CLASSICAL

[Ebenezer Prout, composer, musicologist, music critic of the Athenaeum.] Autograph Letter Signed explaining his inability to get the piece 'Christophorus' performed.

Author: 
Ebenezer Prout (1835-1909), composer, musicologist, music critic of the Athenaeum, London
Publication details: 
‘12 Greenwood Road, / Dalston. E. [London] / 4 Sept. 1885.’
£100.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Forty-nine lines. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with the reverse of the second leaf laid down on cut-down remains of leaf of autograph album, with a number of autographs on slips laid down on the reverse, including that of Charles Hallé, cut from a letter. Prout’s letter is signed ‘Ebenezer Prout’, but the recipient is not named.

[Algernon Ashton, composer, Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music.] Autograph Letter Signed, asking W. H. Cummings to consider him if a vacancy for a professorship should occur at the Guildhall School of Music.

Author: 
Algernon Ashton [Algernon Bennet Langton Ashton] (1859-1937), English composer, Professor of Piano, Royal College of Music [William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915), Principal, Guildhall School of Music]
Publication details: 
‘London, September 22nd., 1896. / 44, Hamilton Gardens. / St. John’s Wood. / N. W. [London]’
£50.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Folded once for postage. Addressed to ‘Mr. Cummings’ and with large bold signature ‘Algernon Ashton.’ He writes: ‘I venture to express a hope that whenever there should be a vacancy for a Pianoforte Professorship at the Guildhall School of Music, of which you are now the honoured Principal, that you may kindly think of me.’

[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.’

[Harry Plunket Greene, Anglo-Irish baritone associated with Elgar and Vaughan Williams.] Autograph Letter Signed regarding an engagement.

Author: 
Harry Plunket Greene (1865-1936), Anglo-Irish baritone associated with Elgar and Vaughan Williams
Publication details: 
11 October 1927. On letterhead of 65 Holland Park Road, Kensington W14 [London].
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘H. P. Greene’. Truly atrocious handwriting. Apparently addressed to ‘Dear Miss Salt’, and beginning: ‘I’ll be proud.’ He gives a date which will ‘suit me best’, and asks to be informed ‘if there is anything special [?] like [?]’.

[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 Frederick Ouseley, Professor of Music, Oxford University.] Autograph Letter Signed concerning requirements for an Oxford degree in music, appended to printed notice by him: ‘University of Oxford. Directions for Candidates for Degrees in Music.'

Author: 
Sir Frederick Ouseley [Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley] (1825-1889), Anglican composer, church musician and musicologist, Professor of Music at Oxford University
Publication details: 
Notice dated 'OXFORD, / March, 1878.' Autograph Letter undated, but from around the same time.
£75.00

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.

[Sir August Manns, German conductor in England, Director of Music at the Crystal Palace, London.] Autograph Signature to photographic portrait on cabinet card by Negretti & Zambra, Crystal Palace.

Author: 
Sir August Manns [Sir August Friedrich Manns] (1825-1907), German conductor who made his career in England, Director of Music at the Crystal Palace, London [Negretti & Zambra, Crystal Palace]
Sir August Manns,
Publication details: 
Dated by Manns to 1894. Cabinet card by Negretti & Zambra, Crystal Palace.
£100.00
Sir August Manns,

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The National Portrait Gallery possesses a carte-de-visite another portrait of Manns by Negretti & Zambra, which it dates to 1898, but does not hold the present item, which is a head and shoulders shot showing a white-haired Manns, bald on top, with bushy eyebrows and walrus moustache looking to one side in dark jacket and white shirt and tie. A 10 x 14.5 cm albumen print, presented in the customary style on a grey cabinet card, with the firm?s details embossed in white at foot, and the usual photographers? details printed on the reverse.

[Martin Shaw, composer associated with ‘English pastoralism’, conductor and organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields.] Autograph Card Signed, with autograph musical notation of the beginning of his ‘Romance’.

Author: 
Martin Shaw [Martin Edward Fallas Shaw] (1875-1958), composer associated with ‘English pastoralism’, conductor and organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Publication details: 
Dated by Shaw to May 1921. No place.
£65.00

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.

[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’.

[Giacomo Meyerbeer, German operatic composer.] Secretarial Letter (because of injury to his right arm) in French, Signed 'Meyerbeer', to instrument maker Raoul Allary, recommending the opera singer Louise Gned to a post.

Author: 
Giacomo Meyerbeer [born Jakob Liebmann Meyer Beer] (1791-1864), German opera composer of Jewish extraction based in Paris [Raoul Allary, instrument maker; Louise Gned (b.1810), Austrian opera singer]
Publication details: 
'Paris, 15 Décembre 1853.' On his embossed armorial letterhead, with initals 'G M'.
£250.00

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.

[Sir George Christie, longtime chairman of the Glyndebourne opera festival.] Typed Letter with Autograph passages, to ‘Mr. Hedley’, stating that he and his wife are ‘thrilled [at his knighthood] - first and foremost for Glyndebourne’s sake’.

Author: 
Sir George Christie [Sir George William Langham Christie] (1934-2014), for a third of a century chairman of the Glyndebourne opera festival, founded by his father John Christie (1882-1962)
Publication details: 
26 June 1984; on letterhead of Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sussex.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice for postage. The letter reads (with autograph parts in square brackets): ‘[Dear Mr. Hedley,’] / Thank you. / Mary and I are of course thrilled - first and foremost for Glyndebourne’s sake. / [It was charming of you to write. / Yours sincerely, / George Christie / P.S. I’m afraid I dont ever send autographed photographs. Sorry to disappoint you.] / [P]PS Please forgive typescript.’

[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.

[Keith Falkner, English bass-baritone, Director of the Royal College of Music, London.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to ‘Miss Scott’ [the musicologist Marion Scott], the first agreeing to sing at an 'At Home', the second while at work for the RAF.

Author: 
Keith Falkner [Sir Donald Keith Falkner] (1900-1994), distinguished English bass-baritone, Director of the Royal College of Music, London [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), musicologist]
Publication details: 
ONE: 10 June 1928, from 60 Mayfield Road, Sanderstead, Surrey. TWO: 18 August 1941, ‘as from R.A.F. Middle Wallop. / Nr. Stockbridge. Hants.’, on cancelled letterhead of the Officers Mess, RAF ‘Woodlands’, Clamp Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex.
£120.00

See his entry and hers in the Oxford DNB. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged, and each folded once for postage. Neatly and firmly written. Both addressed to ‘Dear Miss Scott’ and signed ‘Keith Falkner’. ONE: 2pp, 12mo. Eleven lines. He will be ‘pleased to sing in the “Peasant Cantata” at the Union “At Home” on June 28th’ and asks to know ‘which version you will be doing as soon as you decide?’ He ends with thanks for her ‘kind sympathy - I do appreciate it very much’. TWO: 2pp, 8vo. Twenty-three lines of text.

[Lionel Tertis, viola player, Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music.] Autograph Letter Signed, thanking ‘Miss Scott’ [the musicoloigst Marion Scott] for ‘such a nice tea-party’ and urging her to come to lunch.

Author: 
Lionel Tertis (1876-1975), viola player, Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), musicologist]
Publication details: 
8 December 1929. On letterhead of Smalldown, Belmont, Surrey.
£38.00

See his entry and hers in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘Lionel Tetris.’ Begins ‘Dear Miss Scott / It was so kind of you to give us such a nice tea-party yesterday[.] We thoroughly enjoyed it and thank you very much indeed. / We hope you will come & see us soon[.] Won’t you come to Lunch one day?’

[Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, Scottish singer and folk song collector.] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Card Signed to ‘Miss Scott’ [Marion Scott], arranging an interview and sending the third volume of her ‘Songs of the Hebrides’ for review.

Author: 
Marjory Kennedy-Fraser (1857-1930), Scottish singer, collector of Hebridean folk songs [her daughter the harpist Patuffa Kennedy-Fraser (1889-1967); Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), musicologist]
Publication details: 
Neither item dated, but both apparently sent together in 1921. ONE: ALS, on letterhead of her ‘Permanent address’ 6 Castle Street, Edinburgh. TWO: ACS without place or date, but on card advertising the vol. 3 of her ‘Songs of the Hebrides’ (1921).
£150.00

See her entry and the recipient's in the Oxford DNB. The two items are in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter is lightly creased and the card has a central vertical fold. ONE: ALS. 1p, 12mp. Signed ‘Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’. Once the recipient has ‘got what you want out of the Vol III herewith’, she asks her to ‘kindly return it to Mrs. Matthay at 96, Wimpole St’. TWO: ACS.

[Elliott Carter, American modernist composer.] Publicity photograph with Signed Autograph Inscription.

Author: 
Elliott Carter [Elliott Cook Carter Jr.] (1908-2012), American modernist composer
Carter
Publication details: 
Dated by Carter 28 March 1972. No place.
£150.00
Carter

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.

[Eric Crozier, opera producer and librettist, closely associated with Benjamin Britten.] Typed Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Catry’, reminiscing about his first two productions: Smetana’s ‘Bartered Bride’, and 'a world-wide event' - Britten’s ‘Peter Grimes’.

Author: 
Eric Crozier [Eric John Crozier] (1914-1994), opera producer and librettist, closely associated with Benjamin Britten
Publication details: 
10 January 1993, with address label of ‘ERIC CROZIER, OBE / 4 THE TIMBERYARD / GREAT GLEMHAM / SAXMUNDHAM / SUFFOLK’.
£180.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice for postage. The address is printed on a small golden label affixed at the top left corner. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Catry’ and signed ‘With all best wishes - and thank you for writing! / Sincerely, / Eric Crozier.’ He asks him to forgive a typed letter, as he is ‘convalescing from a heart-attack, and still not very good at hand-writing.

[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.

[John Pyke Hullah, English composer and Professor of Vocal Music at King’s College, London.] Autograph Note Signed (‘John Hullah’), forwarding to ‘Mrs. Tail’ a note from ‘Mr. Otto Goldschmidt, about the Bach Choir’.

Author: 
John Hullah [John Pyke Hullah] (1812-1884), English composer and teacher of music, Professor of Vocal Music at King's College, London, and also at Queen's College and Bedford College
Publication details: 
18 May 1878; on letterhead of Grosvenor Mansions, Victoria Street, S.W. [London]
£45.00

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’.

[William Roger Paton, Scottish classical scholar, translator of the Greek Anthology.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘W. R. Paton’) [to the editor of the Academy], regarding the reviewing of a book by Salomon Reinach.

Author: 
W. R. Paton [William Roger Paton] (1857-1921), Scottish classical scholar, translator of the Greek Anthology [James Sutherland Cotton (1847-1918), editor of the Academy, London; Salomon Reinach]
Publication details: 
25 August 1891; Grandholme, Aberdeen.
£60.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with spike hole to one corner. Folded once. From the context the recipient is clearly James S. Cotton, editor of the Academy. He explains that ‘Mr S. Reinach’ (the French archaeologist Salomon Reinach, 1858-1932) recently wrote to him to say that he would send him ‘a copy of his book Chroniques d’Orient if I would review it. I said I would with pleasure review it somewhere. Yesterday the book reached me addressed to me (probably owing to some mistake of the publishers) as “redacteur de l’Academy”’.

[‘Reeking of the dungheap’: Sir Claude Phillips, first Keeper of the Wallace Collection.] Anonymous original manuscript poem in Latin, with English translation in same hand, attacking him as a ‘lustful’ user of ‘language planted with dirty refuse'.

Author: 
Sir Claude Phillips (1846-1924), first Keeper of the Wallace Collection, art critic of the Daily Telegraph [Albert Curtis Clark (1859-1937), Corpus Christi Professor of Latin at Oxford?]
Publication details: 
No date [circa 1920?] or place, but circa 1920? On paper watermarked ‘The Club Note | Thomas & Sons | London’.
£100.00

The circumstances surrounding this extraordinary original composition in Latin verse are obscure. See Phillips’s entry in the Oxford DNB, which notes that there was ‘an air of Proust’ about him, and quotes Oliver Brown’s description of him as ‘a stout man, immaculately dressed and heavily scented, who talked continuously while he looked at the pictures'. It may be that Phillips and the author of the poem had been educated together, or that they were members of the same club (the Athenaeum for example).

[Julian Herbage, musicologist and BBC broadcaster.] Typed Letter Signed to gamba player Ambrose Gauntlett, regarding broadcast titled ‘Foundations of Music’, in which Gauntlett is taking part.

Author: 
Julian Herbage [Julian Livingstone Herbage] (1904-1976), English musicologist and BBC broadcaster [Ambrose Gauntlett (1889-1978), gamba player and continuo cellist]
Publication details: 
25 February 1935; on letterhead of The British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, W.1.
£35.00

See the two men’s obituaries in The Times. 1p, 12mo. With thin mourning border. On aged and creased paper, with nicks and closed tears to edges, and slight loss at one corner. Folded twice. He is enclosing a programme for ‘Foundations of Music / Tuesday, March 26th’, ‘in which you are taking part’. He gives the time for ‘The rehearsal and balance test’. ‘Both transmission and rehearsal at Broadcasting House.’

[Sir Anthony Carey Lewis, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music.] Typed Letter Signed to the cellist Ambrose Gauntlett, thanking him for participating in the RAM 150th Anniversary Concert. With copy of the programme.

Author: 
Sir Anthony Carey Lewis (1915-1983), Principal of the Royal Academy of Music and founder of Musica Britannica [Ambrose Gauntlett (1889-1978), cellist, Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music]
Publication details: 
LETTER: 1 June 1972; on letterhead of the Royal Academy of Music. Programme of Royal Academy of Music concert to be held 30 May 1972 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall [London].
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. For Gauntlett see the excellent article on the ‘Semibrevity’ blog: ‘Ambrose Gauntlett, forgotten gamba player and continuo cellist’, beginning: ‘Although Ambrose Gauntlett (1889–1978) spent most of his career as a full-time orchestral principal, he was the most sought-after continuo cellist and gamba player in the UK for many years. In his obituary, published in The Times, Sir Anthony Lewis mentions “his beautiful playing of the important 18th-century viola da gamba obbligato roles”.’ Both items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Letter, 1 June 1972.

[Sir George Power, operatic D’Oyly Carte tenor in Gilbert and Sullivan productions.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mrs Lane’, inviting her to join a ‘small orchestra’ which his friend Rev. Eric O. Norman is forming.

Author: 
Sir George Power (1846-1928), tenor in early D'Oyly Carte productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, including Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance
Publication details: 
16 April [1920]; on letterhead of 31 Addison Road, Kensington, W.14 [London].
£45.00

2pp, 12mo. Seventeen lines of text, with a few lines and the signature written lengthwise on the second page. On bifolium. Accompanied by the letter’s stamped and postmarked envelope, addressed by Power to ‘Mrs Lane / 67 Addison Road / W14’. (Note that she lives in the same street.) Both letter and envelope in good condition, lightly aged. Letter folded once. Signed ‘Geo. Power’. He explains that a friend of his, Rev. Eric O. Norman’, ‘who is a fine musician & pianist is trying to get together a small orchestra for a concert on the 24th. May’ and he wonders whether she would ‘care to join’.

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