Cui, César. (1835–1918)

Autograph Souvenir Musical Manuscript

Musical autograph from the Russian composer and critic of French-Lithuanian descent, last surviving member of "The Five" or "The Mighty Handful." Dated "1912." Written as a souvenir for an unknown person in the form of an original composition for voice and piano. Four measures, E-flat major, Allegro non troppo. Text underlay in Russian: "Ochen' okhotno shlyu Vam svoy malen'kiy avtograf. Ts. Kyui" (With great pleasure I send you my little autograph. C. Cui.). Cut from a sheet of music paper, oblong format, 4 x 5.5 inches (10.2 x 14 cm). In fine condition. Most unusual!

This composition is not included in existing lists of Cui's works and unknown to Cui scholarship. The Russian text underlay suggests that it was written for a Russian person or at least for a subject of the Russian empire; when dealing with Westerners, Cui preferred to use French. (21952)
Manuscript Music
Classical Music