A SPRING POTPOURRI - 2016 ARBÓS, Enrique Fernández (1863-1939) AUTOGRAPH MUSICAL QUOTATION, signed "E. Fernandez Arbos". London, 10/31/1892. Octavo. Excellent condition (tiny chip on bottom edge). Bold and clear 7-bar quote by the noted Spanish violinist/composer/conductor, marked "Tempo de Bolero". Originally a violinist, Arbos studied with Vieuxtemps and Joachim and was a professor himself in Madrid and London. In 1904 he became the conductor of the then new Madrid Symphony and retained that post for 35 years, becoming one of Spain's greatest conductors. AMQ-09347 $200.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BACKHAUS, Wilhelm (1884-1969) AUTOGRAPH LETTER, signed "Wilhelm Backhaus". To violinist Franz Kneisel. February 7, 1922. 9.50"h x 6"w. 2 pp. on a single sheet of hotel stationery. Fine. The noted German pianist, whose unfortunate role in Nazi Germany did not lessen the esteem in which he was held as an interpreter, especially of Brahms and Beethoven, writes here a letter inviting Kneisel to a concert. Franz Kneisel was a renowned American violinist, teacher and chamber player who gave the first American performances of the concertos by Brahms and Karl Goldmark. He was a long-time concertmaster of the Boston Symphony and founded the Kneisel Quartet and Kneisel Hall, a summer school for violin and chamber playing which is still important in American musical life. ALS-08631 $160.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BARTÓK, Béla (1881-1945) IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER IN FRENCH, signed "Béla Bartók". Sept. 23, 1922. Quarto. 2 pp. With full translation. Some wrinkling and minor soiling but altogether very attractive. Letter to an anonymous correspondent saying that he will be glad to join the Franco- American Society as an honorary member. He offers four programs for a concert on 14 April: "Remark about the first program: don't be afraid of my II élegie: it is in a style altogether different from the I.; it is less abstract ... Remark on second program: I propose the Sonata by [Ernest] Bloch if you have not already put it on the program of another concert. It is moreover the best work of Bloch that I know. If you think it is a good idea to repeat my first sonata, you can choose the third or fourth program. I believe that the Roumanian songs (Program 1) can be easily sung in the original language by a French man or woman because the Roumanian language, being also a neolatin language, is not difficult to pronounce." He goes on to say that "It would be of great importance to me if you could engage for the performance of my sonatas and perhaps also for that of Bloch Mademoiselle Jelly d'Arányi, because a better violinist than she cannot be found". He has "not yet finished my second Sonata for Violin and Piano but I hope to reach the end before Christmas." He is returning an article by Dr. Felber because "it does not give precise and concise views of the popular Slovak music" and then explains in great detail what he would recommend deleting if the recipient cannot avoid publishing it, explaining that "In the rest of the article there are similar misunderstandings according to my opinion. I have marked them in red on the margin of the page or underlined them in red." Bartók and his fellow Hungarian Jelly d'Arányi gave recitals together in London a few months prior to this letter and again in May 1923, performing sonatas which Bartók had originally dedicated to d'Arányi's sister Adila, also a violinist. An important letter with interesting musical content. ALS-05503 $3,750.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BEACH, Amy (1867-1944) AUTOGRAPH LETTER, signed "Amy M. Beach". To Mrs. Barth. Dec. 12, 1934. Octavo. 2 pp. of a folded sheet on "A.W.A" [American Women's Association] Stationery. Fine condition. Beach, the first widely-known and successful female American composer, mentions the Macdowell Club and Westminster Choir buildings and "I have no new instrumental compositions ready for performance there, but I could give a group of songs if you would like them for the program." Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, always referred to as Mrs. Beach, was a prodigy pianist who made her debut with the Boston Symphony in 1885. Her Mass in Eb, given by the Handel and Haydn Society in 1882 and her Concert Aria, "Eilinde volken," given by the New York Philharmonic Society, were the first occasions that these two organizations performed music by a female composer. Her Gaelic Symphony (Op. 32, 1896) was the very first symphony composed by an American woman. ALS-01285 $250.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770-1827) and Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) Beethoven-Busoni Kadenzen zu den Klavier-Konzerten. Heinrichshofen's Verlag: Wilhelmshaven Pl.n 798. Quarto. 27 pp. Beige paper wraps. Very good condition. MUS-12033 $40.00 BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770-1827) Overture, Op. 115, "Grosse Ouverture in C dur gedichtet für Grosses Orchester und Seiner Duchlaucht dem Fürsten und Herrn, Anton Heinrich Radzivil Statthalter im Grossherzogthum Posen Ritter..gewidmet, 115tes". Steiner: Vienna, [c 1825]. Pl.n S.u.C.No.4681. FIRST EDITION, early issue ( Kinsky records the correction of "Staathalter" to "Statthalter" for the full score in later issues but does not specify further). Folio. 4+4+4+3+3+5+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+2+2+4+2 pp. In a modern dark green silk folder. Slight browning at edges but overall a fine copy with wide margins. Complete set of parts. MUS-06649 $3,000.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BERG, Alban (1885-1935) ENSEMBLE WITH SIGNATURE & PHOTOGRAPH, signed "Alban Berg". 1920. Decoratively matted with a total size of 16.25" h x 10.50" w. Fine condition. A clean nice signature on a white card. Berg, the eminent member of the second Viennese School, is shown in a dramatic close-up view. SIG-12606 $550.00 BERNSTEIN, Leonard (1918-1990) ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH, signed "Leonard Bernstein". 4" h x 3.75" w. Good condition. The ever-popular conductor has signed an image which shows his hands in a particularly expressive gesture. PHO-11343 $275.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BLITZSTEIN, Marc (1905-1964) AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO HENRY COWELL, signed "Marc Blitzstein". Aug. 1, 1935. On small stationery, in his hand, "U.S. Coast Guard..Provincetown, Mass". 1 p. Fine condition. The American composer, lyricist, and librettist, only 30 at the time of this letter, writes to his fellow American composer Henry Cowell, asking about the possibility of Cowell teaching at Downtown Music School: "Can you tell me what you would like to handle, and give me some outline of the course?...It's fine to know you are 'with us' (I mean not only the school, but the movement.) I think this year is going to see some extraordinary things happen!" An interesting association between two prominent early 20th-century American composers. Blitzstein won national attention in 1937 when there were demonstrations against his pro-union musical The Cradle Will Rock (directed by Orson Welles). ALS-01283 $400.00 Tel: (212) 787-6431 Wurlitzer-Bruck www.WurlitzerBruck.com Fax:(212) 496-6525 60 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024 [email protected] BONANNI, Filippo (1638-1723) Gabinetto Armonico pieno d'Istromenti Sonori indicati, spiegeti, et di nuovo corretti, et accresciuti. Nella Stamperia di Giorgio Placho, Intagliatore, e Gettatore de'Caratteri a S. Marco: Rome, 1723 [1722]. FIRST EDITION, second issue. Small Quarto (9" h x 6.50" w). Half-title frontispiece missing, engraving of King David with harp by Arnold Van Westerhout after Stefano Spargioni, 177 pp. and 152 plates as issued ( including fold-out plate XXXIII). Early 19th-century quarter-mottled calf with marbled boards. A few plates professionally repaired, some faint foxing and toning with occasional light soiling. Despite these imperfections, overall a very nice copy. Instrument plates: 1-12; 13/14 (one plate); 15-29; extra plate also marked "29" but a different image and instrument, after p. 72; 30-48; extra plate, not numbered, facing p. 94; 49-78; extra plate also marked "78" but a different image and instrument, after p. 118; 79-103; extra plate, not numbered, facing p. 138; 104-148. The four-page "Indice delle materie" appears as pp. 167-170, prior to plate CXXXVII. Bonanni was an Italian Jesuit scholar of many talents. He developed his own microscopes, was an accomplished engraver and published works on many different subjects, ranging from music to anatomy to shell collecting. The plates in this beautifully-illustrated and famous book include illustrious known instruments such as the Verospi organ in Rome (the fold-out plate) as well as others that were "highly imaginative". Charming inaccuracies might be forgiven in this early attempt to describe and illustrate every known musical instrument including those from America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, most of which the author had never seen. Because of the collectability of the individual plates, it is increasingly rare to find a good complete copy.