soloists of the 20th century, Smith is primarily known as the leader of the Detroit Concert Band, which performed and recorded from the mid 1940s through the 1980s.  His papers and important collection of solo works, brass ensemble music, and method books is housed at the Library of Congress. (18404)

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Printed Music

Opera

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