1. APOLLONI, Giuseppe- ALS 1 p in Italian "Vicenza 12/10/[18]55."from the Vicenza born composer of 5 operas of which only "L'ebreo" was a success. Want to hear it? Get the Bongiovanni performance on CD!
.................$150		 2. ASIOLI, Bonifazio- ALS 2 pp in Italian from the Corregio born composer 1769-1832. He was a harpsichordist, opera composer and composer of sacred music, A theorist he became the first director of the Milan Conservatory in 1808.
.................$100		 3. BARTOK, Bela & PASZTORY, Ditta- signatures of the composer and his pianist second wife who emigrated to the US with him and often appeared with him. Together with unsigned photo of each.
.................$875
4. BERNSTEIN, Leonard- AMusQS from W.S.S. (West Side Story) on a post card size profile portrait photo of the ever popular American icon. Signed in gold with some slight smudging NOT bad at all.
.................$1,200		 5. BRITTEN, Benjamin & PEARS, Peter- BOTH sign a large page as do several others including Willem MENGELBERG on the verso. Together with a photo of Britten & Pears.
.................$175		 6. BUSONI, Ferruccio- SPc portrait of the famed Italian composer, pianist, teacher who spent much of his life in Germany (except WW1 period when he avoided participating countries). A child prodigy piano virtuoso he met Liszt, Brahms and Rubinstein as a child & they heard him play. Egon Petri was a pupil of his and Arrau a disciple and his composition pupils included Varese and Weill!! He died age 58 in Berlin. This photo dates from the year of his death 1924.
.................$975
7. BOLCOM, William- AMusQS from "12 New Etudes" d/s 1908.
.................$85		 8. CAGNONI, Antonio- ALS 1 p in Italian penned by the 19th century composer of 15 operas including "Michele Perrin" & "Francesca da Rimini". A traditionalist his works looked forward using dissonant harmonies and leitmotifs. He also wrote a "Messa per Rossini" He died in 1896.
.................$100		 9. CARTER, Elliot- the grand old man of American music who just turned 100 and is still ACTIVE writes "with best wishes" below a photo on a 4 x 6" card.
.................$100
10. CILEA, Francesco- AMusQS "Io son l'umile ancella del Genio creator...."Adrianna's show stopping opening aria from the Calabrese composer's most popular opera "ADRIANA LECOUVREUR" a GREAT vehicle for 4 full blooded dramatic singers. Together with a photo of Cilea and my favorite Adrianna Licia Albanese- [copy print not signed] ah but there were so many other superb ones--Caballe, Caniglia, Curtis-Verna, Freni, Gavazzi, Olivero, Scotto, Tebaldi and now Guleghina. only those after WW11.
.................$1,500		 11. CORIGLIANO, John- AmusQS from "Symphony N2 !V Fugue".
.................$85		 12. CORTICELLI, Gaetano- ALS 1 page in Italian from the Bolognese composer/ pianist 1804-1840 who wrote some very listenable music for oboe bassoon and piano which has been recorded.
.................$100
13. CRUMB, George- AMusQS "Black Angels" he writes "furiously with great energy."
.................$85		 14. CONFREY, Zez- AMusQS from "Kitten on the Keys" his 1921 masterpiece d/s May 22, 1940. He was a pianist, bandleader and composer of a great deal of big band and jazz extremely popular during the 1920s-1930s.
.................$750		 15. DALLAPICCOLA, Luigi- SP 5 x 7 photo of the IMPORTANT Italian composer who writes in French "un affectueux souvenir 1966"Best known for his opera "Il PRIGONIERA" Dallapicola was a disciple of the 2nd Viennese School to which he added diatonic, 12 tone and serialist methods. He was anti- Fascist and had a difficult time in Italy during that period. After WW11 he traveled frequently to the US. taught (Lucio Berio was one of his pupils) and wrote alot about music.
.................$600
16. deFALLA, Manuel- the GREAT Spanish composer writes "M.deFalla Alhambra. Granada" nice association!! together with a photo.
.................$200		 17. del TREDICI, David- AMusQS 3/24/08 by the prolific American composer of many works based on Alice in Wonderland celebrating his 70th birthday in 2008.
.................$85		 18. DREYER, David- AMusQS from his 1927 hit song "Me and My Shadow" written in collaboration with Billy Rose & Al Jolson. Dreyer started as a pianist for the likes of Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker Belle Baker etc. later writing many film scores and becoming head of RKO's music department.
.................$750
19. ELGAR, Sir Edward- large pencil signature of the immensely popular Emglish composer together with his photo.
.................$150		 20. GERMAN, Sir Edward- nice pencil signature of the English composer considered Sullivan's follower due to the popularity of "Merrie England" and "Tom Jones" He was prolific in other forms Together with photo.
.................$60		 21. GIORDANO, Umberto- dedicates and signs loose title page to the score of his opera "Siberia"- also signed by 2 others.
.................$100
22. GOUNOD, Charles- signature of the composer of "Faust" & "Romeo et Juliette" together with a photo.
.................$100		 23. GAMBINI, Carlo Andrea- ALS 1 p in Italian Jan 29,1954 best known for his "Remembrances of Paganini" church music and the opera "Cristoforo Colombo."
.................$85		 24. GILBERT, William S. & SULLIVAN, Sir Arthur- Stamped copyright signature of Sullivan's nephew on the bottom of sheet music on which a signature of of Gilbert has been laid down.
.................$100
25. [GRANADOS, Enrique]- Program book for the Benefit Concert given at the Metropolitan Opera House-Sunday evening May 7,1916 for the orphaned children of Enrique and Amparo Granados who were killed when the Germans torpedoed the US Sussex in the English channel. Granados and his wife were returning to Europe \after the premiere of his opera "Goyescas" at the Metropolitan Opera January 16,1916. Appearing at the concert were Maria BARRIENTOS, Julia CULP. Pablo CASALS, Fritz KREISLER, John McCORMACK & Ignace Jan PADEREWSKI who all sign. a UNIQUE momento of a tragic event
.................$1,875		 26. HINDEMITH, Paul & BURGIN, Richard- both sign the program for the local (Boston) premiere of Hindemith's Concerto for Violin & Orchestra April 19, 1940.
.................$250		 27. KALMAN, Emmerich- SPc with musical quote signed Ischl 1924 with another signed greeting on the message side Wien 18 Juin. The quote is "Komm mit nach Varasdin" from "Gräfin Mariza" together with "Csardasdfurstin" are among the most popular works of this genre ...He was noted for combining Viennese waltz with Hungarian casrdas with a Puccini like lilt!
.................$575
28. KHRENNIKOV, Tikhon- SP 5 x 7" portrait of the young Soviet composer dated 1944. A prolific composer in all forms. As secretary-general of the Union of Soviet composers he was fundamental in attacking Stravinsky, Prokofieff, Shosatakovich, Schnittke & Gubaidulina. and shaping the Soviet music scene for decades He died in 2007 at age 94.
.................$675		 29. KING, Pee Wee & STEWART, Redd- AmusQS from "Bonaparte's Retreat" King made cowboy movies with Gene Autry and joined the Grand Old Opry in 1937. In 1946 he was the bandleader for the Golden West Cowboys and he and the band's vocalist wrote "Tennessee Waltz" the first of their many hits many hits including "Bonaparte's Retreat."
.................$375		 30. KURTAG, Gyorgy & Martha- SP 5 x 7 color photo of the composer at the piano and his wife or a b/w photo. Kurtag a contemporary of Ligeti is Hungary's leading composer, a pianist and teacher of note (Schiff and Kocsis are his pupils) and a living legend. He recently performed in New York during a Festival of Hungarian music at Carnegie Hall. - Rattle is a champion of his large scale works.
.................$150
31. LALO, Edouard- ALS 1 2 + pp in French "Lalp Paris 9 Juillet'79 Cher ami..."in which the composer of "Le Roi d'Ys" writes that his wife is convalescing from a serious pleuresy and that the doctors have said it would be long....and that the publisher Schott in Mainz had offered him only 500 Francs instead of the 1000 requested for the publication of his "5 Gesange" [after texts by Lamartine, Silvestre & de Laparde] and that..."I am going to say that I cannot accept ..that I cannot give these works written with the such pain and consciousness for such an insignificant sum..."The songs were published that same year!! signed "a vous de couer E.Lalo" Good letter!
.................$450		 32. LEHAR, Franz- pencil signature of the great operetta composer with a photo of him together with "Merry Widow" creators Mizzi Gunther & Louis Treumann.
.................$75		 33. LISZT, Franz- hand addressed envelope in Liszt's hand ..."Nord Bund Herrn- Herrn Dr.Richard Pohl,Leipzig per adresse C.F.Kahnt-Musikverlag-Neumarkt" Pohl was a composer and author friendly with Liszt. Together with a photo of Liszt.
.................$675
34. LISZT, Franz- Lozano Paris Carte de Visite photo of the YOUNG Liszt RARE.
.................$375		 35. MESSAGER, Andre- ALS 1 page in French from the noted French conductor. He conducted the world premieres of "Louise" & "Pelleas et Melisande" at the Opera Coimique] and composer of operettes "La Basoche", "Veronique" & "Monsieur Beaucaire" among the many others. He is accepting an invitation. & on the verso explains his delay in replying. Together with photo.
.................$125		 36. NAPRAVNIK, Eduard- dedication on the loose cover page to his opera "Dubrovsky"- "To my talented colleague Maria Kovalenko in memory of the beautiful performance of Tanya season 19913/1914 E. Napravnik" The Czech conductor composer started as an organist in Bohemia accepting a position to become organist and assistant conductor at the Imperial Theatres in 1863 rising to chief conductor succeeding Lvov in1869. He went on to lead the world premieres of Moussorgsky's "Boris Godunoff" as well as 5 Tchaikowsky operas "The Maid of Orleans", "Mazeppa", "Pique Dame", "May Night" and "Christmas Eve"as well as the successful 2nd perforrmance of Tchaikowsky's "Pathetique Symphony"9 days after Tchaikowsky's death. The premiere under Tchaikowsky had not been successful. A composer of 4 operas "Dubrovsky" with libretto by Modest Tchaikowsky after Pushkin was premiered in 1895 and was a great popular success. He died in 1916.
.................$1,275
37. PACINI, Giovanni- ALS 1 p in Italian "Napoli 3 Nov" 1833" – where his greatest "Saffo" had it's 20th century revival with Leyla Gencer in the title role. He wrote over 40 operas as well as much church oriented and secular music. His melodic invention was so great that Rossini once exclaimed " God help us if he knew music, no one could resist him."
.................$175		 38. PART, Avro- SP 5 x 7" color photo of the immensely popular contemporary Estonian composer.
.................$275		 39. PFITZNER, Dr. Hans- large signature 19 Dec 37 from the composer of "Palestrina" together with a photo of the composer.
.................$275
40. PONCHIELLI, Amilcare- SP Fotografia Albertotipia Milano sepia cabinet photo of the important Italian composer teacher of Puccini and Mascagni at the Milano Conservatory. "La Gioconda"was his greatest achievement and it remains one of the most challenging works for 6 STAR singers AND a pair of STAR dancers for "The Dance of the Hours" and is fortunately still played with regularity when a cast can be assembled. The photo is dedicated and signed on the verso in Italian ..."to the most gentle Mrs Virginia Leorenza Spalenza from your cousin Ponchielli Amilcare". Signed photos of Ponchielli (front or verso)are exceptionally rare.
.................$2,750		 41. PUCCINI, Giacomo- ALS 1 p signed letter to "Angiolini Magrini...Grosetto...OK for Gigi to stay on the 26th in Milano. I leave for Torre [del Lago] after tomorrow or Thursday the latest etc......Greetings to the wife and Nello affectionately Giacomo" Nice informal letter to a friend. with photograph.
.................$975		 42. RACHMANINOFF, Sergei- full pencil signature on an an album leaf (notes below not in Rachmaninoff's hand) with photo.
.................$375
43. RAFF, Joachim- ALS 1 p in German 18 October 1865 from the prolific Swiss composer/pedagogue[MacDowell studied with him] & orchestrator for Liszt.
.................$200		 44. ROREM, Ned- AMusQS a few notes penned by the beloved American composer.
.................$85		 45. SAINT-SAENS, Camille- "SAMSON & DALILA"- the composer dedicates and signs the first page of the first edition of the piano/vocal score of his masterpiece with a printed dedication to Madame Viardot-Garcia expressing testimony of gratitude from the authors. Nicely bound in excellent condition.
.................$1,375
46. SAINT-SAENS, Camille- SP of the prolific French composer's ear!! Signed 1902 The size is 6 x 8.25" UNUSUAL souvenir.
.................$675		 47. SHOSTAKOVITCH, Dimitri- greeting and signature 18 IX 1963 from one of the 20th century's greatest composers together with a photo.
.................$575		 48. SMYTH, Dame Ethel- signature of the English composer, a pupil of Reinecke in Germany where she was extremely respected. Her most important work was the opera "The Wreckers." A militant suffragette her "March of the Women" became their anthem. When Thomas Beecham went to visit her in prison after the suffragettes were arrested he found them marching in the quadrangle and singing as Smyth leaned out a window conducting the song with a toothbrush. At age 71 she fell in love with Virginia Wolff, who both alarmed and amused, said it was "like being caught by a giant crab."
.................$100
49. SPAETH, Sigmund- SP 8 x 10" photo of the composer/musicologist. He composed early sound film music including that for Gloria Swanson's ‘The Trespasser". He later became known as the Tune Detective writing countless articles & books in conjunction with his radio shows like Keys to Happiness & the Song Sleuth as well as his appearances on the Metropolitan Opera Quiz.
.................$85		 50. STOCKHAUSEN, Karheinz- AMusQS "Kontra Punkte" dated March 1, 2005.
.................$250		 51. STRAUSS, Richard- SPc of the composer conducting in London post WW11 with ANS on the verso "My dear Hugo Burghauser [long time bassoonist of the VPO and spokesperson for the orchestra responsible for Toscanini's association with them in the 1930s and later a member of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra] the last conducting interpretation in London, faithfully, Montreux 15.10.48."
.................$1,275
52. STRAVINSKY, Igor- signature on a card with a photo 1965.
.................$375		 53. SWANDER, Don- AMusQS from the ever popular, especially in Texas, "Deep in the Heart of Texas."
.................$750		 54. VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS, Ralph- signature of the beloved/ever popular english composer.
.................$175
55. VERDI, Giuseppe- LS 1 p to "Caro Leon"...(Escudier Verdi's Paris publisher and later impresario- he produced "Aida" at the Theatre Italien- its Paris premiere.)..do me the favor of coming tomorrow morning around 9 o'clock. I need to have 5 or 6 pages of score copied in just a few hours. Until Sunday GVerdi."
.................$3,250		 56. VILLA- LOBOS, Hector- SPc size photo of Brasil's most famous classical musician. His Bachianas Brasilieras is an very popular favorite with sopranos from Sayao to Fleming.
.................$750		 57. WAGNER Richard Wagner- signature matted with a photo and framed.
.................$2,250
58. WEINBERGER, Jaromir- SP 4 x 6"candid shot of the Czech composer best remembered for his wonderful opera ‘ Schwanda the Bagpiper" relaxing in St. Petersburg Florida where he emigrated. d/s 1969.
.................$675		 59. ZANDONAI, Riccardo- ALS 1 p in Italian Nov 26,1940 [1X year fascista] to "Maestro and friend [Carlo Giorgio Garofolo] I shall certainly keep in mind your recommendation for Maestro d'Ambrosi if the Minister allows me to add a post to the existing posts at my Conservatory, which are already filled. I am seeing you in a few days in Rome, affectionate greetings Zandonai"- Zandonai is best remembered for his powerful opera "Francesca da Rimini" and was for many years head of the conservatory at Pesaro.
.................$275


Abbreviations
SP - Signed Photo
AL - Album Leaf
AS - Autograph Sentiment
PCC - Printed Calling Cards
ALS - Autographed Letter Signed
D/S - Dedicated & Signed
 ANS - Autographed, Note, Signed
SPc - Signed Postcard
AMusQS - Autographed Musical Quote Signed
TLS - Letter signed by person described
LS - Letter signed by person described,
written by another


Home On to Instrumental


Copyright © 1998-2009, Roger Gross, Ltd. All rights reserved.
This site designed and maintained by