Composer Autograph Manuscripts

French writer (1802-1870), music critic, and singing professor at the Marseille Conservatoire.Set of two autograph letters in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, as follows:  A. Marseille, January 12, 1864, asking many questions to a gentleman, among them: "... Would you be so kind as to give me the answers to the following questions: (1) Is the Teatro de la Scala subsidized by the city or by the state? 2° Is the room given free of charge to the director and if not, what is the rent of the room?...".  Size is 5.1 x 8 inches, 4 written pages, folds, creases, evident tear at the center, rust stains, in overall very good condition. B. Marseille, February 27, 1864, probably to the same gentleman of the previous letter: "... I confess to you that I was in great need of this information for the questions I deal with every day in the Semaphore, especially now that the decree on the freedom of theatres in France has just thrown some disturbance into it...".  Size is 5 x 8 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and verso), in overall very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

English composer, pianist, conductor, and educator (1816-1875), who had a significant influence on English music. Bennett created piano music, chamber music, orchestral, choral music, and songs. Fragment from an autograph note, hand-written and signed by him. Size is 4.5 x 5.25 inches, some folds, in very good condition.

English composer (1816-1875), pianist, conductor, and educator. Set of two autograph letters signed by him, dated on November 1st, 1854, and June 12th, 1862.  Size is 4.4 x 7 inches each, 2 pages written on both sides of a sheet each; folds, in excellent condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

English composer, pianist, conductor and educator (1816-1875), who had a significant influence on English music. Bennett created piano music, chamber music, orchestral, coral music and songs. Signature cut, hand-written and signed by him with signature at the top. Size is 3 x 3.75 inches, some rips and tears, priced accordingly. 

French composer and songwriter (1801-1855), he wrote Ma Normandie, used as the National Anthem of Jersey and sometimes as the unofficial Norman Anthem. Autograph note signed, six lines written in French (sold untranslated), dated in 1853. Size is 5.1 x 8 inches, in excellent condition.

Russian-born American composer and violinist (1900-1953), creator of 4 symphonies and an opera, among other works such as concertos. He was a distinguished violinist, worked 7 years as the first violinist of the NY Philharmonic. Autograph manuscript with 2 full pages in separate sheets, with music for a cadenza to Mozart´s "Exsultate Jubilate" (K165) for soprano, inscribed to Russian soprano Maria Kurenko (1890-1980), who signed and inscribed this manuscript on the back of page 2. Each page is 9.4 x 12.5 inches, minor cracks, but overall in very good condition.

Austrian composer (1885–1935), creator of works that combined Mahlerian Romanticism with his own of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique.  Signed album page, with a short sentiment, dated (apparently in 1923). Album page has 3 other signatures (2 right above are in pencil), unidentified signers, and one signature on verso by famous Dutch conductor Willem Mengelberg. Size is 5 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition.  ALSO INCLUDED is a copy of a photo of him by Fayer, nice to frame with this item if desired.

American composer (1921-1994), who created orchestral works, including symphonies and concertos and 2 operas. Autograph musical quote signed, with 4 bars of notes, size is 3.5 x 11 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1925-2003), noted for his experimental music and experimental work in electronic music.  Autograph note on an album page signed by him with a short sentiment, dated 1971.  Size is 5.8 x 4.8 inches, in excellent condition.

Russian-American composer and lyricist (1888-1989), considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. Fine envelope signed by him.  Size is 6.5 x 3.6 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned press photograph of the composer by AP News, shown performing at the piano at age 72.  Size is 6.8 x 9 inches, large crease over the lower-right corner, in very good condition.

French romantic composer (1803-1869), best known for some of his orchestral works such as Symphonie Fantastique, and his operas Benvenuto Cellini, and Les Troyens. Autograph note in French signed by him (no year indicated) to his biographer Roger Duchene about visiting plans. Size is 3.9 x 4.7 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

French romantic composer (1803-1869), best known for some of his orchestral works such as Symphonie Fantastique, and his operas Benvenuto Cellini, and Les Troyens. Autograph note in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, to Mr. Gye, manager of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, about the music business.  Size is 4.3 x 6.75 inches, in excellent condition.

French composer (1803-1869), French composer (1799-1862), and French composer (1803-1856). Wonderful handwritten document dated in Paris, France, on January 22th, 1849, signed by many artists and personalities about a meeting to organize a gala party by Comité de l'Association des Artistes with its letterhead. Signers include the three stars French composers Hector Berlioz, Fromental Halevy, Adolph Adam, Belgian playwright Isidore Taylor (1793-1879), pianist Pierre Zimmerman (1785-1853), French doctor and zoologist Achille Comte (1802-1866), French painter Francois Picot (1786-1868), French violinist Jean-Delphin Alard (1815-1888), French scholar Paul Lacroix (1806-1884), Belgian violinist Jean-Baptiste Tolbecque (1797-1869), French politician Achille Juvinal (1810-1875), French novelist Emmanuel Gonzales (1815-1889), French painter Charles Marie Bouton (1781-1853), and others. Size is 8.25 x 10.75 inches, 1 page, minor folds, rust stains, in overall excellent condition. Remarkable collection of signatures of important artists and personalities in different fields of the first half of the XIX Century.

French composer (1798-1876) and pianist. Autograph letter in French signed by him, no date, addressed to a certain Mr. Verny, as follows: "... I can't go to your house tomorrow, and not Adam's on Friday. Let's make the most beautiful arrangements for Friday, March 20th, and unfortunately, Mademoiselle Venu's indisposition has come through..." Size is 5.2 x 8 inches, 1 page, folds, creases, some ink spotted dots, in overall very good condition.

French composer (1784-1832). Set of two signed documents by the French composer, as follows: A. Certificate dated 23.5.1828 signed by the composer and the Royal Notary François Dubois to be used only for the veteran's fund of the Royal Academy of Music. Size is 6.7 x 27.5 inches, blind-stamped over the left border, in very good condition. B. Printed certificate valid completed by hand as a pension, dated 1828, granting the amount of 65f on a total of 300f to the composer. Size is 9.2 x 7.3 inches, folds, creases, few smudges, in overall very good condition. SOLD ONLY TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French composer (1798-1835), harpist, and music teacher, a pupil of François-Joseph Naderman. Autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by her, with postal marks indicating March 27, 1832, sent to a certain Mr. Stephen about an appointment for a rehearsal.  Size is 4.5 x 7.1 inches, 1 written page, some creases, folds, in overall very good condition.

French composer (1895-1953) and music critic. Fine set of 3 score manuscripts as follows:  2 manuscripts for his work "Bajazet" (7 pages and 4 pages each), and 1 manuscript for his work for "Clavecin et Chant" (3 pages). Each one of them is handwritten and signed by the composer.   Each one's size is 10.6 x 13.75 inches, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American composer and organist (1882-1972). Autograph note signed by him, dated May 19, 1951, rejecting the request for a recommendation letter. Size is 5.4 x 8.5 inches, folds, minor stains, with letterhead, in overall very good condition.

English composer (1787-1855), who became famous for his song "Home Sweet Home" and other vocal works. Autograph note in English signed by him, dated August 14, 1930, to William Watts  (Secretary of the Philharmonic Society in London): “...As I left the neighborhood of Vauxhall, please, for the present to address to me at...”. Size is 4.3 x 7.1 inches, 1 page, folds, overall rust stains, folds, creases, in overall very good condition.

English composer (1787-1855), who became famous for his song "Home Sweet Home" and other vocal works. Signature cut (probably from a letter or note) mounted on a small piece of hard cardboard. Size is 4.5 x 1.7 inches, in very good condition.

French composer (1838-1875), best known for his operas Carmen and Les Pecheurs de Perles in a career cut short by his early death. Autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, addressed to one of his friends. Size is 6.75 x 425 inches, 1 sheet written on both sides, jagged and embossed borders, in very good condition.

French composer (1838-1875), best known for his operas Carmen and Les Pecheurs de Perles in a career cut short by his early death. Autograph letter written in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, addressed to his librettist Louis Gallet mentioning his opera "Djamileh", no date but circa 1871.  Size is 5.3 x 8.2 inches, central fold, minor stains, in very good condition.

Star French composer (1838-1875) of the Romantic era; best known for his opera "Carmen" -one of the most popular and frequently performed works of the entire opera repertoire, in a career cut short by his early death. Short autograph note written in French (sold with transcription and translation) about an appointment signed by the composer.  Size is 5.25 x 6.5 inches, 1 page, folds, otherwise in excellent condition.

German opera conductor and composer (1871-1958), he was in charge of the (later) Berlin State Opera and other opera houses in Europe. His business card signed by him with a short 3-bar music quote, dated 1913. Size is 4.6 x 2.3 inches, overall age-toning, otherwise in excellent condition.

American composer (1905-1964), lyricist, and librettist. Autograph note in English signed by him, not dated [1943], addressed to the columnist Leonard Lyons, about personal matters. Size is 5.6 x 4.4 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a contemporary velox of a V-mail letter to Lyons dated Oct. 24, 1944, describing his efforts in the army during the war, mentioning William Wyler, Jimmy Cannon, and Ernie Pyle. Highly entertaining.

American composer (1905-1964), lyricist, and librettist. Card signed by Blitzstein himself with a short sentiment. Size is 5 x 3 inches, in excellent condition.

American composer (1905-1964), known for his musical directed by Orson Welles in 1937 and his brilliant adaptation of Kurt Weil' "Three Penny Opera".  Short typed letter signed by him, dated May 3, 1953, to Edwin Hughes, of the National Music Council: «...Ordinarily I should be happy to join in the symposium you have outlined in your letter of April 28 to me. But I am in the country (where your note reached me), finishing my new opera. I fear it will be impossible for me to do anything else for several months...». Blitzstein was probably working on an opera titled Reuben, Reuben (1955).  Size is 8.4 x 10.8 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

American composer (1905-1964), lyricist, and librettist; American composer (1900-1990), and American conductor and composer (1918-1990). Page from a program mounted on soft paper for a concert of the New York City Symphony Orchestra in October 1956 performing diverse works including Blitzstein's Symphony, signed by the composer himself, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, and David Diamond. Size is 6.7 x 9.75 inches, program page only (not full program), minor stains, otherwise in very good condition.

French composer (1775-1834) mainly of operas, who had an important career and was often called "the French Mozart".  Autograph letter signed and written by him in French (sold untranslated), no date.  Size is 5.3 x 8.25 inches, 1 folio (2 pages written), some decoloration on ink, otherwise in very good condition.

French composer (1775-1834) mainly of operas, often called "the French Mozart".  Autograph letter in French (sold with an English translation) signed by the composer, addressed to Mr. Sevrin, director of performances at the French Ministry of War.  Size is 4.6 x 7.2 inches, 1 page, in very good condition. A second page is used as envelope.

French composer (1775-1834), his career focused mostly on opera and has been often called “the French Mozart”, his most famous opera was “La Dame Blanche”, 1825. Note signed in French, sized 5 x 4 inches. Adhesive tape on verso, showing rust on front, otherwise in good condition, not affecting the signature. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned postcard, with a portrait of the composer. WATCH BOIELDIEU´S HARP CONCERTO (performed by young Alisa Sadikova Conductor: Mikhail Golikov Orchestras: Lemberger Soloists from Ukraine)

Italian composer (1842-1918), poet, librettist, and journalist; best known today for his libretti and his opera "Mefistofele". Autograph letter in Italian (sold untranslated) signed by him, no year indicated. Size is 5.2 x 8.5 inches, 1 page, central fold, some mat burning on the borders, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned photo postcard of the composer. Size is 4.1 x 5.3 inches, in very good condition.

Italian composer (1842-1918), poet, librettist, and journalist; best known today for his libretti and his opera "Mefistofele". His personal card signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment. Size is 3.3 x 1.8 inches, in excellent condition.

French musician teacher (1887-1979) and conductor, who taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century. Autograph letter in English signed by her, about personal matters. Size is 5.9 x 7.4 inches, in excellent condition.

French musician teacher (1887-1979) and conductor, who taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century. Her personal card signed by her as "N.B." with a short note in French (untranslated). Size is 3 x 2.1 inches, in excellent condition.

British conductor (1889-1983), whose early engagements included the Royal Opera House and Sergei Diaghilev's ballet company. Typed letter in English signed by him, dated September 24th, 1965, to Peter Wiener: «...It is indeed splendid that you have kept the flag flying for all this time, and your 21-year-old child is to have such a very exciting year...». Size is 6.7 x 7.8 inches, 1 page, with letterhead, in excellent condition.

French Breton composer (1840-1910), pianist, and professor of music history/theory at the Conservatoire de Paris as well as a Prix de Rome laureate. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him [presumably between 1878-1882], as follows:  A. Dated May 23, to Monsieur Mersin, concerning the admission test for singers. Size is 4.3 x 6.7 inches each page, 3 written pages, folds, age-toning, in very good condition. B. Dated December 3, to a gentleman requesting information from an applicant and setting an appointment. Size is 4.2 x 6.7 inches, 1 page, central fold, glue traces on verso, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Russian composer and conductor (1893-1972), who was also a teacher, well known as a conductor of the Brussels Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic. Autograph music quote, from the ballet spring recital, signed by him. Size is 6.25 x 2.75 inches. ALSO INCLUDED a typed letter signed, dated in 1960, see the scan and a small unsigned photo of him (not shown).

German composer (1840-1897), and also pianist, one of the most important creators of the Romantic period and in the history of classical music. Autograph note in German on the blank side of a postcard signed by him to his publisher Fritz Simrock sharing news about his upcoming arrival in town, no date (postal markings indicate April 9, 1880).  Size is 5.5 x 3.6 inches, light mat burn, minor damage on verso, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a modern photo postcard of the composer shown at his studio. Size is 4.25 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

German composer (1840-1897), and also pianist, one of the most important creators of the Romantic period and in the history of classical music. Large handwritten musical sheet with a short piece for piano by composer Moritz Peuschel (1838-1892) where Johannes Brahms wrote "The old aunt!" twice and added a short sentiment with his signature, dated in Vienna, 1885.  On verso there are some extra music notes and a wax-sealed attached card.  Large Size: 12.8 x 5.1 inches (trimmed from a larger format), minor stains, in very good condition.  

American composer (1896-1940), creator of 3 operas and musical comedies.  Autograph music quote with 8 bars of music from his "Song of Hiawatha", signed and dated by him in 1931.  Size is 6.1 x 3.2 inches, in excellent condition.

Austrian composer (1913-1988). Lengthy 24-bar autograph music quote from his work "Vom Verscheiten Apfelbaum" signed by him. Size is 9.2 x 4.6 inches, in excellent condition.

French composer (1861-1949), creator of local, stage, and chamber music and works for piano and orchestra. Autograph letter signed, two pages in one sheet, in French, sold untranslated. Size is 8.25 x 5.25 inches, minor stains over the left border of the first page, otherwise in very good condition.

English composer and organist (1844-1924). Original autograph letter on Littlington Tower, The Cloisters, Westminster Abbey letterhead paper, dated Feb 20 (NY, though 1922 added in other hand) to Miss Morley.

Collection of autograph documents by British composers and musicians, with a total of 11 items from 7 different signers, including: organist and composer Walter Parratt (1841-1924), one card signed, 1901 - composer of marches for band Kenneth J. Alford (1881-1945), also known as F.J. Ricketts, one signed page - composer and singer Lawrence Kelsie (1862-1932), one signature cut - music critic Hermann Klein (1856-1934), one autograph note signed, 1933 - Italian-born English composer Alberto Randegger (1832-1911), one autograph letter signed, 1902 - composer of ballads Florence Aylward (1862-1950), 2 autograph notes signed - composer Montague Phillips (1885-1969), 2 autograph notes signed, 1931 and 1936. Various sizes, all in good to excellent condition. See scans - not sold individually.

Limited edition book, signed on the first page both by composer Benjamin Britten and illustrator Sidney Nolan, published by Faber Music, London. A facsimile of the original score of the piece with the same name, with full color, full page illustrations by Nolan.  An edition of only 1000 copies, of which 300 were signed by both composer and artist, this one is number 167, published celebrating the 60th birthday of Britten. Total size is 11.25 x 15.3 inches, hardcovers, original bookcase is included (not shown), in excellent condition.  See scans of front cover, title page, first page, and a couple of pages inside. 

English composer (1913-1976), English tenor (1910-1986), and American baritone (1920-2005). Program for a performance of Britten's opera "Billy Budd" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on April 17, 1952 -five months after its world premiere; signed on the cover by the composer, Peter Pears, and Theodor Uppman (creators of the characters in the world premiere). Size is 4.8 x 7.3 inches, full program with all pages and covers, minor stains, in excellent condition.

English composer (1913-1976), conductor, and pianist; a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Original signed manuscripts, signed cards and/or signature cuts of the artist in different sizes and conditions (for more details please check individual descriptions). Scroll down to see each item and click on each to enlarge or see more items if available. SOLD INDIVIDUALLY.