Composer Autograph Manuscripts

Italian composer (1895-1968) well known for his guitar compositions, but also successfully explored other genres such as orchestral, concerts, chamber music, opera, film score, ballet, vocal and choral music. Autograph letter written and signed by him in English dated in Beverly Hills, April 7, 1955, about business. Size is 6.3 x 9.2 inches, two written pages (front and back), in excellent condition.

Argentine composer (1895-1968) and conductor, who enjoyed a successful international career.  Nice card with his portrait and two bars of music from a chorus of his opera "Proserpina y el Extranjero" (1951), signed and dated by him in Buenos Aires, 1953.  Size is 4.5 x 2.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Argentine composer (1895-1968) and conductor who enjoyed a successful international career.  Autograph music quote on an album page with three bars of music from Shostakovich's 7th Symphony. On its verso, an unidentified drawing and signature can be seen as well.  Size is 7 x 6 inches, minor rust stains, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian composer and author of the sacred work Il Serafico d'Assisi (1931). Autograph letter in Italian (untranslated) signed by him and dated 1933, addressed to Jenner Mataloni presenting the subject of his new opera La Sagra dell'Aratro. Size is 8.7 x 11.2 inches approx., 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), central fold, creases, overall age toning, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a printed image of the composer.

French composer (1841-1894) and pianist. Autograph note in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, no date (ink markings indicate July 1868). Size is 4.75 x 6.3 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1920-2002) and also Arts Administrator, and father of conductor Riccardo Chailly.  Autograph music quote with 5 bars from his "Sonata Tritematica 3", signed by him, dated in Milan 1952.  Size is 6.4 x 9.4 inches, folds, in very good condition.

French composer (1857-1944) and a popular concert pianist, chiefly known for her graceful and romantic piano music and songs. Fine autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by her, no year indicated. Size is 4.75 x 6.5 inches, 3 written pages in 1 folded sheet, in excellent condition. Please visit our blog to read our article on Cecile Chaminade by clicking here.

French composer (1857-1944) and a popular concert pianist, chiefly known for her graceful and romantic piano music and songs. Fine autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by her mounted on cardboard, dated in La Seyne, March 2, 1916, to a gentleman:  “…Je suis encore surmenée à cette maison militaire où je suis présidente et ouù je me suis  oubliée pour fair chanter les hymnes nationaux à nos pauvres mutilés…”. Open size is 10.7 x 8.3 inches, 3 written pages in one folded sheet, folds, creases, printed letterhead, in overall very good condition.  

French composer and organist and Director of the Orpheon Theatre in Paris (1858-1933). Autograph letter signed, 1 page, written in French, sold untranslated. Written on neatly folded 8.25 x 10.5 inch paper, in excellent condition. 

French composer (1858-1933), organist, and pupil of Cesar Franck. Autograph note in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, no date. Size is 8.1 x 5.25 inches, in excellent condition.

French composer (1863-1935). 4-bar autograph music quote from his "Fantaisie de Concert for Violon" signed and inscribed by him, dated in Paris, March 1895. Size is 6.9 x 4.8 inches, rust stains over all four borders, in very good condition.

American composer (1903-1987) and pianist, musicologist, music broadcaster, radio executive, and author. Fine card signed by him adding some musical notes, dated in New York, 1938. Size is 4.9 x 3 inches, in excellent condition.

French composer and very prolific songwriter (1856-1904).  Autograph note signed in Paris, dated in 1892. Written in French, sold untranslated. 1 album page. Size is 5 x 8 inches, in excellent condition.

French romantic composer (1855-1899) who died just as his career was beginning to flourish.  Autograph letter written in French (sold with a translation in English), no year, to an unknown recipient, signed by the French composer.  Size is 4.4 x 7.1 inches, 1 page (written on both sides), in very good condition.

Mexican composer (1899-1978), and also a conductor, educator, and founder of the Mexican Symphony Orchestra. 2-bar autograph music quote from his Symphony No.3 signed by him. Size is 8.5 x 3.5 inches, in very good condition.

French composer (1789-1861), violist, and conductor, who won the 1811 Prix de Rome for his cantata Ariane. Set of three autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, as follows: A. Dated in Paris, December 20, 1834, to the librettist and writer Karl Sondershausen (1792-1882), about professional matters. B. Dated in Weimar, January 11, 1840, to “Adalbert” (the tenor Josef Tichatschek) about musical issues, where Tichatschek was presumably the actor premiering in his “Gesänge aus Mitternacht” (1831).  C. Dated in Weimar, December 11, 1860, to “Monsieur l’Inspecteur”, concerning the obstacles for the rehearsals of the opera "Macbeth" imposed by the soprano Stöger. Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian-born composer (1760-1842) who spent most of his life in France, and is well known today for his opera Medée (1797). Short autograph note in French signed by him on April 20, 1827, requesting entrance permission for someone. Size is 4.7 x 3.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian-born composer (1760-1842), French composer (1775-1834), French composer (1763-1817). Original document written in French, no date, signed by the three composers, about legal issues. Size is 7 x 9.9 inches, 1 page, spotted rust stains, in overall very good condition. Translation is included.

Italian-born composer who spent most of his life in France (1760-1842), Cherubini is well known today for his opera Medee (1797) but also composed many other operas, orchestral music and chamber works.  Signed printed form from the Royal School of Music at Paris, inviting other professors to an audition, written in French, dated in 1823.  Cherubini signs under the top printed part, while other professors responded below.  Size is 7.75 x 12.25 inches, 1 page, rounded edges, folds, minor stains, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a translation into English of this interesting note.

Italian-born composer (1760-1842) who spent most of his life in France, and is well known today for his opera Medee (1797). Document from the Royal School of Music in Paris, dated April 17, 1830, signed by various personalities including composer Cherubini (whose signature is the first one at the top), about a piano competition.  Size is 8.1 x 12.25 inches 1 page, minor stains, central fold, otherwise in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a wonderful lithograph of the composer. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, spotted rust, in very good condition.

French composer (1859-1923), conductor, and Instrumental Ensemble teacher at the Conservatoire. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, February 10, 1921, to a gentleman: “…Êtant, moi-même, professeur au Conservatoire, il ne m’est pas possible, vous le comprendrez, de vous donner ma opinion sur son fonctionnement…”. Open size is 10.7 x 8.4 inches, 2 written pages in one folded sheet, letterhead from "Association des Concerts Lamoureux", folds, few creases, in very good condition.

French composer (1859-1923) and conductor. Fine autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by him. Size is 5.2 x 8.25 inches, 2 written pages in 1 folded sheet, folds, in overall very good condition.

Italian composer (1866-1950), well-known for his operas Adriana Lecouvreur and L'Arlesiana. Album with a music quote with 2 bars of music from "Adriana Lecouvreur", signed and dated by him in Naples, 1920.  Size is 7 x 9 inches, minor rust stains, in very good condition.

Italian composer (1866-1950), well-known for his operas Adriana Lecouvreur and L'Arlesiana. Nice 2-bar autograph music quote with lyrics from the first act duet of his opera Adriana Lecouvreur. Size is 5.6 x 3.6 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1866-1950), well-known for his operas Adriana Lecouvreur and L'Arlesiana. 2-bar autograph music quote from his opera L'Arlesiana signed by him in Milan, 1902, on an album page mounted on soft cardboard. Total size is 6.1 x 8.8 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1866-1950), well-known for his operas Adriana Lecouvreur and L'Arlesiana. Typed note with a short greeting in Italian signed by him. Size is 5.6 x 8.3 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

Gorgeous collection of cards and album pages signed by classical music performers (violinists, pianists, conductors, singers, and other instrumentalists) and composers. Artists include Bill Conti, Sy Coleman, Kurt Masur, Erich Leinsdorf, Jerry Herman, Sigmund Romberg, Horatio Parker, Eugene Istomin, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Marian MacDowell, Radu Lupu, Fidela Campina, Walter Damrosch, Mary Wigman, Walter Gieseking, Nicanor Zabaleta, Mischa Dichter, Gina Bachauer, Carl Friedberg, Eugen D'Albert, Leon Fleisher, Igor Markevitch, Yehudi Menuhin, Toscha Seidel, Anne Sophie Mutter, Eugene Fodor, Carroll Glenn, Fritz Kreisler, Isaac Stern, Midori, Mischa Elman, Itzhak Perlman, Mark Hambourg, plus other two unidentified signer. Different sizes, in very good condition or better. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

English composer (1886-1957) of light music. Typed letter in English signed by him, dated January 1st, 1938, to the BBC Orchestra’s percussionist Frederick Herbert Wheelhouse, assuring that if he “...ever take on an orchestra of my own I will certainly get into touch with you”.  Size is 7.9 x 9.8 inches, 1 page, central fold, some creases, with letterhead, in overall excellent condition. Original envelope ALSO INCLUDED.

French composer (1818-1885), creator mostly of songs and piano music. Large autograph music quote, signed and dated in Paris, 1880, for piano and voice, from the song "Petite Fleur". Size is 13.9 x 10.75 inches, 1 page, vertical fold across the center and two horizontal folds, minor cracks, otherwise in excellent condition.

French composer, musicologist, music critic, and music writer (1819-1898).  Autograph letter signed, dated in Paris in 1888, 1 page, written in French and sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, several small stains outside of the text area, otherwise in very good condition. 

French composer (1819-1898), musicologist, and traveler. Lot of three autograph letters in French signed by him, as follows:  A. February 23, 1863, to Mr. Lefebvre, professor at the Collège de Cambrai:  "I think I have some chance this January of getting a little article published in Le Siècle on the education of attention...". B. Vendredi November 27 (no year), to the secretary of the Paris Conservatory Alfred de Beauchesne (1804-1876): "... I have to thank you for your interest in Miss Huebaut. Mr. [Pierre-Auguste] Grosset has heard her and he thinks she has a good and beautiful voice...".  C. Paris, November 12, 1880, to the Director of the Gymnasium, asking for "... two tickets in my favor for tonight's performance...". Different sizes and lengths, in very good condition or better (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Collection of 27 cards signed by different composers (most of them Americans) including Alan Hovhaness, Alan Stout, Ben Weber, Erland Koch, Francis Thorne, Quincy Porter, William Bergsma, Douglas Moore, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Randall Thompson, Ogden Nash, and many others, and poet Elizabeth Bishop. Size is 5 x 3.25 inches each approximately, all in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American composer (1917-2004) and music theorist. Short essay signed and inscribed by him on the front cover. Size is 6.8 x 9.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Romanian-born French composer and conductor (1925-2004), pupil of Messiaen, Boulanger, and Honnegger at the Conservatoire. Nice autograph note in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris January 6, 1993, to the organist and writer Jean Leduc (1933-2012), concerning the recordings of “3 portraits” for cello and piano.  Size is 8.2 x 11.6 inches, folds, few creases, irregularly cut top border, in overall excellent condition.

Group of 22 letters and notes (some handwritten, a few typed) by contemporary composers, including: lyricist/songwriter and singer Charles Aznavour (French-Armenian, b.1924), autograph note signed on a card with his letterhead, 5.6 x 4.1 inches - Songwriter Al Kasha (American, b.1937), short typed note, signed by him, 5 x 3 inches - William Schmidt (American, 1926-2009), typed letter signed, dated in 1986, to a fan, 1 page, 8.5 x 11 inches - Charles Wuorinen (American composer, b.1938), typed letter signed and dated in 1999, to a fan, 1 page, 8.5 x 11 inches - Raymond Parfrey (American, 1928-2008), typed letter to a fan, signed, dated in 1993, 1 page, 8.25 x 11.5 inches - Bernhard Heiden (German-American, 1910-2000), autograph letter signed, dated in 1993, 1 page, to a fan, 8.5 x 11 inches - Theldon Myers (American, b.1927), typed letter signed, to a fan, dated in 1991, one page, 6.75 x 10 inches -  Ernst Krenek (Austrian-American, 1900-1991), short autograph note signed, dated in 1980, to a fan, 6 x 4 inches - Charles Chaynes (French, 1925-2006), short autograph note signed, on a card with his letterhead, 6 x 4.25 inches - Eric Fenby (English, 1906-1997), short autograph note signed, dated in 1992, to a fan, 8.75 x 7 inches - William Schuman (American, 1910-1992), 2 typed letter signed, dated in 1979 and 1987, to a fan, each is 1 page, 7.25 x 10.5 inches - Brian Fennelly (American, 1937-2015), long typed letter signed, to a fan, 1 page with a printed score on verso (see scans), 8.5 x 11 inches - Gordon Jacob (English, 1895-1984), short autograph note signed, on paper with his letterhead, dated 1979, 8 x 6 inches - William Hibbard (American, 1939-1989), autograph letter signed, dated in 1979, to a fan, 1 page, 5.75 x 7.75 inches - Irwin Bezelon (American, 1922-1995), typed letter signed, 1 page, to a fan, 7.9 x 4.9 inches - John Downey (American, 1927-2004), autograph letter signed, with a few notes at the foot, dated 1979, 1 page, to a fan, 8.5 x 11 inches - Thea Musgrave (Scottish, b.1928), short typed letter signed, to a fan, 1 page, 8.5 x 11 inches - Eskil Hemberg (Swedish, 1938-2004), typed letter signed, 1985, to a fan, 1 page, 8.5 x 11.6 inches - Hermann Haller (Swiss, 1914-2002), autograph letter signed, on paper with his letterhead, 1994, to a fan, 1 page, 8.25 x 11.5 inches - Arthur Wills (English, b.1926), short typed letter signed, 1985, to a fan, 1 page, 8 x 10 inches - Charles William Jones (Canadian, 1910-1997), autograph letter signed, on paper with his letterhead, 1979, to a fan, 1 page, 7.25 x 10.6 inches. All in excellent condition - See scans in order - Not sold separately.

American composer (b.1938) and winner of important awards including an Oscar for his work on movie soundtracks. Beautiful 4-bar autograph music quote in pencil with the cello solo from the 3rd movement of his Symphony #1 signed by him. Size is 8.8 x 3.1 inches, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a copy of a typed letter signed by him with a handwritten message over the right border.

American composer (b.1938) and winner of important awards including an Oscar for his work on movie soundtracks.  Autograph music quote signed by him in 1933, with two bars from the aria "Once there was a golden bird" from his opera "The Ghosts of Versailles".  Size is 9.5 x 12.25 inches, in excellent condition.

Uruguayan composer and pianist Cesar Cortinas (1892-1918), who died of tuberculosis at age 26. Short signed music quote, with 3 bars from his work "Printemps", dated in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1909. On top of the quote, there is a signature by an unknown artist, dated also 1909. Size is 5 x 7.5 inches, age-toning, in excellent condition. On verso, a short text quote and signature by Italian criminologist Enrico Ferri (1856-1929), dated in 1908.