Ravel, Maurice. (1875-1937)

Autograph Musical Quotation

AMusQS. (“Maurice Ravel”). 1p. Oblong 8vo. N.p., N.d. To Russo-French pianist Youra Guller (1895-1980). A three-measure quotation from "Ma mère l'oye" ["Mother Goose"] written on blue paper, signed and inscribed to Youra Guller “to make her fall asleep.” In French with translation.

Although Ravel attended the Paris Conservatory and studied under Gabriel Fauré, he was far from a model student and preferred to pursue his artistic development by auditing classes and through his relationships with other musicians. In Paris, he befriended Guller.

Guller had been a child prodigy, entering the Paris Conservatory at age nine and touring the world until ill health around the time of the second world war forced her to stop. She returned to the stage in the 1960s and made her New York debut in 1971.

Folded with several tears and paper loss along the top and bottom edges affecting some writing and a hole affecting one word of the inscription. The quotation and signature are fine. Uncommon, and nicely matted to 11 x 14 inches with a postcard portrait photograph. (7985)
AMQS
Classical Music