CONDUCTOR

[Walter Bache, English pianist and conductor who championed Liszt and the New German School.] Autograph Card Signed to ‘Mrs. Lewis’, gracefully declining a invitation.

Author: 
Walter Bache (1842-1888), English pianist and conductor who championed Liszt and the New German School
Publication details: 
11 June [no year]. With letterhead of 17 Eastbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W. [London]
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged, but with unobtrusive part of paper mount still adhering to one corner. Good bold signature ‘Walter Bache’. Reads: ‘Dear Mrs. Lewis / It is most kind of you to keep me still in your remembrance! I am teaching every day & all day - alas! & Friday is just my afternoon at the Academy. So I cannot possibly accept your most welcome invitation, for which please accept my best thanks.’

[Sir Adrian Boult, distinguished English conductor.] Autograph Signature 'Adrian C. Boult' on card.

Author: 
Sir Adrian Boult [Sir Adrian Cedric Boult] (1889-1983), distinguished English conductor, at the BBC and with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
[Sir Adrian Boult
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£30.00
[Sir Adrian Boult

See Michael Kennedy's assessment of Boult, in his entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In the music he admired most, Boult was often a great conductor; in the rest, an extremely conscientious one.' Good bold signature ('Adrian C. Boult') is centred on one side of an 11.5 x 9 cm piece of card. The signature and the space around it are clear, but the discoloured card has a smudge on it, and carries traces of previous mount on reverse. At foot of signed side, in pencil:Sir Adrian Boult - Conductor of the B.B.C.Orchestra London / Famous English Conductor'. See Image.

[Sir Thomas Beecham, celebrated English conductor associated with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras.] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), celebrated English conductor associated with the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic, Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras
Thomas Beecham
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£30.00
Thomas Beecham

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Beecham’s signature (‘Thomas Beecham’) on an otherwise-blank 12.5 x 5.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of mount adhering to the reverse. The signature, which has no flourish, is tighter than usual, and rising slightly. See Image.

[Sir George Henschel, baritone and conductor.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mrs Dickens’, agreeing to sing ‘one number’ at her ‘Hospital Matinée’.

Author: 
Sir George Henschel [Isidor Georg Henschel] (1850-1934), German baritone, conductor, pianist and composer, who settled in England, a close friend of Johannes Brahms
Publication details: 
6 May 1901; on letterhead of 46 Bedford Gardens, Campden Hill, Kensington, W. [London]
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper, with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, folded for postage. With good large firm signature. The main body of the letter reads: ‘Dear Mrs Dickens / I shall be very glad to sing one number, my “Young Dietrich” at your Hospital Matinée on June 14th. With love from house to house / Sincerely / Yours / Geo. Henschel’.

[Sir George Henschel, baritone and conductor.] Two items: Autograph Letter Signed, thanking the London Correspondent of the Birmingham Daily Post for a complimentary review; and printed circular, signed and addressed to the musicologist Marion Scott.

Author: 
Sir George Henschel [Isidor Georg Henschel] (1850-1934), German baritone, conductor, pianist and composer, who settled in England, a close friend of Johannes Brahms [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953),
Publication details: 
LETTER: 30 April 1913; on embossed letterhead of The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W. [London] PRINTED CIRCULAR from 6 Sutherland House, Marloes Road, W.8 [London] Dated by Henschel 27 February 1930.
£75.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The items are unrelated. Both are in good condition, lightly aged, and each folded once for postage. LETTER: 2pp, 12mo. On grey paper. Addressed to ‘The London Correspondent of the Birmingham Daily Post’ and signed ‘George Henschel’.

[Sir Adrian Boult, distinguished English conductor.] Autograph Card Signed to ‘Miss Minshull’, arranging a meeting at Lincoln’s Inn.

Author: 
Sir Adrian Boult [Sir Adrian Cedric Boult] (1889-1983), distinguished English conductor at the BBC and with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Publication details: 
Undated, but with Chelsea postmark of 6 July 1929.
£35.00

See Michael Kennedy's assessment of Boult, in his entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In the music he admired most, Boult was often a great conductor; in the rest, an extremely conscientious one.' On card with stamp, crest and ‘POST CARD’ printed in red. In fair condition, lighly worn. Addressed to ‘Miss Minshull / 1 Claverley Grove / Finchley N.3.’ Reads on the other, crosswise: ‘Please excuse a hasty scrawl: can you come to Lincoln’s Inn at 5 on Wed? Dont answer if all right. / I am so glad you’re able to do it: it will be fine I think. / Adrian C. Boult / 11 Chelsea Embankment / S.W.3.’

[Sir Adrian Boult, distinguished English conductor.] Two items: Typed Letter Signed to C. Holme-Barnett on Birmingham conductors; and printed list of members of the ‘Orchestra at The Coronation of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’.

Author: 
Sir Adrian Boult [Sir Adrian Cedric Boult] (1889-1983), distinguished English conductor, at the BBC and with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Publication details: 
LETTER: 16 September 1964, on letterhead of 13 Queen Anne Street, London, W.1. PRINTED LIST: For coronation, ‘In the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster / On Wednesday, the 12th day of May, 1937’.
£150.00

See Michael Kennedy's assessment of Boult, in his entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In the music he admired most, Boult was often a great conductor; in the rest, an extremely conscientious one.' The two items are unrelated. LETTER: 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly creased. Folded twice for postage. Addressed to ‘C. Holme-Barnett, Esq., / 54 Anchorage Road, / Sutton Coldfield, / Warwickshire.’ The salutation and valediction are in Boult’s autograph: ‘Dear Mr Holme-Barnett’ and ‘Yours sincerely / Adrian C. Boult.’ The letter concerns two Birmingham conductors.

[Sir Adrian Boult, conductor, and Cyril Smith, virtuoso concert pianist.] Two Items: A Typed Note Signed from Boult to ‘Mrs Brown’; and a printed programme for a Henry Wood Promenade Concert, signed by Boult and Smith.

Author: 
Sir Adrian Boult [Sir Adrian Cedric Boult] (1889-1983), distinguished conductor ( BBC and London Philharmonic Orchestra); Cyril Smith [Cyril James Smith] (1909-1974), virtuoso concert pianist
Publication details: 
LETTER: 19 January 1950; on letterhead of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London. PROGRAMME: for concert on 6 September 1947, in the 53rd Season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, by the BBC at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
£80.00

See Smith’s entry in the Oxford DNB, and Michael Kennedy's assessment of Boult, in his entry in the same work: 'In the music he admired most, Boult was often a great conductor; in the rest, an extremely conscientious one.' The two items are unrelated. LETTER: 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded once for postage and with corners snipped diagonally to make an octagonal shape. Salutation and valediction are in Boult’s autograph: ‘Dear Mrs Brown’ and ‘Yours very sincerely / Adrian C. Boult’. PROGRAMME: 12pp, 8vo. Stapled.

[Sir Malcolm Sargent, composer and conductor.] Large sprawling stylized Autograph Signature in blue pencil on front of printed programme for a Royal Albert Hall performance of Berlioz’s ‘Grande Messe des Morts’.

Author: 
Sir Malcolm Sargent [Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent] (1895-1967), composer, organist and conductor of choral works, especially at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (‘The Proms’)
Sargent
Publication details: 
Programme for performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 8 April 1954. ‘Published by The British Broadcasting Corporation, 35 Marylebone High Street, London, W.1.’
£56.00
Sargent

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.

[Peter Gellhorn, conductor, composer and pianist.] Autograph Note Signed to ‘Mr. Dean’, regarding a photograph of himself.

Author: 
Peter Gellhorn [born born Hans Fritz Gellhorn] (1912-2004), German conductor, composer and pianist who settled in London, connected with Glyndebourne, Covent Garden, BBC, Royal College of Music
Publication details: 
3 February 1975; 33 Leinster Avenue, London SW14.
£35.00

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.’

[Antal Dorati, Hungarian conductor.] Typed Letter Signed ('Antal Dorati') to Israeli author Aubrey Hodes, on presenting Beethoven's Missa Solemnis for the first time in Israel.

Author: 
Antal Dorati [Antal Doráti] (1906-1988), Hungarian conductor and composer who settled in the United States [Aubrey Hodes, Israeli author]
Publication details: 
On his Roman letterhead: Via dei Foraggi 74, Roma. 1 March 1965.
£150.00

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'.

[ Yehudi Menuhin, celebrated violinist. ] Autograph Signature on photographic portrait.

Author: 
Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999), American-born British violinist and conductor
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 6 November 1939.
£40.00

On 15 x 11 cm photographic portrait of Menuhin, neatly cut from an English newspaper. In good condition, lightly aged, with label from mount adhering to reverse. Menuhin has appended his signature and the date ('Yehudi | Menuhin | Nov. 6, 1939') in blue ink at the head of a pleasing portrait of his head, looking over at the viewer with the tip ov his violin at his chin.

[ Rafael Kubelik, Czech-born conductor and composer. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Rafael Kubelik [ Rafael Jeroným Kubelík ] (1914-1996), Czech-born conductor and composer.
Publication details: 
Dated 25 October 1937.
£35.00

Good firm large signature in blue ink on 13.5 x 18.5 cm leaf of cream paper torn from an album. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads 'Rafael Kubelik | 25.X.37.' No other writing on either side of the leaf.

[ Wilhelm Ganz, German-born London conductor. ] Autograph signature.

Author: 
Wilhelm Ganz (1833-1914), German-born conductor, pianist, organist, violinist, and composer
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£35.00

On 5.5 x 11 cm. slip of paper taken from letter. In fair condition, lightly aged. Closely-cropped, with the lower part of the final flourish of the 'z' in Ganz's name shaved off. Ganz established himself as accompanist to singers including Jenny Lind and Adelina Patti. He became sole conductor of rthe concerts of Henry Wylde's New Philharmonic Society orchestra in 1879, renaming them the following year 'Mr. Ganz's Orchestral Concerts'. He conducted the London premieres of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Liszt's Dante symphony.

[ Herman Finck, composer and conductor. ] Autograph Letter Signed, as musical director of the Palace Theatre, 'To The Gentlemen of the Orchestra', informing them of the abolitiion of 'the system of sending deputies'.

Author: 
Herman Finck [ born Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), composer and conductor [ The Palace Theatre, London ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Palace Theatre Limited, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 15 January 1912.
£56.00

1p., 4to. On aged and worn paper. Reads:'To The Gentlemen of the Orchestra | Commencing with February 17 '12 the system of sending deputies will be entirely abolished in this orchestra. To those members who are not desirous of continuing their engagement under this new rule, I would ask that they gave their names to Mr Honrig before friday evening next, in order that they may receive notice of the termination of their engagement four weeks from that date - 19th inst: | Herman Finck | Musical director'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last tunes played as the Titanic went down.

[ Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC. ] Autograph Letter Signed, a warm letter of condolence to the widow of composer Herman Finck.

Author: 
Joseph Lewis (1878-1954), senior conductor of the BBC and composer [ Herman Finck [ born Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), composer ]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead ('Conductor. | Adjudicator.'), 1 Central Parade, Horley, Surrey. 22 April 1939.
£35.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Although '[w]ords at these times seem rather empty things', he feels he must write to express his sympathy on her loss: 'To know dear Herman as I knew him, was to love him - & I am ,mindful of many happy times we had together & many kindnesses he has shown me'. He asks her to be consoled by the fact that Finck 'leaves behind him a fine reputation & a grand record of service'. According to a contemporary account: 'Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC, was born in Brierly Hill Staffs, in 1878.

[ Patrick Barrow, composer and conductor. ] Autograph Letter Signed, a letter of condolence to the widow of fellow-composer Herman Finck, praising Finck as a man and a musician.

Author: 
Patrick Barrow, composer and conductor [ Herman Finck [ born Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), composer and conductor ]
Publication details: 
24 Tangier Road, Richmond, Surrey. 22 April 1939.
£40.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. He only met Finck on a few occasions, but offers his condolences 'as a Composer of Light Music, and as a former Director of Music at a West End Theatre (Daly's)'. In his view, Finck 'surely had no superior in the art of giving pleasure to others, not only by his personality, but also by his pen.

[ Herman Finck, composer. ] Nine black and white photographs of Herman Finck, from his papers, ranging from a carte-de-visite of him as a child in Amsterdam (by Hisgen Brothers), to images of him in theatrical settings (one by Langfier Ltd).

Author: 
Herman Finck [ Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), Anglo-Dutch conductor [ Hisgen Brothers, Amsterdam photographers; Langfier Ltd, London photographers ]
Publication details: 
[ Amsterdam (Hisgen Brothers, 128 P. C. Hoofstraat) and London (Langfier Ltd; Central News; Weekly Illustrated) and Nottingham (Nottingham Journal). ] From circa 1878 to the 1930s.
£220.00

Although Finck was an extremely popular and well-connected figure in British musical and theatre circles, the National Portrait Gallery holds no image of him. The nine black and white photographs range in size from 18.5 x 24.5 cm down to the carte-de-visite, which is 10.5 x 6.5 cm. The collection is in fair overall condition, with some creasing and wear, and the corner of the largest photograph repaired on the reverse with archival tape.

[ Ben Davies, Welsh tenor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Ben Davies.'), expressing condolences to the widow of the composer Herman Finck.

Author: 
Ben Davies (1858-1943), Welsh tenor with the Carl Rosa Opera Company [ Herman Finck [ Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), Anglo-Dutch composer ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 33 Compayne Gardens, West Hampstead, NW [ London ]. 23 April 1939.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Docketed at head 'Answered'. Reads: 'Dear Mrs Finck - | We were very grieved to hear of the passing of your dear husband & our old friend - will you please accept our deepest sympathy in your great sorrow - & our prayers that you & your daughters may be greatly comforted - | Very sincerely Yrs. | Ben Davies'. From the Finck papers.

[ Herman Finck, composer and conductor. ] Copy of Typed Letter to Henry Chance Newton ('My dear Harry'), theatre critic of the Referee newspaper, containing 'biographical facts' to prove that he is 'not a Jew', and his 'Hebrew musical collaborators'.

Author: 
Herman Finck [ Herman [ born Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), British composer and conductor of Dutch extraction [ Henry Chance Newton (1854-1931), theatre critic of the Referee newspaper ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne. 8 October 1925.
£150.00

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged. Unsigned copy of typed letter., with one autograph emendation. Addressed to 'My dear Harry'. He begins by explaining that he is in Eastbourne recuperating from the flu. 'As I did not rise until Monday last I missed the Sunday papers including alas, the Referee. [ amended in autograph from 'the Rat' ] | A cutting, however (from the Ref) reached me here today containing an article of yours, wherein you place me among your Hebrew musical collaborators.

[ Herman Finck, composer and conductor. ] Collection of unpublished Autograph Papers, comprising joke collection 'Green Roomers by the Rags Wags', and plan of book to be titled '"In the Chair." More memories'. With covering letter from Finck's wife.

Author: 
Herman Finck [ Herman [ born Hermann Van Der Vinck ] (1872-1939), British composer and conductor of Dutch extraction [ W. Macqueen-Pope ]
Publication details: 
1920s [one part dated 1921]. Mabel Fnck's covering letter dated from 10 Grove End Gardens, St John's Wood, NW8 [ London ]. 15 February 1956.
£750.00

In good condition, on loose leaves, with light signs of age and wear. ONE: 'Green Roomers by the Rags Wags.' A large collection of original jokes. Around 140pp., mostly 8vo. On different papers, including letterheads of 212 Finchley Road, London, the Burlington in Folkestone, and the Hermitage Hotel, Le Touquet. Hundreds of unconnected gags, each of them framed as a rhetorical question, mostly relating to the London entertainment world. The humour is now mostly impenetrable. Individuals referred to include: C. B. Cochran, H. G.

[ Adrian Boult ] Autograph Signature, "Adrian C Boult", on detached album leaf

Author: 
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult, CH (1889–1983), conductor.
Publication details: 
No date or place
£25.00

Signature on detached album leaf, 18 x 13cm, good condition

[ Sir Thomas Beecham and Ethel Frank. ] Autograph Signatures on leaf from album.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), English conductor; Ethel Frank, American soprano
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [ London, 1921? ]
£25.00

The two signatures are on one side of a 14 x 18cm leaf of cream paper removed from an album. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with laid down. Good clear examples. Beecham's signature 'Thomas Beecham' is above that of 'Ethel Frank'. Probably given on Franks first visit to Britain in 1921. Small magazine cutting of photograph of three musicians laid down on reverse.

[Constant Lambert, English composer.] Autograph signature on card.

Author: 
Constant Lambert (1905-1951), English composer and conductor
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£25.00

Lambert's attractive signature ('Constant Lambert') on piece of 7.5 x 11 cm thin card. Lightly aged and creased, and with evidence of previous mounting on reverse.

[Raymond Leppard, conductor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Raymond') to the artist and set designer Yolanda Sonnabend

Author: 
Raymond Leppard (b.1927), English British conductor and harpsichordist [Yolanda Sonnabend (b.1935), theatre designer and artist]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, 16 Hamilton Terrace, NW8. 24 May 1970.
£35.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. He thanks her 'for giving me the wrongly addressed envelope'. He has tried ringing her 'a dozen times' and gives her number for checking. He ends by inviting her to dinner.

[Sir Charles Hallé, conductor and pianist.] Two Autograph Notes in the third person to Lady Blanche Drummond

Author: 
Sir Charles Hallé [formerly Carl Halle] (1819-1895), conductor and pianist
Publication details: 
Both on letterheads of 11 Mansfield Street, W [London]. 12 and 14 July [no year].
£56.00

Both items 1p., 16mo, and both in good codition, on lightly-aged paper. The first note reads: 'Mr. Charles Hallé presents his respectful compliments to Lady Blanche Drummond and would feel greatly obliged if she would kindly take his lesson to-morrow at 4 o'clock instead of half past three.' The second confirms the time for a second lesson.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry J. Wood') from the conductor Sir Henry Wood to 'Mr. Williams', asking him to 'borrow from Mr. Pheasant tonight the 3rd Trumpet part of Rimsky-Korsakoff Ballet Music "Mlada"'.

Author: 
Sir Henry Wood [Sir Henry Joseph Wood] (1869-1944), English conductor associated with the Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall ('the Proms')
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Chorleywood Hotel, Chorleywood, Herts. 21 September [no year].
£60.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Wood writes: 'Dear Mr. Williams | Will you kindly borrow from Mr. Pheasant tonight the 3rd Trumpet part of Rimsky-Korsakoff Ballet Music "Mlada" as there is a Tromba Alta part which according to the Score & as far as I can judge you can play, please take it home and let me know the result of your studies | Faithfully | Henry J. Wood'. In pencil at the foot of the second page, presumably by Williams, are a couple of bars of musical notation.

'Change of Address' card of the composer and conductor Sir Eugene Goossens, addressed to the violinist Max Rostal.

Author: 
Sir Eugene Goossens [Sir Eugene Aynsley Goossens] (1893-1962), English composer and conductor [Max Rostal (1905-1991), violinist and music teacher]
Publication details: 
Postmarked from Maida Hill on 16 September 1957.
£30.00

Printed on one side of a 9 x 10.5 cm card. In good condition, lightly-aged and with a couple of corners slightly worn. The notice reads: 'Change of Address | Please note that | Sir Eugene Goossens | is now residing at | 76 Hamilton Terrace, London, N.W.8. | Telephone: CUNningham 9383'. Docketed in pencil at head (by Rostal?) 'Received 17th Sept.' Addressed on reverse, with stamp and postmark, to 'Max Rostal Esq., Highflower, 45, Brondesbury Park, London, NW6.

Three Autograph Notes Signed "Michael or "Michael Ayrton" to "Tom" [Driberg], politician and gay icon, and Mrs Driberg, Tom's wife, about payment for a portrait of Constant Lambert, conductor and composer.

Author: 
Michael Ayrton, artist and book illustrator
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Bradfields, Toppesfield, Nr Halstead, Essex, 28 May 1954, 7 June 1954, and 6 Feb. 1955.
£180.00

Total 3pp., 12mo, fold marks, pinholes in two,good condition. The letters illustrate how difficult it was to get money out of Driberg. [28 May] Ayrton is about to go to America and must "gather all available resources to keep things going here [...] Could I therefore have some of the money owing for the portrait of Constant? All of it would be splendid but even some would help." [7 June] He thanks Mrs Driberg for payment of half. [6 Feb.] "Forgive my bothering you but I am a bit pressed for money at the moment and you still owe me half the price of the Lambert portrait whihc is Twenty Pounds.

Autograph Signature of the English classical conductor and composer Albert Coates.

Author: 
Albert Coates (1882-1953), English classical conductor and composer, born in St Petersburg
Publication details: 
Dated by Coates 1929.
£12.00

On rectangle removed from autograph album. In good condition. Reads 'Albert Coates | 1929'.

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