COMPOSER

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The ALS, whose recipient is not identified, is appended on the last page of the printed notice, which is 4pp, foolscap 8vo, on a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The notice is headed 'University of Oxford. / Directions for Candidates for Degrees in Music.' and signed in type at the end 'Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, / Professor of Music. / Oxford, / March, 1878.' Divided into sections concerning a bachelor's and doctor's degree. The ALS, on the last page, reads: 'Dear Sir / You will see by this paper that your Dublin B.A.

An attractive item by a leading exponent of ‘English pastoralism’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Bass and treble notation of opening bars, headed ‘Romance / Andante ma non molto’. On one side of 9 x 11 cm card with rounded edges. Firm signature at bottom right: ‘Martin Shaw / May 1921’. In good condition, lightly aged. See Image.

Meyerbeer’s diary records (25 May 1853) a visit ‘from Raoul Allary, who makes wind instruments. He is an opponent of Sax, and came to me because he had heard that I had spoken to the emperor on Sax’s behalf’ (1999 English translation of volume for 1850-1856). A pencil note at the head of the present letter identifies the subject as ‘Louise Gned / 4 Rue [de] Bellefond [Paris]’. Gned (b.1810) was an Austrian soprano from a musical/theatrical family, who faded into obscurity.

Black and white print of an 11.5 x 15 cm head and shoulders portrait of a smiling Carter on 12.5 x 21 cm piece of shiny paper. In good condition. Beneath the portrait, in red ink, Carter writes: ‘for Michael Robuck / Elliott Carter, March 28, ’72.’ On the reverse, in another hand, is the note ‘4. 3. 72 / Elliott Carter Composer’. See Image.

Calling Card, 9.5 x 5.5cm, some staining but text clear. See Images. Printed text (recto) is as follows: Léo Delibes || Membre de l'Institut || 220 rue de Rivoli. He has written the following; Mille remerciements bien affectueux, cher collaborateur. Vous permettez ce titre, sinon a l'auteur du Roi l'a dit [underlined], du moins a celui de 'Lakmé'! | L.D.

Stapled pamphlet. 20pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Sargent’s unusual bold stylized signature, in blue pencil, almost occupies a 5 cm square. All but the top centimeter which touches the printed date at points, is written on blank space on the cover. See image.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which quotes Gordon Cox as stating that Hullah was ‘the fountain head of music education in the nineteenth century’. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Handwriting and signature in a bold attractive hand. Reads: ‘Dear Mrs. Tail / I have the pleasure to send you a few lines fm Mr. Otto Goldschmidt, about the Bach Choir. / I am, dear Madam / Always Your’s [sic] Truly / John Hullah’.

See Mackenzie’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Gauntlett was later appointed Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music. See Sir Anthony Lewis’s appreciative Times obituary. 2pp, 4to. On bifolium of good paper, with letterhead printed in black with the College’s arms in red. A very good facsimile of Mackenzie’s autograph and signature, with twenty-five lines of text. Addressed in manuscript to ‘A. Gauntlett, Esq. / 12 Fairholme Road / W Kensington / W.’ Begins: ‘You will doubtless have heard of our intention to celebrate the centenary of the R. A. M.

See the articles on Antes by Donald M. McCorkle in the Musical Quarterly, 1956, and Richard D. Claypool, in the Moravian Music Foundation Bulletin, 1978. Seven copies listed on JISC (only three in deposit libraries); now scarce. 8pp, 12mo. Disbound. In fair condition, worn and discoloured. Vignette on cover shows Osman Bey sitting cross-legged while two of his followers whip the unfortunate Antes, while a third looks on. Drophead title, p.2: ‘Anecdotes in the Life of John Antes, A Moravian Missionary.’

Meyerbeer is said to have been the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century. He encouraged and supported the young Wagner, who turned on him viciously later in life. Lady Molesworth (née Andalusia Carstairs, d.1888) had herself been a professional singer. She was the widow of Sir William Molesworth (1810-55), founder of the London Review and owner, under the editorship of John Stuart Mill, of the Westminster Review.

One page, 8vo, fold marks, good condition. Thank you for sending me a copy of Christabel Aberconway's letters. Her son, Lord Aberconway, has told me he has tried but failed to find any letters of William to her. A pity. She was a great friend to him. | Thank you for offering to send me the photographs returned by Robert Hale [publisher], I would love to have them. | I hope you are both well with all best regards [...]. See image.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Reads: ‘Dear Mr. Dean, / According to your request, I enclose a signed photo of myself for your collection. / With best wishes, / Yours sincerely, / Peter Gellhorn.’

According to Noël Coward’s entry in the Oxford DNB, his family moved through the suburbs of south London, before finally setting in Ebury Street, where his mother Violet ‘acquired a boarding-house on the fringes of Belgravia’. The letters are written on the verge of the huge success of the revue ‘Bitter Sweet’ (1929). The recipient of these letters Sewell Stokes was an author and broadcaster who also worked as a probation officer and prison visitor, writing several works on the British penal system.

Italian Postcard, stamped 26.2.20, addressed to 'Maurington Sayers Esq. | Northgate | Totnes | S Devon | Inghilterra', good condition. Dear Sir | Please accept my best thanks for y[ou]r charming collection of stories & still more generous appreciation of my book [presumably Impressions That Remained: Memoirs in Two Volumes]. As you see I am travelling & leave [this?] tomorrow so pray forgive a very brief expression of these thanks.

A true great: Mancini won four Oscars, a Golden Globe and twenty Grammies. No place or date. Black and white 19 x 23.5 cm print on 20 x 25.5 cm glossy photographic paper. In fair condition, with slight creasing at one corner. In sports jacket and tie, Mancini stares over his piano with the merest of smiles. On the left-hand side of his jacket, in Mancini’s autograph, is the inscription, in black felt-tip pen: ‘to / Ray / Henry / Mancini’. See image.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly creased. Folded once. Reads: ‘Dear Peter, / Many thanks for your letter. It’s always pleasant to read nice things that people say about one’s work. / All my best wishes to you. / Sincerely, / Burton Lane’. Two-line typed biography of Lane at head of reverse.

One page, cr. 8vo, fold marks, some staining, two small closed tears, text clear and complete. Si le titre de l'op:93 n'est pas encore terminé il faut mettre sur la dédicace | The Right Honble | Lady Katherine Elizabeth | Cochrane. | Je vous enverrai les épreuves avec 3 nouveaux morceaux lundi prochaine au plus tard.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. On aged paper, with punch hole through both leaves at head, small closed cut along bottom edge of first leaf, and with paper and part of another letter (from an album) glued onto the reverse of the second leaf. Folded once. The signature 'M. Massenet' is explained in Massenet's obituary in the Musical Times, 1 September 1912, which speaks of 'the composer's known antipathy to the name Jules […] He preferred to be called “M. Massenet” simply'. The recipient of this enthusiastic letter is not named.

Page, 20 x 15.5cm, extracted from Autograph Album, one rough edge (extraction process), very good condition. See image.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. As I like to try to do justice to the confidence which is given to me, I must frankly confess that I do not see any possibility of being able to accept the post of Examiner in as far as the engagements at the Royal College of Music, Guildhall School, Crystal Palace & private engagements take up all my time. | I need not say, that I am very sorry for this state of affairs [...]

[24]pp, 12mo. Stapled programme, in shiny covers. Strip torn away from back cover, and with staples slightly rusted, otherwise in fair condition. Large signature 'Ivor Novello' diagonally across title on front cover: 'Richard D. Rose | presents | Ivor Novello | in | I Lived With You | A comedy in three acts | by | Ivor Novello'. An illustrated 'magazine' programme, containing articles and advertisements. No copy on OCLC WorldCat. From the papers of Novello's friend and biographer, the theatre historian W. J.

On reverse of 11.25 x 8.25 cm card carrying a black and white print of the autograph score of Coates's second 'phantasy', 'The Three Bears' (1926). In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'To May Hirst | with best wishes | from | Eric Coates | Photograph of | Original Full Score of | The Three Bears'.

Evidently written out as a gift for Christopher Fry, from whose papersit derives. A 10.5 x 24 cm piece of printed manuscript paper, on grey mount in glazed black wooden 17.5 x 31 cm frame. In good condition. Signed at top right 'Richard Kayne.' Towards top left: 'The Lady's Not For Burning. | Chichester, 1972.' Within the uppermost of three lines of staves Kayne has written and underlined 'THE LADY THEME'. The central stave contains the opening bars, for alto flute.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with pin hole to one corner. Folded once. The recipient is not named, but would appear to be a fellow member of the Women's Institute. She apologises for having been 'unable to attend the former meetings, as I am just convalescent from blood-poisoning followed by a bad nervous break down'. She will 'certainly come on Friday at 3-30.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Only the salutation ('Dear Mrs. Russell,') and the valediction ('Yours very sincerely | Edward German :' are in German's hand; the rest is by a secretary. He writes that he would 'have liked to write you [sic] personally, but it is a little more than I can manage at present'. Nevertheless he assures her that he is 'most grateful' for her 'very kind message'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. On aged paper, with punch hole through both leaves at head, small closed cut along bottom edge of first leaf, and with paper and part of another letter (from an album) glued onto the reverse of the second leaf. Folded once. The signature 'M. Massenet' is explained in Massenet's obituary in the Musical Times, 1 September 1912, which speaks of 'the composer's known antipathy to the name Jules […] He preferred to be called “M. Massenet” simply'. The recipient of this enthusiastic letter is not named.

1p, 12mo. Leaf of lightly-browned and creased aged paper, with closed tears to one edge. The two men are clearly writing in response to requests for autographs. Marchetti has written out four bars – slightly affected at end by closed tear – from what he states is 'Ruy Blas Preludio'. Beneath this he signs, in a firm attractive hand, 'F Marchetti'. At the head he dates: 'Roma 14 9bre 92'.

One page, cr. 8vo, small closed tear, fold mark, good condition. Shaw asks Murray to reconsider joining the "Advisory Committee" [not found out which yet] giving an impressive list of the names of people already on the Committee - "without exception, every Member has given his consent in the most cordial manner possible." He lists 20 names including Walter Crane, P.G. Konody, Albert Rothenstein, William Rothenstein, Martin Shaw himself, H.G. Wells, R.Vaughan Williams, W.B. Yeats.

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. In reply to a letter by Hodes he writes that he is 'happy to hear that Beethoven's Missa Solemnis has made such a deep impact on you which it should make on every listener'. He feels 'very much privileged indeed for having been granted the possibility to present this work for the first time in Israel', and hopes 'to have occasion to perform that great piece there again as well as others which will be important and good to hear'.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. "I am much obliged by your kindness in sending a copy of The Prinipality Oct. 6th. I have read it with great pleasure & hope your efforts will be crowned with success - I am glad to see that [elision] - while endeavouring to raise the standard of literature in Wales- you intend to maintain our Nationality [underlined] in the best sense of the word