Composer Autograph Manuscripts ($100 - $250)

French composer (1771-1832), dramatist, and military. Autograph letter signed by him, dated May 21, 1809, to the French dramatist and novelist Hyacinthe Dorvo (1768-1839): "... My poor Dorvo, I have very bad news to hear. Yesterday I went to our meeting of Bretons on leaving you, and as the elders arrived in the room destined for you, I was talking about you, I had prepared the ways quite well, several had promised me to confer with the president (...) but what we did not foresee was an invitation made by our commissioners to Mr. de la Fayette..." Size is 4.6 x 7 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), folds, creases, in overall very good condition. Envelope included.

French composer and music publisher (1813-1895). Autograph letter in French signed by him, dated in Paris, August 1, 1885, to the music publisher in Turin Giudici & Strada concerning an exchange proposal:  "... We have been told about the works of an author you publish - G.[iuseppe] Capitani - Would you be willing to exchange an example for us of the works of this author for one from any of the publications by Ketten, Thomé, David - composers whose works are sold in Italy -...".  Size is 5 x 8.1 inches, printed letterhead, 1 written page, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an autograph letter signed by him, dated June 6, 1864, by a secretary’s hand, addressed to the music publisher Giudici & Strada in Turin, concerning the sale of the royalties of Adolf Gutmann’s (1819-1882, German composer) “au bord du ruisseau”, Op. 17. 

French composer (1846-1932), author, and writer.  Autograph music quote on an album page, with 2 bars from an unknown piece for voice and piano, signed by him.  Size is 7 x 4.3 inches, overall age-toning, in excellent condition.

English composer and conductor (1822-1896). Autograph letter in English signed by him, dated Oct. 11, 1880, to the editor of “The Girls’ Own Paper”: «...Herewith I enclose my article on part-singing and shall be obliged by seeing a proof before it is issued. I shall be here all this week, and will return it on the day I receive it...». Size is 3.9 x 5.9 inches, 1 page, printed letterhead, some rust stains over upper-left corner, some creases at the bottom, in overall very good condition (see scan provided).

English composer and conductor (1822-1896). Autograph letter signed, dated in 1879. Written in English. 2 pages on one sheet of paper, size is 4 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1932-2015), best known for his opera "Mourning Becomes Electra" which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1967. Music quote with 3 bars from his opera "Mourning Becomes Electra" signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment. Size is 5.1 x 7.6 inches, central fold, in excellent condition.  

American composer (1878-1963), member of the Indianist movement in American music and known primarily for his song “By the Waters of Minnetonka”. Typed letters signed, both dated in 1947, one in one page and the other in two pages, discussing business. One sized 8.25 x 11 inches and the other one slightly smaller, in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

German composer and theater conductor (1866-1946), considered the "father" of the Berlin operetta. 2-bar autograph music quote from his operetta "Lysistrata" (1902) signed by him, dated 1936. Size is 8.5 x 11.25 inches, in excellent condition.

German composer (1866-1946), considered as the father of the Berlin operetta. Set of two typed letters in German signed by him, as follows:  A. Berlin, Nov. 26, 1936, to Wilhelm Rode the famous bass and artistic director of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin: “...I would like to thank you once again in this way for your kind remembrance on the occasion of my 70th birthday. The warm, sincere tone in which you have clothed your beautiful words has touched me deeply and that you have so much love for the great art, for one of the small art, is a wonderful sign of your humanity and kindness. Your dear memory as a Dutchman will always have a place of honor in my home...”. 1 page, In-4. With the composer’s embossed letterhead. Archive holes. B. Berlin, Jan. 17, 1937, to Wilhelm Rode (1887-1959): “...Thank you very much for sending the New Year's Eve picture, which is excellent and will be a lovely reminder of you and the successful evening. I thank you, especially for the kind reception in your house; I would have stolen the flowers, but they were firmly attached with wire, - as a precaution - but composers do not steal flowers!...”. 1 page, in-4. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY

English composer (1809-1886), conductor, pianist, and singer. Autograph letter signed, dated in 1875, written in English. Four pages, each one sized 5 x 8 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1915-2001) best known as half of a song-writing duo with Ray Evans that specialized in songs composed for films. Five different autograph music quotes from 5 of his songs such as Silver Bells (1951), Mona Lisa (1950), Que Sera Sera (1956), Bonanza (1959), and Mister Ed (1961) on both sides of a sheet. Size is 5 x 3 inches, in excellent condition.

Estonian-born American composer and teacher (1903-1976). Autograph letter in English signed by him, dated July 11, 1944, to the Hungarian pianist and composer Ernö Balogh (1897-1989): «...Although we are in the country we think with envy of your air-conditioned apartment (...) You will be pleased to know that both business transactions which you so kindly sponsored are brought to a successful end. Both little pieces go to DELKAS and I went to ASCAP. Besides, I am engaged on my latest business, the concertino, which is progressing slowly but steadily...». Size is 7.8 x 9.8 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), folds, otherwise in excellent condition.

Argentine composer (1881-1948) whose works were inspired by native music and was the founder of the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires.  Autograph music quote with 2 bars of music on a postcard, signed by him, dated in Buenos Aires, 1904.  Size is 5.5 x 3.5 inches, a couple of ink stains over the right border not affecting the autograph, otherwise in excellent condition.

German composer (1902-1985). Album page with an autograph music quote with two bars of music from an unknown piece, inscribed and signed by him below the signature of soprano Maria Ivogun. On verso there is a signature and a quote by the German violinist and bandleader Marek Weber (1888-1964), dated in 1932- Page is 8.1 x 10.25 inches, in very good condition.

German composer (1902-1985), mostly known for his opera "Tailor Wibbel" (1938).  Music quote with 6 bars of music from an unknown piece, signed, inscribed, and dated by him in Munich, 1966.  His photograph appears on the back.  Size is 4.1 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Polish composer, conductor and author (1913-2004).  Signed card with 1 bar of music composed by him, dated in 1987, size is 3.25 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Scottish composer (1847-1935) and also teacher and conductor, known for his chamber music, oratorios, and folk music.  Autograph music quote with 7 bars of music from his opera "Colomba" (1883) signed and dated by him in London, 1930.  Size is 5.7 x 3.25 inches, in very good condition.

Italian composer (1882-1973), musicologist, music teacher, and editor.  Autograph letter signed by him, written in Italian (sold untranslated), dated in Treviso, Italy, 1960.  Size is 8.75 x 11.3 inches, central fold, some small cracks, in good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a typed letter signed by his wife Anna Malipiero, dated in Treviso, Italy, 1935.  Size is 8.5 x 10.9 inches, folds, crack over the upper-right corner, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian composer (1882-1973), musicologist, music teacher, and editor.  Wonderful autograph music quote signed by him, and dated in 1920, with some bars of music from his work "Sette Canzoni".  Size is 4.75 x 6.9 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

American composer (1885-1981), pianist, actress, and singer, whose real name was Gussie Zuckermann. Album page with an autograph music quote signed and inscribed by her, dated in Miami, 1940. Size is 6.75 x 4.8 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian conductor and cellist (1848-1921). Two autograph music quotes signed by him and dated in Venezia, 1898. The first is 2-bar long from his opera "Ero e Leandro" (1897) and the other is 4-bar long from his cantata "Isaias" (1887). Size is 8.2 x 5.3 inches, folds and some dirt over borders, otherwise in very good condition.

Italian conductor and cellist (1848-1921).  Autograph music quote signed on a card, dated in Boston, 1903, with 2 bars of music from his work "Ero e Leandro" (1897).  Size is 4 x 2.5 inches, in very good condition.

American composer, conductor, and arranger (1924-1994), well-known for his works for film and television. Signed score for the song of Love Story, for piano solo, 6 pages in total. Mancini signed on the cover, over his photo. In excellent condition.

Spanish violinist (1883-1971) and composer, having excelled in both.  Printed score of Paganini's Caprice XXIV signed by the Spanish violinist on the first page with a short music quote from his symphonic poem "Nova Catalonia".  Full score with all pages and covers, size is 9.4 x 12.25 inches, repaired banding, in very good condition.

American singer-songwriter (b.1943). Autograph score facsimile (printed) for the lyrics and music of his own song "One Voice" boldly hand signed by him at the end of the score.  Size is 6.4 x 10.9 inches, 2 pages, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1831-1902) whose works focused mostly on opera and song. Autograph music quote with 6 bars from Act 1 of his famous opera "Ruy Blas".  Size is 7.25 x 4.8 inches, 1 page with the letterhead of the Regia Accademia di Santa Cecilia, mounting traces on verso, in excellent condition.

Italian opera composer (1831-1902).    Autograph music quote on an album page, with 5 bars from his opera Romeo e Giulietta (premiered in 1865), signed and dated by him in Rome, 1886.  Size is 8.25 x 5.3 inches, very even age-toning, in excellent condition.

French composer (1842-1924), mostly known for his operas and other vocal music.  Autograph music quote on a small print with his image, with 4 bars from his opera "Daphnis et Chloé", signed and dated by him in Paris, 1909.  Size is 7.1 x 9 inches, minor damage on corners, scattered rust stains, in overall very good condition.

Italian opera composer (1863-1945), mostly remembered today for his operas "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "L'Amico Fritz" among other creations. Autograph music quote on an album page signed by the composer with 4 bars from his opera "Iris", dated in Palermo in 1920.  Size is 4.75 x 6.75 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: 1 unsigned postcard photograph of the composer, 3.25 x 5.25 inches, small crease on top right, otherwise in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

French composer (1822-1884), whose career focused mostly on operas, creating about 20 of them. Autograph letter signed in Paris, 1878, in French and sold untranslated, 2 pages. Size is 5.25 x 8.1 inches, in excellent condition.

French composer (1822-1884), whose career focused mostly on operas, creating about 20 of them. Autograph note signed, 1 page written in French, sold with an English translation (see scan). Original item is sized 4 x 5 inches, in very good condition.

English-born composer and organist (1879-1973), who lived in America most of his life. Printed score of his work "The Song of America, a Historical Pageant for Mixed Voices with Orchestra or Piano", signed and inscribed by him on the cover, with a short sentiment. Ninety-six pages, sized 6.75 x 10.5 inches, in very good condition.

German composer (1882-1964).  Autograph music quote on a card, with a typed sentiment, signed by the composer in 1930, with 4 bars of music from an unknown piece; ink-stamped on verso with his name.  Size is 5.75 x 4.2 inches, ink stains over the upper-left corner, in very good condition.

Scottish composer (1847-1935), principal of The Royal Academy of Music from 1887 to 1924. Fine photo postcard signed by him with a short sentiment, dated in 1906, plus a 3-bar music quote from "Benedictus" also signed by him.  Size is 3.3 x 5.4 inches, in excellent condition.

Belgian composer (1784-1851) and horn player, Director of music at the Paris Opera between 1867 and 1870. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated June 17, 1842, addressed to the Belgian composer Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul (1790-1875), concerning a music work: “…pour le coup je ne sais ce que ton silence signifie, si ce que nous t’avons envoyé n’est pas bien, tu devrais nous le dire. J’ai vu ici cahou, il attend lui même ce qu’il doit graver; ses presses, ses ouvriers, tout cela attend, il ne sait a quoi attribuer tout ce grand retard…”. Size is 7 x 9.1 inches, 1 written page, folds, creases, with letter head of "Conservatoire de Musique de Gand", missing piece of paper over the left margin, in overall good condition.

American composer and pianist (b.1949). Printed score for the song "A Whole New World", from Disney's film "Aladdin" (1992), signed by Menken on the front cover. Size is  9 x 12 inches, 8 pages, in excellent condition.

American composer (1923-1983), teacher, and administrator. Lengthy autograph 5-bar music quote from his Symphony #7 (composed in 1963, published in 1967) signed by him at the bottom with a quote and dated July 13, 1981. Size is 8.3 x 11 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned half-tone photograph of the composer (probably a clip from a magazine or book) with his facsimiled (printed) signature.  Size is 3.3 x 4.4 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian-American composer and librettist (1911-2007), who created several popular operas. Signed score for this radio opera in one act, published by G. Ricordi, 1943. Signed and inscribed by the composer on the title page, ownership marks, 180 numbered pages, 8 x 11 inches, minor crack on front cover, otherwise in very good condition.

French composer (1853-1929), who was also an important conductor and impresario. Large-sized autograph music quote signed by him with 17 bars from an unknown piece. Size is 6.3 x 19.75 inches, central fold, rust stains, overall in very good condition.

French composer (1853-1929), who was also an important conductor and impresario. Note signed in French, dated in 1884, (sold untranslated) and autograph music quote signed for an unknown pieace. Note is one page sized 4.25 x 6.8 inches and music quote is 5 x 3.6 inches, both in excellent condition.

Spanish composer (1869-1921), musicologist, music critic, and diplomat. Set of three very fine autograph letters in Italian (untranslated) signed by him, as follows:  A. N.D. commenting on different projects and performances of beloved works. 3 pp. In-8. With letterhead. B. Dated September 22, 1896, about some readings he has done of articles, jokes, and others appearing in the newspaper "Lega Lombarda". 2 pp. 1⁄2. In-8. With letterhead. C. Dated in Roma, June 29, 1897, criticizing the quality of music he listened to while being in Rome. Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided for details). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Lot of 11 letters (4 handwritten and 7 typed) by modern composers including Walter Kaufmann (1907-1984), Francis Thorne (1922-2017), Robert Starer (1924-2001), Leslie Bassett (1923-2016), Karl Holler (1907-1987), Erwin Heilner (1908-1991), Wallace Berry (1928-1991), Felix Labunski (1892-1979), Leroy Robertson (1896-1971), Violeta Dinescu (b.1953) and Sydney Vale (1931-2008).  Various sizes, most are 1 page letters, in very good condition.   SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian composer (1875-1952), well-known for his opera L'Amore Dei Tre Re (The Love of the Three Kings), which was part of the standard repertoire decades ago. Autograph music quote signed by him with 2 bars from his opera "Giovanni Gallurese" (1905), dated in New York, 1925. Size is 4 x 6.2 inches, central fold, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned photograph of the composer.

Italian composer (1875-1952), well-known for his opera L'Amore dei Tre Re (The Love of the Three Kings), which is part of the standard repertoire.  Autograph music quote on a postcard signed by him and dated in 1916, with 11 bars of music from an aria from his famous opera "L'Amore dei Tre Re" (1913), inscribed.  Size is 5.4 x 3.5 inches, creases on three corners, otherwise in very good condition.

American composer (1893-1969), educator, and author, who composed music for theater, film, ballet and orchestra, best known for his folk opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" (1956). Autograph music quote with 4 bars from his orchestral suite "The Pageant of P.T. Barnum" (1924), signed and inscribed by him, dated in 1945.  Size is 8.9 x 3.6 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1893-1969), author of the opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe". Typed letter in English signed by him, dated January 31, 1944, to fellow composer John Edmonds: «...We forwarded to you last week the salvaged volume of your songs. Madame [Maria] Maximovitch [Russian soprano] thinks you are very unwise to take it away from her (...) However I gave her the "Faucon" (...) I think you have one of the finest gifts of songwriting that I have ever encountered and I think you will not only gain in confidence but will have tremendous success as the songs are gradually discovered...». Size is 8 x 10.3 inches, 1 page, Columbia University letterhead, folds, rust stains, creases, in overall very good condition.

Czech composer (1878-1944), violinist, and teacher. Autograph music quote with 2 bars from his work "Kisnet" signed by him with a short sentiment, dated in Munich, 1912. Size is 7.6 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition

Italian composer and conductor (1858-1941), especially of opera, whose most famous work was done in the period 1890-1920, both in Europe and South America.  Autograph music quote on an album page with 8 bars of his work "Lontano - Pensiero Melodico per Cello e Pianoforte" (1890), signed, inscribed, and dated by him in 1916.  Size is 8 x 4.7 inches, central fold, wrinkles, otherwise in very good condition.