Documents and Letters

Arnold BAX (1883-1953) Autograph Letter Signed (“Arnold Bax”) to “Dear Mr. Usborne” (Richard Usborne, assistant editor of The Strand magazine), making arrangements for a photograph to be taken. 1 page 8vo, Storrington, 15 April n.y.                               ...

Rutland BOUGHTON (1878-1960) Autograph Letter Signed (“Rutland Boughton”) to “Dear Mrs. Drinkwater” [violinist Daisy Fowler], expressing his wish to hear her play “the Violin Sonata”.1 page 4to, Kilcote, Newent, 3 January 1932. “Seeing the enclosed programme (for which I am not responsible) makes me wish that you were playing the Violin...

Adrian BOULT (1889-1983) Typed Letter Signed (“Adrian C. Boult”) to Francis Reed at the BBC, thanking him for the return of a book which Boult had given to his father.1 page 8vo on letterhead of the BBC [but with the typed address of Box No. 7, G.P.O., Bedford], 11 November...

Eric COATES (1886-1957) Two Typed Letters Signed ("Eric Coates") to "My dear Robbie", the first regarding a new work on which he was working, the second congratulating his correspondent on a performance of Hansel and Gretel.1 page small 4to, Chiltern Court NW1, 22 December 1934 and 1 page small 4to,...

Dame Myra HESS (1890-1965) Autograph Letter Signed (“Myra Hess”) to “Dear Mr. Mayor” [the Mayor of Colchester], regretting that she cannot accept his invitation to the Oyster Feast. 1 page 4to, 48 Wildwood Road NW11, 5 October 1951. “It is again with the deepest regret that I cannot accept your...

William HURLSTONE (1876-1906) Autograph Letter Signed (“William Hurlstone”) to “Dear Miss Attenborough” [the poet and lyricist Florence Attenborough] discussing a work in progress. 2 pages 8vo on conjoined leaves, 23 Park Mansions, Battersea Park, 11 February 1906.“Very many thanks for congratulations. I was surprised at the result of the Competition!I...

Joseph JOACHIM (1831-1907) Autograph Letter Signed (“Joseph Joachim”) to “My dear Cracroft” telling him of a musical gathering the following Sunday.2 pages 8vo, n.p. [but London], n.d. “You will find Mr. Elefanti[?] and the young Count on Sunday at eleven at my rooms for breakfast. I am very much pleased to...

Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951) Autograph Letter Signed (“Constant Lambert”) to “Dear Michel”, sending regrets that he is “engaged for Christmas”.1 page 4to, 42 Peel Street, W8, 16 December n.y.                               “So sorry not to have answered your...

Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951) Two Autograph Letters Signed ("Constant Lambert") to "Dear Mr. Saunders", in one letter accepting to become "Honorary Vice President of the Ellington Society" and in the other declining an invitation to give a talk at "the Centre" as he is "far too busy with rehearsing and arranging...

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Autograph Letter Signed ("J. Massenet") to an unidentified correspondent, arranging a meeting. 2 pages 8vo in French, n.p., n.d. [but annotated in pencil in another hand "13/4/08"]. Trans: "As you wish / Tuesday from 10 to 11.30 for you. If Mr. Bernheim is there, you could still talk...

Pierre MONTEUX (1875-1964) Typed Letter Signed (“Pierre Monteux”) to Wilfred L. Tremblay, giving the young man advice on his musical studies.1 page 4to on letterhead of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston, 11 March 1922.“. . . Your own progress in music is interesting. It seems to me that at sixteen...

Arthur NIKISCH (1855-1922) Autograph Letter Signed (“Arthur Nikisch”) to “My dear Mrs. Lambert” regretting that he has not yet had a reply about her tickets for the Salzburg festival and looking forward to seeing her in Ostend.2 pages 8vo in English with integral blank leaf, Leipzig, 1 July 1914.   ...

Joseph Alfred NOVELLO (1810-1896) Autograph Letter Signed (“J Alfred Novello”) to Alfred Littleton, thanking him for sending him A Short History of Cheap Music.1 page 8vo with integral blank leaf, Villa Novello, Genoa, 12 August 1887. “I suppose few elderly gentlemen on the day they complete their 77th anniversary have rec’d...

Hans RICHTER (1843-1916) Autograph Letter Signed (“Hans Richter”) to Herr Sachse regarding a former pupil.1 page large 8vo in German, n.p., 11 September 1880. Trans: “I can’t give you an answer about the London German opera today, as I don’t know myself. Herr Barsch took lessons with me for a short...

Hans RICHTER (1843-1916) Autograph Letter Signed (“Hans Richter”) to “My dear Sir William”, graciously thanking him for a present.1½ pages 8vo on writing paper of The Frederick Hotels Limited, Hotel Great Central, London, 29 October 1900.                            ...

Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Autograph Letter Signed (“C. Saint-Saëns”) to “Mademoiselle” [probably the pianist Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos], promising to have a “little work” for the piano to offer her soon.1 page 8vo in French, Boulogne, 3 September 1880. Trans: “I write very little for the piano, you know it, but I hope in...

Sir Henry Joseph WOOD (1869-1944) Typed Letter Signed ("Henry J. Wood") to "Dear Mr. Page" thanking him for a book on Toscanini. 1 page 4to, Chorley Wood, 1 October 1929. "Many thanks for kindly sending me round the book on Toscanini; I expect the account of his rehearsals will make...

Sir Henry Joseph WOOD (1869-1944) Typed Letter Signed (“Henry J. Wood”) to “Dear Mr. Stein” [Erwin Stein, editor at music publishers Boosey & Hawkes], a long and detailed discussion of his work on a transcription of the Brandenburg Concertos suitable for amateur orchestras.1½ pages 4to, including a half-page autograph postscript,...