Tall Folio. (25.5 x 39 cm). 22 pages followed by 18 (of 19) plates of music (Nos I-XVII and XVI bis; V bis lacking). As this is the extract on music (i.e. Vol. 7) there is no title page etc. Brown paper wrappers with French title in ink and notations in English in pencil in an unknown hand. Scattered toning and light foxing, overall in fine condition throughout. Together with an autograph letter to Ned Rorem from the composer Philip Leslie Wilcher (b. 1958), one page, 1993, "My Dear Ned - I was going to send this 1743 publication for your 70th this year - but I couldn't wait - also an etude of mine. Always, Philip...maybe it's a late valentine," and including the mentioned 4 p. xeroxed Etude musical manuscript. The grouping contained in an attractive Japanese paper and cloth portfolio, as kept by Rorem. 

From the music library of the influential American composer of contemporary classical music and writer, Ned Rorem. Best known for his art songs, which number over 500, Rorem was considered the leading American of his time writing in the genre.

The French Encyclopedia (1751-1771) edited by Denis Diderot is perhaps the most famous because it contained entries on a variety of topics by well known writers like Voltaire, Montesquieu, and D'Alembert and Rousseau, who wrote the present section. It voiced the advance opinions of the time in Philosophy, Politics, and Religion (A Birthday Gift for Deni Diderot). This article on music elaborates his system of musical notation first published as Dissertation sur la Musique Moderne, in Paris, 1743.