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STRAUSS RICHARD: (1864-1949) German Composer. A.M.Q.S., Richard Strauss, one page, oblong 8vo, Munich, 1st January 1894. In dark fountain pen ink and on a holograph stave Strauss has neatly penned five bars of music from his first opera Guntram (Op. 25, 1894), marked in G Major, and being the main orchestral love theme from the final scene of the opera. Signed and dated beneath the quotation. Some very light uniform age toning and minor age wear, otherwise VG £400 - 600
The present quotation was penned some months before Guntram received its premiere on 10th May 1894 in Wiemar. Interestingly, in the opera the present piece of music is actually recorded in G-flat Major, a lower key, and is also anticipated in the Prelude. Strauss revised the score in 1940.
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PFITZNER HANS: (1869-1949) German Composer. A.M.Q.S., D Hans Pfitzner, on an 8vo page removed from an autograph album, n.p. (Vienna), 10th March 1943. In dark fountain pen ink and on a holograph stave the composer has penned four bars treble clef of music from his composition Sechs Studien for pianoforte (Op. 51 Trillerstudie), with the trill marked in his hand beneath. Signed and inscribed in German to Frau Emy Meithner immediately beneath the quotation. Some extremely light, very minor age wear, VG £150 - 200
The present quotation is dated on the day of the premiere of Pfitzner's Sechs Studien.
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ORFF CARL: (1895-1982) German Composer. A.M.Q.S., Carl Orff, on a small 8vo card (to the verso of which a magazine portrait of the composer in a head and shoulders pose is neatly affixed), n.p., November 1965. On a holograph stave in black ink Orff has penned three bars treble clef of music from his most famous composition, the cantata Carmina Burana (1937), adding the words ('O Fortuna velut luna') in his hand beneath. One very slight, extremely minor corner crease, VG £600 - 800
The present musical quotation of O Fortuna is part of the Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi, being the opening and closing movement of Carmina Burana. The piece, greatly used in popular culture to set the mood for dramatic situations, topped a list of the most played classical music of the past 75 years in the United Kingdom (BBC Radio 2, 2009)
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HENZE HANS WERNER: (1926-2012) German Composer. A.M.Q.S., Hans Werner Henze, one page, 8vo, Cologne, 25th February 1999. On a holograph stave Henze has penned a musical quotation of one measure from an unidentified composition. VG £150 - 200
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LEHAR FRANZ: (1870-1948) Austrian Composer. A fine A.M.Q.S., F Lehar, on a small 12mo card, Vienna, 1st February 1938. In bold fountain pen ink the composer has neatly penned four bars of music on a holograph stave from Vilja, the celebrated song from the composer's most famous operetta The Merry Widow (1905). Signed and dated immediately beneath the quotation. An attractive example. EX £400 - 500
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LEONCAVALLO RUGGERO: (1857-1919) Italian Composer. A.M.Q.S., R Leoncavallo, on an oblong 8vo page removed from an autograph album, Berlin, 22nd May 1904. In bold black fountain pen ink the composer has penned four bars of music on a holograph stave, with words ('Mamma usciva di casa in su l'aurora!') in his hand beneath, which he identifies as being from Act III of his opera Zaza (1900). Also signed to the verso by Francois Coppee (1842-1908, French Poet & Novelist, dated Paris, July 1903 in his hand) and one other individual. Some very slight, minor age wear, otherwise VG £300 - 400
Interestingly Leoncavallo has marked the present quotation 'Lento', indicating that it is taken from the original version of his opera as performed in E minor in 1900. Later printed editions of this piece, the concert hall singer Zaza's aria, are marked 'Andante mesto' and to be performed in G minor.
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RESPIGHI OTTORINO: (1879-1936) Italian Composer. A good A.M.Q.S., Ottorino Respighi, one page, small 4to, San Pietro (Rome), 1st September 1935. In bold black fountain pen ink on a holograph stave the composer has penned two bars of music which he identifies as being from his composition Le Fontane di Roma (1916). One slight ink smudge to one letter of the signature and with some extremely minor creasing, VG £400 - 500
Le Fontane di Roma is a symphonic poem by Respighi and is the first orchestral work in his Roman Trilogy. Each of the four movements in the composition depict one of Rome's fountains at different times of the day, the present quotation being from the opening theme for oboe and illustrating the fountains near Villa Giulia at dawn.
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BERIO LUCIANO: (1925-2003) Italian Composer. A.M.Q.S., Luciano Berio, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. In dark black ink Berio has penned a musical quotation of one bar, marked Calmo and to be played 'ppp senza vibrato' and with mute, which he identifies as being from his composition Due Pezzi (1951) for violin and piano. With a series of file holes (some neatly torn and causing minor paper loss) to the left edge, and a slight, neat tear to the upper edge, not affecting the quotation or signature, otherwise VG £100 - 120
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MARTINU BOHUSLAV: (1890-1959) Czech Composer. A.M.Q.S., B. Martinu, one page (manuscript paper), slim oblong 8vo, n.p., October 1944. Martinu has penned a quotation of three bars, marked Lento, from the opening of the second movement of his composition Double Concerto. Signed, inscribed and dated by the composer immediately above the quotation. A couple of very light, minor creases, VG £600 - 800
Martinu's Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani (Op. H271, 1938), from which the present quotation is taken, is one of the composer's best known works.
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GORECKI HENRYK: (1933-2010) Polish Composer. A.M.Q.S., H. M. Gorecki, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 8vo, Katowice, 9th August 1993. In blue ink the composer has penned five bars of music, marked Vivace in his hand, being the opening of the second movement of his Harpsichord Concerto (Op. 40, 1980). Signed and dated beneath the quotation and with an inscription in his hand at the foot of the page. With a series of file holes (some neatly torn and causing minor paper loss) to the left edge, not affecting the quotation or signature, otherwise VG £250 - 350
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NYSTROEM GOSTA: (1890-1966) Swedish Composer. A.M.Q.S., Gosta Nystroem, one page, folio (manuscript paper published by H. Lard-Esnault of Paris), n.p. (Stockholm?), n.d. (1956?). In blue fountain pen ink Nystroem has penned the opening four bars for violins from his composition Sinfonia Espressiva (Symphony No. 2., 1932-35, revised 1937). Marked at the head of the page with various notations ('Lento….. Duration 30 min') and with the title in his hand alongside his signature. With a holograph title page stating that the symphony was composed in 1935 and that it was copyrighted in Stockholm in 1956, again signed and inscribed by the composer at the base. Accompanied by a printed 8vo brochure in German relating to Nystroem. A neat tear to the right edge of the central fold of the manuscript paper, not affecting the text, quotation or signatures, otherwise about VG, 2 £100 - 150
Of the six symphonies which Nystroem composed, Sinfonia Espressiva, is considered the finest.
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GRETCHANINOV ALEXANDER: (1864-1956) Russian Composer. A.M.Q.S., A. Gretchaninov, on an oblong 8vo page removed from an autograph album, n.p., 17th November 1933. On a holograph stave the composer has, a little hastily, penned a quotation from an unidentified work, marked Lento in his hand. VG £150 - 200
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KABALEVSKY DMITRY: (1904-1987) Russian Composer. A.M.Q.S., D Kabalevsky, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 12mo, n.p., 26th October 1959. In blue ink Kabalevsky has penned a three bar quotation, from an unidentified work, marked with a key signature of five flats and for a piano score. Very slightly irregularly trimmed at the edges, VG £150 - 200
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BAUTISTA JULIAN: (1901-1961) Spanish Composer. A.M.Q.S., Julian Bautista, one page (manuscript paper), slim oblong 4to, Buenos Aires, 7th July 1958. In a neat hand, in dark fountain pen ink, the composer has penned five bars of music, marked Allegro in his hand, which he identifies as being from his composition Sinfonia breve (1956). Signed and inscribed to Otto de Greiff immediately beneath the quotation, the inscription also making reference to Manuel Verdeguer. A few very light, extremely minor creases, VG £100 - 150
Otto de Greiff (1903-1995) Colombian Musicologist.
Manuel Verdeguer (1908-1988) Spanish Double Bass Player
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[RODRIGO JOAQUIN]: (1901-1999) Spanish Composer & Pianist. KAMHI VICTORIA (1905-1997) Turkish Pianist, wife of Rodrigo 1933-97. A.M.Q.S., Joaquin Rodrigo, penned, signed and inscribed in the hand of Kamhi, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 12mo, n.p., n.d. In blue ink Kamhi has written a quotation of six bars over two staves from the theme of the opening movement Allegro con spirito from her blind husband's most famous composition Concierto de Aranjuez (1939). Titled at the head and signed and inscribed ('Para Harrie Johnston, muy affmento….') beneath the quotation. Very slightly irregularly trimmed at the edges, otherwise VG £300 - 400
The composition for classical guitar and orchestra Concierto de Aranjuez established Rodrigo's reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the 20th century.
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CHAVEZ CARLOS: (1899-1978) Mexican Composer. An attractive A.M.Q.S., Carlos Chavez, on one side of a printed correspondence card, Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico, n.d. On a holograph stave Chavez has elegantly penned a lengthy single bar of music, marked Allegro, which he identifies as being from his ballet score H.P. (1926-32, originally Caballos de vapor, the English translation being Horse-Power and the work frequently identified by the shortened version of its title H.P.). About EX £100 - 150
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COPLAND AARON: (1900-1990) American Composer. Vintage A.M.Q.S., Aaron Copland, on a plain postcard with a magazine portrait of the composer neatly affixed, n.p., August 1939. In bold black fountain pen ink Copland has penned a holograph stave with two bars treble clef (marked Maestoso in his hand) of music which he identifies as being from his composition for high school orchestras entitled An Outdoor Overture (1938). Some very light vertical strips of discoloration only very slightly affect the quotation, otherwise VG £600 - 800
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CARTER ELLIOTT: (1908-2012) American Composer. A.M.Q.S., Elliott Carter, on a small oblong 8vo card, New York, 25th February 1994. In bold black ink Carter has penned a musical rebus of five notes on a semi-circular holograph stave. Signed either side of the quotation and inscribed and dated in his hand at the base of the card. A scarce and visually attractive musical quotation. One corner crease, not affecting the quotation or signature, otherwise VG £300 - 400
Other properties
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DELIBES LEO: (1836-1891) French Composer of the Romantic era. An excellent Autograph Manuscript signed, with his initials L D at the conclusion, five pages (manuscript paper printed by Laud-Esnault), oblong folio, n.p., n.d. The Autograph Manuscript, penned on the rectos only of each page, is of the chorus A Quoi Bon Entendre Les Oiseaux Des Bois?, annotated by Delibes 'Pour Ruy=Blas' at the head of the first page, the music in E Minor and penned on three four stave systems per page and scored for solo voice, soprano choir and keyboard, with various notations and dynamic markings ('Allegretto' etc.) throughout and with numerous other holograph instructions and explanations ('Ce sont les Lavandieres qui passent en chantant la bas, dans les bruyeres….') and also featuring several corrections and deletions in the composer's hand. Rare in this form. Some very light age toning to the edges of the pages and some extremely minor age wear, VG £2000 - 3000
The present manuscript was written for a performance of Victor Hugo's play Ruy Blas at the Comedie Francaise in Paris on 4th April 1879 and is notably different from the G Minor version of the composition which was published as the Serenade de Ruy-Blas.
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LESCHETIZKY THEODOR: (1830-1915) Polish Pianist & Composer. A.M.Q.S., Theodor Leschetizky, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 4to, Vienna, 1898. In dark fountain pen ink the composer has penned an extensive piece of music over three staves, with various notations ('Andante', 'Tranquillo' etc.) in his hand, entitled Feuille d'Album ('Album Leaf') at the head and additionally annotated in his hand, in French, 'Taken from an album of an English Lady'. Signed and dated at the foot. The page is attractively decorated to the borders with blue printed images of various musical instruments, vines and foliage etc. The upper right corner is neatly clipped and with some extensive, largely neat splits and tears at the edges of the folds, very slightly affecting the decorative border and only just touching a couple of notes of music, FR £200 - 300
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HERBERT VICTOR: (1859-1924) Irish-born American Composer. A.M.Q.S., Victor Herbert, on an oblong 12mo card, n.p., April 1895. In dark fountain pen ink Herbert has penned a quotation of four bars on a holograph stave from Prince Ananias (1894), adding the words ('Oh I'm not such a bad sort of fellow') in his hand. Signed and dated immediately beneath the quotation. Some very slight, extremely minor ink bleeding to parts of the signature. VG £100 - 150
The present quotation is from the opening song of Herbert's first operetta, as sung by Louis Biron, a vagabond poet and adventurer.
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D'ALBERT EUGEN: (1864-1932) German Pianist & Composer. A.M.Q.S., Eugen d'Albert, on an oblong 12mo card, n.p., 16th April 1923. In bold, dark fountain pen ink the composer has penned two bars of music which he identifies as being from his best known opera Tiefland (1903). Signed and dated immediately beneath the quotation. About EX £100 - 120
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CORTOT ALFRED: (1877-1962) Swiss-French Pianist & Conductor. A.M.Q.S., Alf Cortot, on an 8vo page removed from an autograph album, Bucharest, 1924. In bold, dark fountain pen ink an on a holograph stave Cortot has penned two bars of music from an unidentified composition. Signed and dated, with a holograph sentiment in French, immediately beneath the quotation. Also signed by Rhene-Baton (1879-1940) French Conductor & Composer in dark fountain pen ink, adding the date, 1st November 1926, in his hand beneath his signature. Together with a bold black fountain pen ink signature by Cortot on a page removed from an autograph album, dated 1952 in his hand. About VG, 2 £80 - 100
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IBERT JACQUES: (1890-1962) French Composer. A.M.Q.S., Jacques Ibert, one page (manuscript paper), slim oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. (August 1950). In bold blue turquoise fountain pen ink Ibert has penned three bars of music which he identifies at the head as being from his opera Le roi d'Yvetot (1930, 'The King of Yvetot'). Signed immediately beneath the quotation. Annotated to the verso in the hand of a collector indicating that the quotation was received from the composer on 11th August 1950. VG £100 - 150
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HAHN REYNALDO: (1874-1947) Venezuelan-born French Composer & Conductor. A.M.Q.S., Reynaldo Hahn, two pages (manuscript paper), n.p., June 1910. The extensive quotation, possibly a working manuscript, is written in bold pencil and comprises two untitled compositions for piano, both in 6/8 time, the first comprising 28 bars of music in F Sharp Minor and the second, to the verso, comprising 18 bars of music in C Major. Signed by Hahn at the head of the recto in pencil and dated in his hand to the lower margin. Some light overall age wear, VG £200 - 300
Hahn composed a number of works in 1910, the same year as the present quotation, including his Romanesque in C-Major, a piece of chamber music for flute, viola and piano which draws inspiration from an Italian folk dance.
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ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. A very fine, large signed and inscribed sepia 9.5 x 12 photograph by Rossini, the oval image depicting the composer seated in a half length pose. Signed to the lower right margin of the image by the photographer with their name alone. Signed and inscribed in fountain pen ink by Rossini to the lower photographer's mount, in French, 'Offert a mon aimable confrere et ami Adolphe Blanc, G. Rossini', and dated Paris, 21st November 1859 in his hand. A wonderful signed portrait with an excellent association. A couple of very light, extremely minor stains to the background of the image and some very light, minor age wear to the photographer's mount, largely to the extreme edges. VG £2000 - 3000
Adolphe Blanc (1828-1885) French Composer of Chamber Music.
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STRAUSS RICHARD: (1864-1949) German Composer. Bold, dark fountain pen ink signature ('Richard Strauss') on an 8vo page removed from an autograph album. Also bearing an unidentified signature to the lower half of the page, and two further signatures to the verso, one dated December 1908. About EX £100 - 120
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LEHAR FRANZ: (1870-1948) Austrian Composer. Vintage signed postcard photograph of Lehar standing in a half length pose with his arms folded. Signed in blue fountain pen ink with his name alone to the lower border. Together with a bold, dark fountain pen ink signature ('F Lehar') and date, Vienna, 21st September 1928, in his hand on a page removed from an autograph album. Also including a pencil signature ('F. Lehar') on a piece (light overall staining, slightly affecting the signature) neatly laid down to a page removed from an autograph album. FR (1), VG, 3 £100 - 120
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LEHAR FRANZ: (1870-1948) Austrian Composer. Vintage signed 3 x 5 postcard photograph, the printed image being a reproduction of a drawing of Lehar standing in a half length pose conducting an orchestra. Signed in dark fountain pen ink with his name alone to the lower border. Very slightly neatly trimmed to the edges. Together with Richard Tauber (1891-1948) Austrian Tenor. Vintage signed sepia postcard photograph of Tauber seated in a three quarter length pose in costume as Crown Prince Georg from Lehar's opera Schon ist die Weit. Signed in bold, dark fountain pen ink to the image and dated London, 1931 in his hand. G to VG, 2 £80 - 100
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ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer. A.L.S., Edward Elgar, two pages, 8vo, Forli, Malvern, 4th March 1894, to Messrs. Novello & Co. ('Dear Sirs'). The composer writes to his music publishers and encloses a manuscript (no longer present) of a part-song which he trusts they will find acceptable for publication, remarking 'It is not so difficult as the other part-songs of mine which you publish: I think therefore it might help to bring those forward as the present one, on account of its greater simplicity may become more widely known than its predecessors'. With several ink and bold blue indelible pencil annotations in the hand of an employee of Novello & Co (one stating 'Offer £3.3.0'). VG £200 - 300
The song to which Elgar refers to is O Happy Eyes (Op. 18, No.1) which Elgar had originally composed in late 1889, and later revised as illustrated by the present letter. The words were written by Elgar's future wife, Alice, in February 1888, before her engagement to the composer.
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ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer. A.L.S., Edward Elgar, one page, 8vo, Forli, Malvern, 24th March 1894, to Messrs. Novello & Co. ('Dear Sirs'). The composer writes to his music publishers and accepts their offer 'of three guineas for the copyright of my part-song “O Happy Eyes”' and continues 'I presume you will not object to sending me, as before, 2 doz copies free, not for sale but to send to conductors'. VG £200 - 300
O Happy Eyes (Op. 18, No.1) was originally composed by Elgar in late 1889, and initially rejected by Novello & Co. As illustrated by the present letter a revised version was accepted by the publishers, however it did not appear in print until 1896 (in the Musical Times). The words were written by Elgar's future wife, Alice, in February 1888, before her engagement to the composer.
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ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer. A.L.S., Edward Elgar, two pages, 8vo, Forli, Malvern, 15th June 1897, to Messrs. Novello & Co. ('Dear Sirs'). The composer writes to his music publishers and sends them the manuscript vocal score (no longer present) of Te Deum and Benedictus, remarking that he has written it for the Hereford Festival and expressing his regret and not having been able to send it earlier due to being unwell, further commenting 'Mr. Sinclair has played thro' the M.S. on the Organ to me & finds it most effective in the present form'. A few small pinholes to the edges of the letter and some areas of discoloration, slightly affecting the text and signature in places, G £200 - 300
Elgar's Te Deum and Benedictus (Op. 34) was written for chorus and orchestra for the composer's friend George Robertson Sinclair to mark the Hereford Three Choirs Festival in 1897 where it was first performed on 12th September 1897.
George Robertson Sinclair (1863-1917) English Cathedral Organist and friend of Elgar who, in his Enigma Variations (Op.36), incorporated a portrait of Sinclair and his bulldog, Dan, who were famously inseparable.
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ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer. A.L.S., Edward Elgar, one page, 8vo, Malvern, 23rd April 1898, to Messrs. Novello & Co. ('Dear Sirs'). The composer writes to his music publishers concerning his composition Caractacus and states, in full, 'Enclosed I send you the libretto (no longer present) of scenes I, II & IV of which you already have the music'. VG £200 - 300
Caractacus (Op.35) was composed by Elgar for the Leeds Festival of 1898 and is a large-scale cantata in six scenes telling the story of an ancient British King who fought the Roman invaders. Elgar chose a former civil servant and neighbour in Malvern, H. A. Acworth, as his librettist. Acworth took some liberties with history by introducing a love interest.
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BRITTEN BENJAMIN: (1913-1976) English Composer. A printed 8vo programme for a pianoforte performance by Britten, accompanied by tenor Peter Pears, at the Guildhall, Southampton, 18th January 1955, individually signed in blue ink by both Britten and Pears to clear areas of the front cover. Some light overall age wear, minor creasing and a few small tears to the edges, not affecting the signatures, G £80 - 120
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BRITTEN BENJAMIN: (1913-1976) English Composer. A printed 4to concert programme for a Memorial Concert for Olive Zorian at Friends House, London, 26th November 1966, signed by Britten in black ink to a clear area of the cover and also signed by various other classical musicians and singers who performed at the concert including Peter Pears, Julian Bream, Helen Watts, Manoug Parikian and Norman Del Mar. All have signed with their names alone in bold blue or black inks to clear areas of the cover. Together with two other concert programmes individually signed by Eugene Ormandy (twice) and Jacques Lousier (twice). Some light age wear and some creasing to Ormandy's programme. FR (1) to about VG, 3 £100 - 120
Olive Zorian (1916-1965) British Violinist.
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PORTER COLE: (1891-1964) American Composer. D.S., Cole Porter, being a promissory note, one page, slim oblong 8vo, Peru, Indiana, 12th December 1941. The partially printed document agrees to repay $4000 to the Wabash Valley Trust Company after a term of six months, with interest payable at the rate of 5% per annum. Several ink cancellations do not affect Porter's signature. Accompanied by a T.L.S. by Margaret Moore, secretary to Porter, one page, 4to, New York, 15th December 1941, to Mr. A. H. Cole, on the printed stationery of The Waldorf Astoria, forwarding the document. Some light age wear, otherwise VG £100 - 120
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BERNSTEIN LEONARD: (1918-1990) American Conductor & Composer of Westside Story. Signed 3.5 x 5.5 photograph of Bernstein in a profile head and shoulders pose. Signed ('Leonard Bernstein') in bold black ink with his name alone to the lower white border. About EX £80 - 100
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SEGOVIA ANDRES: (1893-1987) Spanish Guitarist. A printed 8vo programme for a performance by Segovia with the Halle Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli at the Royal Festival Hall, London, 27th October 1953, signed by Segovia in blue ink to an inside page to the lower border beneath his image, dated 1953 in his hand, and also signed by John Barbirolli in blue ink with his name alone to his image to an inside page. A few pencil annotations, VG £100 - 120
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MENUHIN YEHUDI: (1916-1999) American-born British and Swiss Violinist and Conductor. T.L.S., Yehudi Menuhin, one page, 4to, Los Gatos, California, 7th June 1954, to Miss Muriel Frost. Menuhin states that he has received his correspondent's letter, remarking 'and I, too, pray that this may not be your last letter from an office which brought us together and contributed so much to my feeling of friendship and peace of mind in England', further adding that his wife is writing to her independently, although inviting Frost to stay with them in Gstaad in September, explaining 'your presence would be of inestimable value in handling my correspondence and freeing me to care for the rather important work I have at that time'. Menuhin concludes 'Many thanks for attending to all the different chores I have you. I do hope that the next weeks will provide you with relaxation and clear the mind from the myriad of petty problems you have had to face these last months.' Together with an A.N.S., Yehudi Menuhin, on an oblong 12mo card (most likely originally accompanying a gift or flowers), n.p., December 1954, to Miss Frost, 'celebrating a long and happy companionship'. Also including an A.L.S., Yehudi Menuhin, three pages, 8vo, London, 29th May 1955, to Miss Muriel Frost, on the printed stationery of Claridge's. Menuhin announces 'I will long recall the particular quality which your blend of devotion and ability conveyed to a relationship which has spanned the greater part of my life - a constant, unfailing element of support and comfort' and continues 'Amid a shifting background and standing often as a lonely pillar in a sea of debris, you guarded intact the life-lines and the essential parts of the matter' and concluding by remarking 'I only hope that you will bring your friendly and lively face often to see me'. Accompanied by the original envelope. Further including a vintage signed and inscribed postcard photograph of Menuhin in a head and shoulders pose playing his violin. Photograph by Fayer of Vienna. Signed by Menuhin in dark fountain pen ink to the lower white border and dated December 1955 in his hand and a signed and inscribed hardback edition of Yehudi Menuhin - The Story of the Man and the Musician by Robert Magidoff, First Edition published by Doubleday & Company Inc., New York, 1955. Signed by Menuhin in bold blue ink to the half title page, 'To dear Miss Frost, recalling our happy hours in London together Dec-Jan 1956, Yehudi Menuhin'. Accompanied by the dust jacket (some extensive wear, creasing and areas of paper loss). The lot also includes Diana Menuhin (1912-2003) British Ballerina, second wife of Yehudi Menuhin. A.L.S., Diana Menuhin, two pages, 4to, Los Gatos, California, 10th September n.y. (late 1950s?), to Miss. Frost. Most likely writing following the death of her third child shortly after birth, Menuhin thanks her correspondent for their 'sweet & sympathetic letter' and continues 'It was a stupidly cruel shock and I am fighting hard to overcome the anguished feeling of emptiness & waste. I have, though, so much in life that I would be a very ungrateful & egoistic (sic) creature if I could not conquer my sadness, and I have such a loving family and friends that I know myself to be very fortunate', concluding by hoping that they will be able to meet for lunch or dinner in London in the future, and further features a series of sixteen vintage Christmas greetings cards from the Menuhin family, the majority inscribed by Diana Menuhin and signed by her on behalf of her husband and family, the stiff oblong small 8vo folding cards dated 1943, 1954 (2), 1956-59, 1961-67, 1969-70, each of the cards featuring different images (some colour, a few now detached although present), most depicting the Menuhin's children although some also including Yehudi and Diana. G to generally VG, 22 £100 - 150
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CONDUCTORS: Selection of signed pieces and album pages by various conductors comprising Arturo Toscanini, Willem Mengelberg, Walter Damrosch (2), Eugene Ormandy and Arthur Nikisch & Henry J. Wood (pencil signatures of both on an album page, 1902). Some light age wear, G to VG, 6 £100 - 150
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CANTELLI GUIDO: (1920-1956) Italian Conductor. A rare, bold, dark fountain pen ink signature ('Guido Cantelli') and date, 1954, in his hand on a card. EX £80 - 100
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CANTELLI GUIDO: (1920-1956) Italian Conductor. A good, rare vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 13 photograph, the sepia image depicting the conductor in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold green fountain pen ink to the lower white matt, 'To Sydney Giles, Guido Cantelli' and dated 1955 in his hand. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed and annotated in Cantelli's hand, also adding his name ('MAESTRO GUIDO CANTELLI') in capital letters in the return address. Autographs of Cantelli are rare in any form as a result of his tragic death at the young age of 36 in an aircraft crash, and signed photographs of this size are particularly rare and desirable. Some slight creasing to the matt, otherwise VG £250 - 350
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BOULT ADRIAN: (1889-1983) English Conductor. Series of two A.Ls.S. and seven T.Ls.S., Adrian and Adrian B, ten pages (total), 8vo, London, 22nd December 1955 – 18th June 1967, to Bernard de Nevers of the music publishers Alfred Lengnick & Co. and Novello & Co. Boult writes regarding scores by a variety of composers, including Edmund Rubbra, in part, 'What a transformation!...it is very nice to have the old score in such a lovely new dress!' (22nd December 1955), 'I have just received the Miniature Score of Rubbra's Seventh with great pleasure….I am sure, however, you ought to give up sending me these modern scores for I have so little opportunity of doing them, though I am naturally most interested to see them, particularly all scores by Rubbra.' (28th April 1958), '….I suppose Malcolm's scoring will be the most popular and appropriate at the moment. Perhaps Maurice [Jacobson] will not think so, but I do not think there is any question of their having been sanctioned by Brahms, or even known about it; after all, as far as I remember, they were written only a year or two before his death….By the by, for goodness sake persuade Maurice not to let some woman sing them. They ought only to be permitted to enormous basses with black beards' (25th November 1958), 'I think I must tell you at once that some of the Rubbra VIth material has been sent back to you from some previous performance in the most shocking condition. One of the scores is bunged up with marks in all colours of the rainbow, and, worst of all, two bars before 56 in the Scherzo (I would prefer three bars myself) there should be an accelerando, which is not to be found in any of the scores or the miniature. It has been most carefully erased from two of the big scores I have handled, and Edmund has no idea who can have done this. It is vital because (and here I think a further note would be wise in the score) at the end of the accelerando the old crotchet = the new crotchet, but it is not clear that the bar at the beginning of the accelerando is still equal to the bar of the new 4 crotchet tempo, and so when later on we return to the ¾ the bar is constant throughout the change' (11th March 1963), 'Did you by any chance say that you wanted a recording of the First Elgar Sympathy? I have a feeling that you did, and I have just heard of a chap who says he has a four track tape of some show I did of it some years ago' (8th July 1963). Together with several other A.Ls.S. including two by Maurice Jacobson, also to Bernard de Nevers, in one stating, in part, 'I fear we, you & I, are both sadly diminished. You, at least, have a place in musical history. Rubbra's wider & wider acceptance must be a source of continuing pleasure to you. As for myself, all I have to show for my 50 years with Curwens is a viable catalogue….and an O.B.E. (“for services to music”) which I can't eat! & it might as well be “Order of the Boiled Egg” – or “Order of the Blighted Expectations”…' (2nd July n.y.). Generally VG, 13 £100 - 120
Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986) British Composer.
Maurice Jacobson (1896-1976) English Pianist, Composer and Music Publisher.
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KARAJAN HERBERT VON: (1908-1989) Austrian Conductor. Signed colour 4 x 6 photograph, the image depicting Karajan in a half length profile pose with a baton in one hand. Signed in bold gold coloured ink with his name alone to the image. VG £80 - 100
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CLASSICAL MUSIC: Small selection of vintage signed concert programmes (most for International Celebrity Subscription Concerts of the mid-1930s), a few vintage signed postcard photographs etc., by various singers and musicians etc., including Eva Turner, Richard Tauber, Toti Dal Monte, Clara Butt, Luigi Infantino, Beniamino Gigli, Dino Borgioli, Alfredo Tomasini, Percy Kahn etc. A few are multiple signed and some are unsigned. Some light overall age wear, generally G, 13 £80 - 100
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CLASSICAL MUSIC: Selection of A.Ls.S., T.Ls.S., some signed postcard photographs and slightly larger (a few vintage) etc., by various classical musicians and composers etc., including Harriet Cohen (interesting A.L.S. referring to the death of King George V, as well as Myra Hess, Shostakovich and her lover, Arnold Bax, 'The only male I see is A. B. - bless him', February 1936), Gerald Moore, Colin Davis, Henry J. Wood, Hugh Roberton, Moura Lympany, Eileen Joyce, Mark Hambourg, Yehudi Menuhin, Albert Sandler, Alfredo Campoli etc. G to generally VG, 15 £80 - 100
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CALLAS MARIA: (1923-1977) American-born Greek Soprano. A good vintage fountain pen ink signature ('Cordially, Maria Callas') and date, 1964, in her hand on a white card. Together with a selection of signed clipped pieces, a few album pages and letterheads etc., by various other female opera singers including Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt (2), Luisa Tetrazzini, Toti Dal Monte (album page also signed by violinist Guila Bustabo), Mary Garden, Liza Lehmann Bedford, Lotte Lehmann, Kirsten Flagstad (signed programme) etc. G to generally VG, 11 £200 - 300
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OPERA: Selection of vintage signed postcard photographs and a few slightly larger by various opera singers including Renata Tebaldi, Tito Gobbi, Guilherme Kjolner, Italo Tajo, Alfredo Kraus, Giulietta Simionato etc. Most of the images depict the singers in costume poses. Generally VG, 7 £80 - 100
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OPERA: Selection of signed postcard photographs and slightly larger (some vintage) a few A.Ls.S. and T.Ls.S. by various opera singers including Eva Turner (3), Beniamino Gigli, Peter Pears, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Joan Hammond, Isobel Baillie (3), Joan Sutherland etc., and also including a 4to sheet of paper seemingly originally bearing a pencil caricature signed by Enrico Caruso, 1904, now heavily traced over in dark black crayon. Generally VG, 16 £80 - 100
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OPERA: Selection of printed 8vo and 4to programmes for various performances at the Royal Festival Hall, London, during the 1950s, individually signed by various opera singers etc., including Beniamino Gigli, Luigi Infantino, Marian Anderson, Yma Sumac, Isobel Baillie, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Amy Shuard, Joan Hammond, Birgit Nilsson (1965) etc. A few are multiple signed. Some with neat pencil annotations. Some light age wear, generally VG, 12 £80 - 100
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