Composer Autograph Manuscripts ($100 - $250)

English composer and singer (1858-1935), whose birth name was Isidore Cohen. Particularly well known as a singer and composer of art songs who later began to compose music for the stage including operas beginning in the 1890s.  Autograph letter signed, 3 pages on a folded 4 page document, size is 4.5 x 6 inches, in excellent condition. 

English composer and singer (1858-1935), whose birth name was Isidore Cohen; well known as a singer and composer of art songs and music for the stage including operas in the early 1890s.  Autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by him and dated November 26, 1908, about music business. Size is 5.4 x 8.3 inches, 1 written page, in overall very good condition.

Italian composer (1867-1955), writer of Neapolitan songs. Nice manuscript for his song "Triste Aprile" signed on the last page. Size is 9.25 x 13 inches, 4 sheets handwritten on 7 pages, in very good condition.

French count and composer (1831-1916), and descendant of the politician and writer Count Joseph Chérade de Montbron (1768-1854). Set of two autograph letters in French signed by him, one of them dated December 19, 1874, addressing the harpist Coraly Gatayes (1840-1913): “…voulez vous me permettre, en souvenir du plaisir que j’ai eu à vous entendre sur la harpe, de vous envoyer une recueil de mélodies pour le chant…”.  Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided for a detailed view). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French composer and chemist (1808-1887). Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him and dated in Marseille, 1866. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, 2 written pages in 1 folded sheet, some rust stains, in overall very good condition.

French composer (1845-1926) member of the “Enfants d’Apollon”. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, no date, addressed to the pianist Albert Hu, concerning music performances. We report an extract as a sample: “…je me trouve avoir jeudi prochain 13 février, chez Mlle [Ivan] Kireïevski (…) une matinée où l’on interprètera plusieurs morceaux de chant de moi. L’idée me vient que ce serait une occasion de faire entendre devant un public toujours nombreux et attentif ma romance pour violon et ma Sérénade executé par Mr. Albert Hû…”.   Sizes is 5.1 x 6.4 inches, 1 page; and 3.8 x 4.8 inches, 3 written pages in one folded sheet; both in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.  

French composer (1824-1879) and music critic. Set of two autograph letters signed by the French musician, as follows:  A. To Mr. Aymard: "... I hope that, despite my absence, you have been well received by the St. Martin's Post...". Size is 4 x 5.2 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition. B. To a director: "... After meditating on the savings that I am very anxious to promote for you, I arrive, for 14 musicians, at the sum of 1420 – (...) It is understood that in this combination I am obliged to write all the music you would need for the Ambigu and to stage and conduct the works...".  Size is 5.1 x 8.1 inches, two written pages in one sheet (front and back), overall rust tone, folds, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an autograph letter signed to Mr. Delaunay as an article for the operetta “Un 1er Avril” (1862), words by Henri Rochefort and Adrien Marx and music by Debillemont. 

German composer (1911-1995), whose works include educational chamber music in modern style, resembling Hindemith. Two autograph music quotes signed by him with a short text and dated 1984 on a music sheet; one of them with 2 bars from his Kammersinfonie (1947) and the other with 5 bars from his Horn sonate (1978).  Size is 7.8 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

English composer (1876-1968), violinist, pianist, and singer. Autograph letter in English signed by her, dated 1936. Size is 5.25 x 7 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet, central fold, in excellent condition.

Italian pianist and composer (1861-1920), a pupil in Naples of Beniamino Cesi and Paolo Serrao.Set of 3 autograph letters in Italian (untranslated) signed by the Italian pianist and composer, two of them dated in 1889, one in 1918, requesting music publisher Giudici & Strada some printed compositions and three manuscripts pieces for piano; requesting the acceptance of the economic offer for his three pieces for piano op. 20; and the last, addressed to a certain Mr. Scotti, concerning some copies of the magazine “Nuova Musica”.  Different sizes and lengths (8 written pages in total), in overall very good condition (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French composer (1898-1962), critic, composer of operas, ballets, orchestral works, and film scores. Autograph document by wich the French composer provides information on his activity and music works for an article to be written about him. The composer mentions his works ‘Rigaudon’, ‘Clef des Songes’, ‘Bourrée’, ’L’éventail de Jeanne’, ‘Poirier de Misère’, ‘Quatre Regrets de Joachim du Bellay’. Among the notes, draft corrections and rewritings Delannoy inscribes a few musical bars. Size is 5.3 x 8.2 inches, four written pages, creases, smudges, corrections, in overall very good condition (see scans provided).

French composer (1836-1891) of opera, ballet, and other works for the stage. Autograph note written on both sides of a card in French (sold untranslated), no date. Size is 4.6 x 3.5 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned photo postcard of the composer. Size is 3.3 x 5.3 inches, silvering around edges, in overall good condition.

French composer (1836-1891) of opera, ballet, and other works for the stage. Autograph note in French (sold untranslated) signed by him -no date mentioned. Size is 4 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1913-2008) and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1957. Beautiful 4-bar autograph music quote from his work "As of a Dream" signed by him. Size is 8 x 3.7 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a small 6-page booklet with his biography and a list of his works. Size is 4 x 9 inches each page, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1846-1922) who composed hundreds of songs, including the famous "Funiculí, funiculá". Autograph note signed, dated in 1919 in London, written in Italian on a card, sold untranslated. Size is 4.5 x 3.5 inches, in excellent condition.

German-born French composer of songs (1840-1898). Autograph note in French (untranslated) signed by him and dated on January 3, 1885. Size is 4.4  7 inches, 1 page, central fold, in excellent condition.

American composer (1915-2005), creator of 11 symphonies, orchestral & chamber music, as well as works for piano and voice. Gorgeous 8-bar autograph music quote from the first movement of his Symphony #3 (1945) signed by him with a short sentiment dated 1989. Size is 7.7 x 4.8 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1873-1969) and organist; creator of numerous sacred works.  Autograph music quote with 6 bars from his "Storm King Mountain" Symphony, signed and dated by him in 1931.  Size is 5.8 x 3.2 inches, overall age-toning, otherwise in very good condition.

Dutch composer and arranger (1868-1954) who, in 1913, was one of the founders and first director of "The Music-Copyright Office" (BUMA). Typed letter in German, signed by him and dated in Amsterdam on 21st September 1936 to Maestro Arturo Toscanini, concerning the foundations of his music theory, Size is 8.5 x 13.8 inches, 2 typed pages in one sheet (front and back), creases, folds, with letterhead, some autograph corrections in ink, in overall very good condition. Translation: “…You don't know me, I got to know you as an artist, and I mean that I learned through that. If you don't have time or too little time for it, just don't read this letter. In the opposite case, read until the matter no longer interests you enough. I believe that presenting things in the simplest form has always been the best way to make one's thoughts clear to others. Especially the modern man is ashamed - why he hardly knows himself - to use this method. And so it is with many a modern composer. For me, the comprehensible musical culture does not go much further than Wagner. In this century, a new element has infiltrated musical culture, which actually cannot be a positive element in the musical sense. Until so far in musical art after good musical education it was possible to get to know a work and to understand it musically (and to love it!). Whether one calls certain modern music atonal, bitonal or pluritonal does not matter. The question is: is it possible to feel this music musically at all? If a composer with talent would dare today to compose and then perform a work that is musically comprehensible like the works of the 19th century, and suppose that this work is even a work of art, this composer would probably be laughed at these days. Snobisme has always existed. Snobisme is as necessary as bacterial colonies in the human body. Snobisme and criticism have in and of themselves no artistic form, they are however indispensable in musical society, because the development of the young creative musician will not flourish if the process of development is too smooth. The more this process is hindered, the more he learns to understand that he can only become an artist through long and diligent study. In art there is an analogue for what in nature is called biological effect. I will assume this with an example. In the beginning there must be the belief, thank God, that this time still believes in Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Wagner and the good that the other excellent composers have left us. The present listeners, who are not musically educated in the sphere of the 19th century, are nevertheless able to enjoy this beautiful art, although they are not aware that the key point in the development of this artistic enjoyment is faith…”. 2 pp. In-4.

Austrian composer (1861-1919), noted for his role in bringing Western music to Japan during the late 19th century. Rare 5-bar autograph music quote on cardboard from a Doppelfuge for piano signed by him and dated April 25, 1915. Size is 4.5 x 3.3 inches, in excllent condition.

German composer (1878-1942), musicologist, and music critic. Typed letter in German signed by him, dated 1922, whereas General Secretary of the Festivals Internationaux à Zurich, Draber wrote to the director of La Scala in Milan [Angelo Scandiani] inviting him to the concerts organized by the Comité in May.  Size is 8.2 x 10.8 inches, central fold, storage holes, in excellent condition.

Argentine pianist (1882-1925) and composer, a pupil of Alberto Williams.  Autograph quote with 2 bars of music from Wagner's Siegfried, signed and dated by him in Buenos Aires, 1917.  Size is 5.5 x 3.6 inches, in very good condition.

French composer (1776-1858), singer, a pupil of Luigi Cherubini and Daniel Auber.Set of two rare autograph notes in French (untranslated) signed by her, as follows:  A. Dated [1831], to the composer Stephen Glover (1812-1870), who was a popular composer of songs, ballads, and duets in that time. Size is 4.7 x 7.2 inches, folds, in very good condition. B. N.D., to Monsieur Gévin, thanking him. Size is 5 x 7.7 inches, folds, creases, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a typed biography of the composer. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French composer (1884-1940) and pianist. 8-bar autograph music quote from his work "Prière sur l'Acropole" signed by him, dated in Paris, November 12, 1923, on the verso of a printed document titled "Bulletin de Déclaration" of the SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique). Size is 11 x 8.5 inches, restoration along the central margin, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a typed letter signed for a SACEM deputy, dated November 26, 1923, 1 page, envelope included as well.

Belgian cellist and composer (1877-1952), also was director of the Conservatory in Dijon. Dumas was a gifted cellist and created pieces for the instrument, as well as for the piano. Autograph letter signed, undated, to a friend, in French, sold untranslated. One page, 8.4 x 10.6 inches, folds, minor cracks, in overall very good condition.

Dutch composer (1822-1875), violist, conductor, and music pedagogue. Set of two autograph letters in German signed by him, as follows: A. Dated in Detmold, April 15, 1854, to the music publisher Schloss in Cologne, asking for the possibility of publishing some of his songs, and mentioning the concert of the 4th of April 1854 at the Court opera theatre where he performed pieces from his recently completed opera “Blanca Siffredi”. Size is 9 x 11 inches, 1 page, folds, smudges, creases, folds, overall age-toning, in good condition. Translation into Italian included. B. Dated in Hamburg, March 10, 1857, to the director of a magazine, asking to announce the success of his opera at the Hamburg city theater. Size is 5.1 x 7.8 inches, folds, in very good condition. Translation into Italian included. To obtain sufficient income, he left for Germany in the summer of 1853. After being Kapellmeister in Halle, Linz, and Detmold he took up a similar position at the Municipal Theater in Hamburg. After three years he left for Nuremberg to be associated with the city theater from 1858 to 1874 where he succeeded in getting Richard Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg performed.  

American composer (1926-1972), organist, and conductor who was primarily active during the 1940s to 1960s. Printed score for his work for organ Peaceful Waters signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment on the cover. Size is 9.25 x 12.25 inches, 4 pages, in excellent condition.

French composer (1808-1877) and musicologist. Lot of four short autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him. Letters are dated between 1839 and 1859 and are addressed to music-related people such as Alfred de Beauchesne (1803-1876), secretary at the Conservatoire and the music critic Alexis Azevedo (1813-1875), concerning music performance programs, and a performance of Halevy’s La Juive in 1844.  Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French opera composer (1863-1919) who won the Prix de Rome in 1888 for his cantata "Velléde"; his most famous opera "Le Juif Polonais" premiered at the Opéra-Comique in 1900. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated 1897, addressed to the composer Vincent d’Indy, concerning the latter’s work “Fervaal” (1897): “…Je vous serai bien obligé de me faire envoyer la partition de “Fervaal” au plus vite – Envoyez moi aussi, sans faute, les notes très detaillés sur votre oeuvre…”  Open size Size is 9 x 6.9 inches, 2 written pages in one folded sheet, folds, creases, in overall very good condition.

French opera composer (1863-1919) who won the Prix de Rome in 1888 for his cantata "Velléde"; his most famous opera "Le Juif Polonais" was produced at the Opéra-Comique in 1900. Autograph manuscript probably with text related to one of his operas. 7 pages, in French, sold untranslated. Each page is 4.3 x 6.9 in size, in excellent condition.

French opera composer (1863-1919), winner of the Prix de Rome (1888) for his cantata "Velléde"; his most famous opera "Le Juif Polonais" was produced at the Opéra-Comique in 1900. Set of three autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, as follows: A. July 5, 1893. To the composer Carlos de Mesquita (1864-1953): “…nous verrions tous deux ce que je présenterai au Conservatoire cette année…”. On a postcard.  B. Paris, October 3, 1907. To the composer and pianist Michel-Maurice Lévy (1883-1965), concerning: “…votre beau projet de glorifier la mémoire de l’illustre musicien Edouard Grieg…”.  C. Paris, March 21, 1910. To an editor in chief, concerning a musical controversy: “…Mon excellent ami et collaborateur Pierre Louÿs [1870-1925, Belgian poet] a déjà fait justice – dans une lettre que vous avez bien voulu publier – du sans-gêne de M. M. [Hans, journalist] Liebstockl et [Max von] Oberleithner. À mon tour, je proteste énergiquement entre le procédé de quelques compositeurs d’outre-Rhin qui s’approprient, sans y être autorisés, tous les sujets d’opéras français qui leur conviennent. Il y a, en matière de proprieté littéraire, un droit de priorité est indiscutable…”.  Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.  

Austrian composer (1874-1949) 4-bar autograph music quote from a piece signed and inscribed by him to Irma Weiss, dated 1912, on the verso of a photo postcard with his image. Size is 5.3 x 3.3 inches, some smudge over ink-writing, in overall excellent condition.

American composer (1872-1952), conductor, educator, and music publisher. A composer part of the Indianist movement, his works reflect his interest in a personal, esoteric form of spirituality.  Typed letter to a fan, an important autograph collector, dated in New York, 1949. Typed on a page with his letterhead (his signature, printed in blue ink), signed in ink by him at the bottom. Size is 8 x 10 inches, 1 page, storage holes, background stain, in very good condition.

Italian composer (1764-1826) and Chapel Master in London, where he lived from 1790 on and performed his most notable works. Letter of exchange in French dated in Bologna, 1794, concerning payment of £ 15 to the merchant Gourdas and Hoofstetter in London, signed by the notary John Hawkins and with his dry seal. Size is 7.1 x 9 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), creases, folds, some stains, in overall good condition.

French composer (1872-1948), also known for his contributions to the Grove Dictionary of Music.  Handwritten signed postcard, written in French and sold untranslated. Size is 3.5 x 4.5 inches, slight rust (mostly on verso) and one small smudge on letter, otherwise in very good condition. 

German composer (1860-1930), a pupil of Julius Schulhoff and Edmund Kretscher in Dresden, teacher at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin and the Chicago Musical College. Autograph letter in German signed by him, dated August 19, 1898, addressed to a music critic, concerning articles he published. Size is 6.2 x 8.5 inches, 3 written pages, central fold, overall rust tone, in very good condition.

German-American composer (1922-2009). Autograph letter signed, 1 page, dated in 1979, written in German, sold untranslated. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 6 x 8.25 inches, one fold, in excellent condition. 

Czech-born composer (1879-1972), creator of operettas, songs, and piano pieces. Autograph music quote on an album page with 2 bars from "The Vagabond King" (1925) -one of his most popular works.  Music quote is mounted on a mat together with a photograph of the composer. Total size is 7.75 x 11.75 inches, music quote is 5.25 x 3.3 inches (visible window size), in excellent condition.

German-born American composer (1905-1995), widely known for his synagogue and other Jewish religious music.  Nice card with 5 bars of music from an unknown piece, signed by him.  Card also has a message on verso signed by the composer as well. Size is 3.4 x 2 inches, creases from top to bottom over the left border, inscribed by another hand in red ink, minor stains, in good condition.

Italian composer (1851-1923), organist, conductor, and director of the Parma Conservatory and Milan Conservatory. Set of 5 autograph letters in Italian (untranslated) signed by him, two of them dated 1894, a note dated 1913, addressed to different people -Amilcare Ponchielli among them- about different matters. Different sizes, lengths, formats, and conditions (see scans provided). SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Swiss-born American pianist (1877-1972), and also conductor, composer, and music educator.  Score of his song "Love in a Cottage" signed and inscribed by him over the upper-right corner of the front cover dated 1919. Size is 10.6 x 13.5 inches, 6 pages including covers, some cracks, loose front cover, in overall very good condition.

Peruvian composer (1873-1953). Autograph letter in English with the letterhead of the Academia Nacional de Música "Alcedo" signed by him, dated in Lima, 1940. Size is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 1 page written on both sides, in excellent condition.

Belgian composer (1828-1908) and musicologist, his output was mostly vocal music.  Autograph music quote signed by him, dated in 1866, 4 bars from an unknown piece, size is 6.8 x 4.75 inches, mounting traces on verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

American composer (1868-1928) and collector of folk songs.  Autograph music quote with 4 bars and lyrics of his "Pirate Song" signed by him.  Size is 9.5 x 3.6 inches, two folds, overall age-toning, in very good condition.

Argentine composer (1916-1983), regarded as one of the most important composers of the Americas in the XX century. Card signed by him matted with his unsigned photograph, inscribed to American composer Christopher Rouse. Card is 4.5 x 3 inches (visible window size), photo is 2.75 x 3.8 inches (visible window size), for a total size of 7.5 x 11 inches, in excellent condition.