Composer Autograph Manuscripts ($250 - $500)

American composer (1874-1948), creator of music ranging from religious songs to music for movies. Signed score of his most famous song "On the road to Mandalay", on words by Rudyard Kipling, inscribed and dated in 1931. Full printed score of the song, 12 pages in total including covers, 9.25 x 12 inches, some damage on the top right corner, otherwise in fine condition.

Italian opera composer (1774-1851), highly famous in his time for some of his 22 operas; but largely been forgotten after his death. Autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by him in which he requested his name to be erased from a biography he never authorized, addressed to the president of the Association of Artist-Musicians, and also mentioned his opera "La Vestale". Size is 6.4 x 10.75 inches, 1 page, overall rust stone, mild folds, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a small print of him by artist Auber. Size is 6.1 x 8.6 inches, in excellent condition.

Austrian composer (1870-1954) of operettas, film scores, and songs. Fine oval half-tone photograph signed by the composer with a 3-bar music quote from an unknown piece.  Size is 4.2 x 5.75 inches, minor mounting traces on verso, otherwise in very good condition.

Austrian composer (1835-1916), brother of the composers Johann II and Josef. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, as follows:  A. Vienne, le 5 Octobre 1899. To a gentleman: “…Vous me proposez de louer ma salle pour 600 personnes, trois fois la semaine. En considération du petit nombre des concerts et craignant une faibles fréquence pendant la saison d’été, la salle étant déjà occupée pendant les après midi, me fait hésiter à entreprendre cette opération pour mon propre compte…”. 3 pp. In-8. With gilded letterhead. B. Vienne, le 14 Octobre 1899. To a gentleman: “…J’aimerai bien connaître les raisons qui vous ont portés à terminer la correspondance tout au commencement. Est-ce la question d’honoraire (dont on pourrait toujours parler) où les productions mêmes qui offrent des difficultés?…”. 2 pp. In-8. With gilded letterhead. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French composer and conductor (1806-1888), known as the Strauss of Paris, but unrelated to the famous waltz composer, although he created dance music and waltzes. Autograph music quote signed by him, dated in Paris in 1872. 17 bars from an unknown waltz, size is 8.25 x 5.4 inches, in excellent condition. See another Isaac Strauss autograph

American composer and lyricist (b.1928), known for his Broadway musicals. Autograph music quote on a card signed by him with two bars from his song "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow". Size is 6 x 4 inches, in excellent condition. Watch the composer performing "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow":  

Spanish composer (1915-1997) and conductor.  Set of 4 autograph letters signed by him, all written in French (sold untranslated) from New York during the early 1950s.  Two of them signed as "Carlos" and two as "Carlos Surinach".  Each letter's size is 8.4 x 11 inches, folds, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED are 4 envelopes handwritten by the Spanish composer with the addresses of the recipients. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American composer and music critic (1885-1966), famous for some of his operas that were popular in the 1930s and 40s. Autograph music quote signed by him, with 3 full bars from Act III from his opera The King´s Henchman, premiered in 1927 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Size is 10.5 x 4.5 inches, inscribed, in excellent condition. Listen to a piece of The King´s Henchman (Taylor), the original production with Lawrence Tibbett:

Russian composer, pianist and conductor (1873-1945), pupil of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Among other things he created music and conducted for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Autograph music quote signed from an orchestral piece called "Tale about the Fisherman and the Fish" (1917), dated in Paris in 1931. Size is 6.25 x 3.25 inches, in excellent condition. Watch a video of this piece, in piano version + sheet music:

American composer and critic (1896-1989), he was instrumental in the development of American classical music and father figure to a new generation of American tonal composers (such as Rorem, Bowles and Bernstein).  Lot of 4 signed autograph letters, 1 signed typed letter and 11 postcards handwritten by him, either signed or initialized - a total of 16 autograph items. These include 2 undated letters from New York and Washington, in approx. 6 x 9 inches in size, one letter from Mexico dated in 1952, sized 8.5 x 11 inches, and one note dated in New York in 1950, also 8.5 x 11 inches, plus a typed letter of the same size, dated in New York in 1953. The 11 postcards range in size from 3.5 x 5.5 to 4.25 x 6 inches, one with a picture of him on verso. All with business and personal content, in very good condition - Sold as a lot only, not sold individually. See scans.

Belgian composer (1820-1881), and violinist, who extensively toured through Europe and the US, considered one of the leading violinists of the 19th century. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him and dated in Brussels, July 8, 1842. Size is 5.6 x 8.1 inches, 1 written page, some small cracks over borders, dust stains at the left, folds, in overall very good condition.

French composer (1781-1870) and oboist, who enjoyed a very successful career as teacher. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, as follows: A. Dated, July 16, 1831, to Stephen de la Madeleine (1801-1868), having to decline the invitation of Georgette Ducrest, a woman of letters and concert performer. Size is 5 x 7.8 inches, 2 written pages, overall rust stains, in very good condition. B. Dated March 15, 1870, to Georgette Ducrest (1789 - 1882), about musical matters. Size is 5.2 x 7.8 inches, 3 written pages, some creases and folds at the top, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Program page for the first American performance of Walton's opera "Troilus and Cressida" at San Francisco Opera on October 7, 1955, signed by the composer himself and some other performers such as Dorothy Kirsten, Richard Lewis, Robert Weede, and conductor Erich Leinsdorf. Size is 5.75 x 8.7 inches, cast page only, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a black-and-white photograph signed by Dorothy Kirsten in this production, shown next to Richard Lewis. Size is 7.9 x 9.8 inches, in excellent condition.

English composer (1902-1983), known for his works on several classical genres including opera, oratorio, orchestral, film, etc. Autograph music quote on a sheet of paper with a printed Richard Wagner facsimile over the lower border, with 1 bar of music from "Façade", one of Walton's most famous works, signed and dated by him in 1977. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, mounting traces on verso, in very good condition.

German composer (1894-1963), artistic director, and music writer. Autograph musical score signed and inscribed by him to the writer and musician Karla Höcker (1901-1992), dated 1946. Von Westerman writes 43 bars of his composition “Widmung” for high voice and piano.  Size is 9.7 x 12.2 inches, 4 pages, creases, overall rust tone, othewise in excellent condition.

American songwriter (1827-1902) who used several different pseudonyms. Rare autograph letter dated in 1883 by him, about music matters without his signature. At the end of the letter there is a note by the recipient clarifying that the letter was handed unsigned, 2 pages. Each page's size is 5.6 x 8.3 inches, bound together with archival tape, in excellent condition.

Italian composer (1876-1948) and teacher, best known for his comic operas. Autograph music quote with four bars from his opera "I Quattro Rusteghi" signed by him on an album page mounted on a slightly larger page. Total size is 6.25 x 4 inches, in very good condition.

German composer (1827-1863), who had a reputation as a pianist and saloon music composer. Printed score of his work "Four Musical Sketches for Piano" Op.52 signed and inscribed by him over the upper-right corner, printed in Leipzig, 1859.  Size is 10.7 x 13.6 inches, 9 pages plus soft covers, in overall very good condition. Very rare!

Italian composer (1883-1944), author of over a dozen operas and famous for his successful Francesca da Rimini (1914), still regularly performed.  Album page with an autograph music quote signed by the composer, with four bars from his opera "Conchita" (premiered in 1911), dated in Naples, 1913.   Size is 9.25 x 6.75 inches, small loss of paper over lower right and upper left corners, mounting traces on verso, in overall very good condition.

Italian composer (1883-1944), author of over a dozen operas and famous for his successful Francesca da Rimini (1914), still regularly performed.  Autograph music quote on a postcard with 3 bars from his opera "Francesca da Rimini", dated 1924, with an attached half-tone photograph of him over the left. Size is 5.3 x 3.5 inches, minor stains, in excellent condition.