PIANO

[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.’

[George Peachey, London Piano Forte Manufacturer.] Quarto Bifolium Leaflet Advertisement, printed in black and red with royal arms, advertising Peachey’s ‘City of London Piano-Forte Manufactory’, with much information in small print.

Author: 
George Peachey, 73 Bishopsgate Street, Within, nineteenth-century London Piano Forte Manufacturer, ‘By Appointment to Her Majesty’
Peachey
Publication details: 
No date, but on Saunders laid paper with 1856 watermark. George Peachey, Piano Forte Manufacturer, 73, Bishopsgate Street, Within, Opposite the Marine Society, London.’
£150.00
Peachey

Scarce: no other copy traced. Bifolium of laid 1856 Saunders paper. 4pp, 4to. Unpaginated. The front cover carries is headed ‘City of London Piano-Forte Manufactory.’ Beneath this are engraved the royal arms, flanked by the words ‘By Appointment / to the Queen.’ Peachey’s address is engraved beneath the arms in large letters. At the foot of the page, in red ink, are three lines relating to ‘Harmoniums.’, with the second page headed by another two lines in red. The two central pages carry much information in small type.

[Myra Hess [Dame Julia Myra Hess], celebrated British pianist.] Autograph Letter Signed, explaining to ‘Miss Scott’ [musicologist Marion Scott] her reason for declining a dinner invitation.

Author: 
Myra Hess [Dame Julia Myra Hess], celebrated British pianist associated with Sir Thomas Beecham and Arturo Toscanini
Publication details: 
8 June 1928. On letterhead of 8 Carlton Hill, St John’s Wood, N.W. [London]
£65.00

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed to ‘Dear Miss Scott’ and with good clear signature ‘Myra Hess’. She regrets that it will not be possible for her to join Miss Scott for dinner. ‘I shall probably have to work, rehearse all day on Tuesday [corrected by Hess to ‘Wednesday!’] - so shall have to try & get a rest before 8.30 - (& probably have a scrambled egg at the last minute!!’ She ends ‘Forgive this in haste / Again thanking you’.

[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.

[Marian McPartland, jazz pianist and composer.] Autograph Letter Signed to Les Tompkins of Jazz magazine ‘Crescendo’, announcing a collaboration with ‘charming’ Benny Goodman, with news of other jazz greats, including Quincy Jones.

Author: 
Marian McPartland [Margaret Marian McPartland, née Turner] (1918-2013), Anglo-American jazz pianist and composer, wife of trumpeter Jimmy McPartland [Les Tomkins; Benny Goodman; Quincy Jones]
Publication details: 
29 September [1963]; 41 Webster Street, Merrick, New York.
£160.00

A good letter, full of content. 2pp, 8vo. Air mail letter with New York postmark, 30 September 1963. Signed ‘Marian’ and addressed to ‘Mr. Les Tompkins / 96, St Helier Ave / Morden / Surrey’. Writing after the publication of an interview with her by Tompkins in ‘Crescendo’, she begins: ‘Dear Les. Thank you, & Tony also, for the copies of Crescendo - Boy! I was verbose, wasn’t I! I got a kick out of the record review, & thought everyone was very complimentary. Wish Steve Race had been there! He always insists you can tell a female player (and of course I think that is a lot of you-know-what)’.

[‘Ralom and Rosa’, English clown routine.] Typed Letter Signed from ‘Rosa’ to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope, singing the praises of their act, and threatening to leave for the continent if they cannot find ‘the right recognition’ in England.

Author: 
‘Ralom and Rosa’, English clowns (‘International Comedy Musicans with Concertinas & Piano’) [Walter James Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
16 December 1956; on letterhead of ‘International Comedy Musicans with Concertinas & Piano / Clown / Ralom and Rosa’, 29 Hibbert Road, Leyton, London E17.
£120.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) 1p, 4to. On light-blue paper, with letterhead in dark-blue and red. Signed ‘Ralom’, with ‘RALOM & ROSA’ typed beneath. In good condition, lightly aged. Writing to MP at the Evening News, London. ‘There has [sic] been quite a few remarks passed by critics of the “paucity” of Acts in the Variety profession.

[Ernest Pauer, Austrian pianist and composer, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music.] Autograph Note Signed to ‘Miss Alain’, apologising for being unable to ‘arrange for the lessons you desire to take’.

Author: 
Ernst Pauer (1826-1905), Austrian pianist and composer active in England, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music (later the Royal College of Music)
Publication details: 
22 February 1889; on letterhead of 3 Onslow Houses, South Kensington, SW [London].
£50.00

Pauer, who had studied piano with Mozart’s son, gave daily recitals during the Great Exhibition of 1862, and was later appointed Professor at the newly-formed Royal College of Music (later the Royal College of Music), also working at Cambridge University. 2pp, 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Reads: ‘Dear Miss Alain / I do not see any chance of being able to arrange for the lessons you desire to take. I need not tell you that I am sorry that I cannot fulfil your wish. / In haste yrs truly / E Pauer’.

[Ethel Henry Bird, soprano, pianist and tutor.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss Atkins’, thanking her for returning an ‘old book’ that is ‘very valuable to me’.

Author: 
Ethel Henry Bird (d.1942), soprano, pianist and teacher at the Trinity College of Music, London
Publication details: 
30 September [no year]. On letterhead of 8 Longridge Road, Earl’s Court, S.W. [London.]
£45.00

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with unobtrusive grease stain stain to one blank corner. Folded twice. Good bold hand with large signature. ‘My dear Miss Atkins - / How very kind of you to return me my old book. It was very valuable to me, & I was wondering where it was - so I am very glad to have it back again. / Hoping we shall meet before long / With kindest regards & many thanks / Yours very sincerely / Ethel Henry Bird.’

[Nicolas Orloff [Nikolai Andreyevich Orlov], Russian concert pianist noted for his interpretations of Chopin.] Autograph Signature and English inscription on Christmas card to Alan Lockhart; with second Autograph Signature and note signed 'N. O.'

Author: 
Nicolas Orloff [Nikolai Andreyevich Orlov ] (1892-1964), Russian concert pianist noted for his interpretations of Chopin, who settled in Scotland
Orloff
Publication details: 
Card dated by Orloff to 1964/64. Signature on paper dated 1960.
£90.00
Orloff

Orloff left Russia in 1921, and toured the world as a leading interpreter of Chopin. He settled in Grantown-on-Spey in 1948, becoming a British citizen four years later. ONE: 6.5 x 14 cm bifoliate Christmas card, with blue and black illustration ‘Designed by Kris’. Dated at head by Orloff ‘1963/64’. Beneath the printed message he writes a large signature on two lines: ‘Nicolas Orloff’. Recipient’s name written at foot, in another hand: ‘Alan Lockhart’. The verso of the second leaf of this card is laid down on the verso of the following item.

[Benno Moiseiwitsch, virtuoso Ukrainian/Russian concert pianist.] Autograph Signature on inscription to an autograph hunter. With signatures on reverse of pianist Irene Kohler and composer Charles Hambourg.

Author: 
Benno Moiseiwitsch (1890-1963), concert pianist born in Odessa (Ukraine) in the Russian Empire, and who settled in England [Irene Kohler; Charles Hambourg]
Publication details: 
The three signatures from 1946. No place.
£65.00

On 7 x 10.5 piece of orange paper, removed from an autograph album. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Expansive signature, with surname underlined and dots to i's like dashes. Reads: 'Good luck to you! | Benno Moiseiwitsch | Decr. 1946'. Autographs on reverse, dated to 21 July 1946, of composer 'Charles Hambourg' and pianist 'Irene Kohler' (1909-1996).

[ Oscar Beringer ] Autograph NOte Signed "Oscar Beringer" to an unnamed woman about an invitation to a prize giving.

Author: 
Oscar Beringer, pianist
Publication details: 
[Headed] 40 Wigmore Street, W., 26 Nov. [no year].
£28.00

One page, 12mo, faint spotting, good condition. "Many thanks for your kind invitation to your prize giving. Unfortunately it is impossible for me to come in the afternoon.

[A nineteen-thirties 'action song' about the British police.] Sheet music (Curwen Edition 1329): 'Our Model Policemen | Humorous Character Sketch for Boys | Words and Music by J. Frise'.

Author: 
J. Frise [Jesse Frise]; J. Curwen & Sons, London publisher
Publication details: 
Curwen Edition 1320. London: J. Curwen and Sons Ltd., 24 Berners Street, W.1. [1930]
£120.00

7 + [1]pp, 4to. On two loose bifoliums. In fair condition, worn and aged. Stamped twice on cover: 'CORRECTION COPY' with date 1 July 1938, and second date, 29 November 1946. On the cover is an attractive stylized children's illustration, Curwen press style, hand-coloured in blue and orange, depicting three policemen walking in a line, truncheon aloft, before a row of houses and a church. The second page is blank; the third carries 'Hints for Performance', including 'Directions for Marching'. The musical score (for voice and piano) and words cover the four pages 4-7.

[ Fanny Davies, concert pianist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed party, sending a lithograph on the recommendation of the critic J. A. Fuller Maitland, who is singing in her 'little choir'.

Author: 
Fanny Davies (1861-1934), English pianist, dedicatee of Edward Elgar's 'Concert Allegro' [ J. A. Fuller Maitland [ John Alexander Fuller Maitland ] (1856-1936), music critic ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 52 Wellington Road, St. John's Wood N.W. [ London ]. 13 February 1910.
£50.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. Begins: 'Dear Sir | Mr. J. A. Fuller Maitland, who is singing in my little choir is also most kindly helping me by suggesting the right people to sing! & has told me to use his name & send you one of the enclosed lithographed letters which will speak for itself.' She concludes in the hope that he will 'help by singing'.

[ Stephen Heller [ Heller István ], Hungarian pianist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Stephen Heller') in French, to an unnamed lady, seeking to rearrange the date of the lesson of 'Mlle. Shillito'

Author: 
Stephen Heller [ Heller István ] (1813-1888), Hungarian pianist, teacher and composer
Publication details: 
No place. Date illegible.
£120.00

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition. On his monogram letterhead. He states that he is still too ill to teach an arranged lesson to 'Mlle Shillito', and seeks to rearrange the date.

[ Mark Hambourg, classical pianist. ] Autograph Card Signed to 'Cyril' [ English actor Cyril Maude ], regarding arrangements for his performance at Maude's 'grand benefit'.

Author: 
Mark Hambourg (1879-1960), Russian-born English pianist [ Cyril Maude [ Cyril Francis Maude ] (1862-1951), English actor-manager
Publication details: 
Card with letterhead 5 Langford Close, Langford Place, NW8 [ London ]. 24 February [ 1942 ].
£30.00

In good condition, lightly aged, with one vertical crease. Stamped and postmarked, and addressed to 'Cyril Maude Esqre. | Redlap | Dartmouth. | Devon'. For more about Hambourg, see his entry in the Oxford DNB. He writes: 'My dear Cyril | I'm afraid the Chappell Piano is necessary for me, as however good a theatre piano, it would not be good enough for a performance at your "Grand Benefit." | Yours with best wishes | Mark Hambourg'. Maude's 'Birthday Benefit Matinée' took place for charity at the Haymarket Theatre, 24 April 1942.

[ Ania Dorfmann, Russian pianist. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Ania Dorfmann (1899-1984), Russian pianist and teacher at the Juilliard School in New York
Publication details: 
Without place or date [ 1930s ].
£25.00

On one side of 13 x 18.5 cm leaf removed from a 1930s album. In a good large hand, it reads: 'Souvenir | from Ania Dorfmann'.

[ Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Polish pianist. ] Autograph Signature ('I J Paderewski').

Author: 
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), Polish pianist and composer
Publication details: 
No place. 23 November 1912.
£75.00

On 13.5 x 16.5 cm piece of light-pink paper removed from autograph album. In very good condition. Reads: 'yours truly | I J Paderewski | 23/XI 1912'.

[ William Leighton Leitch, Scottish artist. ] Four Autograph Letters Signed (all 'W L Leitch'), two to 'Miss Macerone' and two to 'Miss Emily', in two of which he despairs of his continuing ill health and its effects on his work.

Author: 
William Leighton Leitch (1804-1883), Scottish painter and illustrator, drawing master to Queen Victoria, and Vice President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours [Miss Macerone, pianist ]
Publication details: 
The two letters to 'Miss Macerone' from Sidney House, Boundary Rd, St John's Wood [London]; 15 March 1866 and 'Friday' [no date]. The two letters to 'Miss Emily': from 124 Alexandra Rd, St John's Wood. 28 February and 11 March 1878.
£90.00

The first item with discoloration to the first leaf; the rest in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: To Miss Macerone. 15 March 1866. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. He is sorry he missed her earlier, it being 'such a rare thing for me to be out at that time of the afternoon'. He has been 'nearly wild with rheumatism lately', and is 'taking some hot air baths'. He is 'obliged to be at 40 Gt. Marlborough St. at 5 O'Clock' and trusts that 'another bath or two will make me fit to work for I am most shockingly behind hand for the Gallery'.

[ Sir George Alexander Macfarren, composer and musicologist. ] Autograph Note Signed ('G A Macfarren') to 'Miss Macerone', apologising for not being able to attend her concert.

Author: 
Sir George Alexander Macfarren (1813-1887), English composer and musicologist [ Miss Macerone, pianist and composer ]
Publication details: 
11 Alpha Road, NW [London]. 18 May 1862.
£32.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads 'Dear Madam, | I am sorry I cannot have the pleasure of attending your Concert, but wish you every success. | Yours very truly | G A Macfarren'. Little is known of Miss Macerone, but on 26 October 1846 the Boston 'Musical Gazette' reported: 'A young lady, Miss Macerone, who excels as a pianist and composer ! recently gave her first concert in London. She performed Mendelssohn's trio in D, ( in which Messrs.

[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.

[Printed sheet music for children.] Récréations de l'Enfance. Recueil de Rondes avec Jeux et de Petites Chansons pour fair jouer, danser et chanter les enfants avec un accompagnement de piano très-facile.

Author: 
Charles Lebouc [French children's songs]
Publication details: 
Troisième édition, revue et corrigée. Paris: E. Heu, éditeur, 10, Rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin. Propriété pour la France et l'etranger. [Circa 1866.]
£280.00

[6] + 36pp., 8vo. In original yellow printed wraps. Title carries illustration by Fouget. Inscribed, at head of title, 'To "The Bairns" from Mr. ', 8 February 1866. Lightly-aged, with slight damp staining, in worn wraps. Clearly printed with simple musical scores, including such classics as 'Frère Jacques' and 'Sur le Pont d'Avignon'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Georg Henschel') from Sir George Henschel, the baritone and pianist, to Lady Thompson, asking her to extend the hospitality to 'Mr. and Mrs. Koecher (and the Misses Koecher)'.

Author: 
Sir George Henschel [born Isidor Georg Henschel] (1850-1934), German-born British baritone, pianist, conductor and composer
Publication details: 
25 Gloucester Road, Regents Park, NW [London]. 15 June 1881.
£40.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with strip of tape from previous mounting adhering at the foot of the recto of the second leaf. He asks her to send 'cards for your afternoon Friday' to 'our dear friends Mr. and Mrs. Koecher (and the Misses Koecher)', who would 'enjoy every minute'. He gives the Koecher's address as de Keyser's Royal Hotel, Blackfriars, and ends by conveying his wife's love.

Printed programme of a concert by Albert Sammons, 'Assisted by Olive Goff (Soprano) | Gerald Moore (Pianist)', with cover photograph of Sammons signed by him, and containing an advertisement for Columbia New Process Records.

Author: 
Albert Sammons [Albert Edward Sammons] (1886-1957), English violinist and composer [L. G. Sharpe, Haymarket; Olive Goff, soprano; Gerald Moore, pianist; Columbia New Process Records]
Publication details: 
'Programme and Book of Words SIXPENCE. L. G. SHARPE, 25, Haymarket, S.W.1.' Undated.
£65.00

8pp., 12mo. On shiny art paper. On aged paper, with the two staples rusted. Sammons has signed over the cover portrait of him by 'Haile, Bognor', 'Sincerely Yrs | Albert Sammons'. Including texts by Mary E. Coleridge, Lord Lytton and Sir Rabindranath Tagore. Central opening carries an advertisement stating that 'ALBERT SAMMONS Records ONLY for COLUMBIA Records', with list of eight 'Recent ALBERT SAMMONS Records'.

Autograph Signatures of the German pianist Wilhelm Backhaus and the Australian pianist and composer Lindley Evans.

Author: 
Wilhelm Backhaus (1884-1969), German pianist and pedagogue; Lindley Evans (1895-1982), Australian pianist and composer
German pianist Wilhelm Backhaus and Australian pianist/composer Lindley Evans
Publication details: 
Both dated 20 November 1922.
£95.00
German pianist Wilhelm Backhaus and Australian pianist/composer Lindley Evans

Both signatures on the same side of a light-green leaf removed from an autograph album, roughly 18 x 14 cm. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The first signature is the larger of the two: 'Wilhelm Backhaus | Nov. 20th. 1922.' The second reads 'Lindley Evans. | 20/11/22'.

Autograph Signature of the Australian composer William G. James, together with the score of the opening bars of his song 'The Sun-God' in his autograph.

Author: 
William G. James [William Garnet ('Billy') James] (1892-1977), Australian pianist and composer [Aubrey de Vere]
Autograph Signature of the Australian composer William G. James
Publication details: 
Undated.
£125.00
Autograph Signature of the Australian composer William G. James

On one side of a piece of pink paper, roughly 18 x 7.5 cm, cut from an autograph album. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. At the head James has written ' "The Sun-God" W. G. James', with the opening two bars beneath this, beneath which he has written the words 'I saw the master of the Sun -' In the bottom right-hand corner: 'Yrs Sincerely | William G. James'. James's music for Aubrey de Vere's poem was first published in 1921.

Autograph Signature of the Russian classical pianist Shura Cherkassky.

Author: 
Shura Cherkassky [Alexander Isaakovich Cherkassky] (1909-1995), Russian classical pianist
Publication details: 
Dated by Cherkassky 1929.
£18.00

On rectangle removed from autograph album. In good condition. Reads 'Shura Cherkassky | 1929'.

Autograph Signature of the Austrian classical violinist Wolfgang Schneiderhan, written when touring England at the age of fifteen, and signed 'Wolfi Schneiderhan'.

Author: 
Wolfgang Schneiderhan [Wolfgang Eduard Schneiderhan; Wolfi Schneiderhan] (1915-2002), Austrian classical violinist
Publication details: 
Dated by Schneiderhan 1930.
£35.00

On rectangle of pink paper, removed from autograph album. In good condition. Reads 'Wolfi Schneiderhan | 1930.'

[sheet music] Six Preludes for Piano.

Author: 
Paul Bowles
Paul Bowles, Six Preludes for Piano.
Publication details: 
1947. Mercury Music Corporation, New York, N.Y.
£28.00
Paul Bowles, Six Preludes for Piano.

4to, 12 pp. On six loose bifoliums. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor spotting on reverse of last leaf (page of advertisements).

The signatures of the four musicians on one leaf.

Author: 
Cedric Sharpe (1891-), cellist and composer; Ethel Hobday (1872-), pianist; Marjorie Hayward, violinist; Dora Stevens, soprano [autographs of British classical musicians]
Publication details: 
Docketed 'Autumn 1924'.
£56.00

On light-yellow page (roughly 11 x 14 cm) removed from autograph album. Four glue stains showing through from the reverse (not affecting the signatures), otherwise good. Reads 'Dora Stevens | Ethel Hobday | Marjorie Hayward | Cedric Sharpe'. Lightly docketed in pencil.

Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Marie Novello (1898-1928, born Marie Williams), English pianist
Publication details: 
Undated, but around 1917.
£35.00

On one side of a leaf (roughly 11 x 16 mm), removed from an autograph album. Good, on lightly aged paper, with some show-through from amusing drawing on reverse by L. E. H. Phipson. Bold signature reads 'Yours Sincerely | Marie Novello'. Drawing on reverse depicts a monocled old fogey protesting his love to a pretty young thing regarding herself in a handmirror. Captioned 'I'd rather be a young man's slave!' Signed by the illustrator 'L. E. H. Phipson | 6/12/1917'. Docketed in pencil.

Syndicate content