Villa-Lobos, Hector. (1887–1959)
Two typed letters signed
Two typed letters signed from the important Brazilian composer to Gretl Urban, Vice President of Associated Music Publishers, New York, NY.First letter: Rio de Janeiro, August 5, 1946. In English. 1 p. Letterhead paper of the Brazilian Ministério de Educação e Saúde (Ministry of Education and Science). Villa-Lobos complains about a long hiatus in their correspondence. He submits a photocopy of the full score of his orchestral work Uirapuru, which he had lost and wrote out anew because Leopold Stokowski wanted to perform it. He asks to have the score printed as soon as possible. He also asks for proofs of the first of his Bachianas Brasileras and of his String Quartets no. 5 to 7 and five author's copies of his already printed Bachiana Brasilera no. 5 and ten copies all of his chamber works "when printed". He announces that Charles Munch has invited him to conduct in Paris in 1947 and reports that he sent the orchestral material of the Bachianas Brasileras no. 1 and 5 to Munch "so that he can perform them in Paris this year, after the necessary understanding with [French publisher] Max Eschig and that association regarding authorial rights of performance and rent." He claims these works as his exclusive property "as long as the materials are not printed." Browned and brittle; edges somewhat frayed. 13 x 8.75 inches (35 x 21.5 cm).
Second letter: Rio de Janeiro, December 2, 1946. In French. 1 p. Letterhead paper of the Brazilian Ministério de Educação e Saúde (Ministry of Education and Science). On a visit to Argentina, Villa-Lobos has encountered Gastón Talamón, a musicologist who wrote a yet unpublished book of 400 pages on Villa-Lobos. Villa-Lobos is pleased with it and suggests that Associated Music Publishers print it; Talamón had planned to submit the manuscript to Ricordi. Villa-Lobos announces the visit of a young American, George Hufsmith, who will bring some of his scores back to Brazil. In turn, he hopes to send some new works to the publisher soon. Browned and brittle, with some loss to upper corners (writing not affected). 12.75 x 7.5 inches (32.5 x 18.5 cm).
By the time of these letters, Villa-Lobos had established his international reputation, and his music was frequently performed. His correspondent, Gretl Urban (1898–1997), also known under her married name of Gretl Urban Thurlow, was born in Vienna as a daughter to the architect and stage designer Joseph Urban (1872–1933), now best known for Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. She emigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1911 and settled in New York. Trained as a stage and costume designer and, she worked as such at the Met, but the studio was closed after her father's death. She resorted to administrative positions. Her last affiliation (from 1950) was with Carl Fisher Music Publishers.
Composer and writer George Hufsmith (1923–2007), then a student, graduated from Yale and settled in Wyoming, where he served three terms in the state House of Representatives and founded the Grand Teton Music Festival in 1961. Little is known about Argentinian musicologist Gastón Talamón. His 1919 book on contemporary music in Argentina aroused enough interest to be translated into German, but his book on Villa-Lobos was apparently never published. (23128)
TLS Classical Music