“ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS MARCHING AS TO WAR” SABINE BARING-GOULD. British author of the lyrics of the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” (the music was written by Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert & Sullivan fame). Autograph Manuscript Signed, S. Baring-Gould, full page, legal folio, undated. He has penned five stanzas of eight lines each, of one of the … [ Read More ]
Collectible Autographs from Famous Musicians and Composers
The world of signed letters, signed documents, autograph signatures relating to music is the most international of all the fields of autograph collecting. Every culture listens to the music of the Western world, and collectors everywhere seek to possess something by the geniuses who have made the music that enriches our lives. The rarity and availability of autograph signatures and signed pieces by composers is as varied as their music. Signed letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are a once in a lifetime occurrence, and his autograph musical notations are approaching that degree of rarity. Only slightly less rare are signed letters of Ludwig van Beethoven. Frédéric Chopin's early death at the age of 39 contributes to the rarity of his signed letters which, like those of many other composers, have been collected by institutional libraries and museums for decades. Giacchino Rossini's long life and great popularity have made his letters much less rare, and while the composer of William Tell is in significant demand, his signed and autograph pieces can be found. Despite Felix Mendelssohn's relatively short life – he died at the age of 38 – he enjoyed considerable fame and popularity during his lifetime, and wrote and signed many letters, which everyone saved. His signature is very clear and there is no question who signed. The demand for his autograph signature and signed letters is balanced by the number of pieces that have been saved and treasured.
Franz Liszt, who enjoyed a long life and great popularity, wrote many letters providing the modern collector with the opportunity to obtain fine examples of his autograph signature at reasonable prices. Richard Wagner [see separate listing - Lee Goldberg: put the citation in here to go directly to that page] was enormously popular during his lifetime. He wrote many autograph signatures and signed letters, and the collector today benefits from these pieces having been treasured and saved. Johannes Brahms is much scarcer in autograph signatures and signed letters, and is equally popular; according, he has become quite difficult to find. Johann Strauss the younger, popularly known as “the Waltz King,” is not nearly as common in autograph signatures and signed letters as one might imagine, given his great popularity during his lifetime and the decades since.
The autograph signatures and signed letters of the great Italian operatic composer Giuseppe Verde were sought after during his career, and have been treasured since. He lived a long life, and has always been very popular among collectors of autograph signatures and signed letters, which are usually of a social nature. The great and popular Russian composer of this epic, Peter Tchaikovsky, whose ballets are still among the most popular in the world, is rare in signed letters as well as autograph signatures. The French composers Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Maurice Ravel are available in autograph signatures and signed letters. More popular in contemporary operatic performances and among collectors is Giacomo Puccini. Puccini’s long life span and his enormous popularity, both during his lifetime and in the decades since, have ensured that his signed letters would be saved. Puccini's admirers have very actively collected his signed letters, and though it is now rare to find letters with the emotional and musical content that were available several decades ago, fine examples of his autograph signature and signed letters can be found.
George Gershwin's popularity has soared in recent years and, despite his popularity during his lifetime and in the decades since, his autograph signature and signed letters are not common. This is largely because of his relatively short life span. Cole Porter is also very scarce and the demand for his autograph material is far greater than the number of pieces that come onto the market. Irving Berlin did not give his autograph very commonly, but his long life span has ensured that there are autograph examples for his admirers. Leonard Bernstein was generally willing to give his autograph signature, and his signed letters are equally available on the market. Duke Ellington was also very willing to sign autographs and fine examples can be obtained.
Berlin, Irving
IRVING BERLIN. American composer. Printed Sheet Music, to his 1913 song That International Rag, signed boldly by Irving Berlin on the front cover, five pages, 14 inches by 10 inches. The brightly colored cover is attractively illustrated with a scene showing Uncle Sam directing a chorus dressed in international costumes Fine condition, bound in a … [ Read More ]
Berlioz, Hector
FRENCH COMPOSER OF “SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE” Autograph Musical Quotation, written on the back flap of an envelop addressed to Monsieur Alizard. Together with an Autograph Inscription Signed, two lines on one page, octavo, [Paris], December 15, 1838, to the violinist Alexandre-Jean Boucher; with the integral address leaf attached. In his Autograph Musical Quotation, Hector Berlioz … [ Read More ]
Bernstein, Leonard
AMERICAN COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR Half-length postcard Photograph of the maestro conducting, Signed across the light portion of his image. The black and white photograph of Leonard Bernstein measures 6 inches wide by 4 inches high. Price: $450
Borodin, Alexander Porfir’yevich
RUSSIAN COMPOSER Autograph Letter Signed, A. Borodin, two and one-half pages, octavo, St. Petersburg, May 6, 1884. To My dear Monsieur Jadoul. “I have just received your letter accompanied by two programs at once. I thank you infinitely for the kindness of having performed my piece and having notified me of its success. I … [ Read More ]
Cohan, George M
AMERICAN COMPOSER AND LYRICIST OF POPULAR SONGS INCLUDING “I’M A YANKEE DOODLE DANDY”. American composer and lyricist of popular songs including I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy. Autograph Sentiment Signed, Yankee Doodlefully, Geo M Cohan, on the verso of his business card, 1-1/4 inches by 3-3/4 inches. Price: $975 This item is associated with the … [ Read More ]
Donizetti, Gaetano
“I SHALL SAY, AS DOES RODRIGO IN THE OPERA OTHELLO, ‘AN AWAITED PLEASURE IS ALL THE MORE SO, WHEN IT IS EAGERLY DESIRED.” Autograph Letter Signed, Donizetti, Italian operatic composer, page, quarto, Monday, undated. “Last night, Mr. Scribe set the rehearsal of the production of my opera for tomorrow night; you find me thus forced … [ Read More ]
Garcia, Jerry
American Rock ‘n Roll singer; leader of the Grateful Dead. Autograph Manuscript, one page, legal folio, [1992]. Garcia handwrites the lyrics to the song, The Maker, which he played in concert with the Jerry Garcia band from 1992. On a yellow-lined sheet of paper. “Oh deep water Black and cold like the nite I stand … [ Read More ]
Gershwin, George
American composer of Rhapsody in Blue. Sepia-tone Photograph of Gershwin in profile, playing the piano, Signed, Inscribed and Dated on the lower margin, “To Hyman Sandow – All good wishes / George Gershwin / Feb. ’28”. A slight defect in the photographic surface, in the center upper portion, not affecting the image of the composer … [ Read More ]
Guthrie, Woody
THE AUTHOR OF “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND” GIVES HIS PERSPECTIVES ON NEW GROUPS, ESPECIALLY THE GROUP THAT BECAME THE DRIFTERS “…I HOPE THAT I AM WAKING THEM UP TO FIND THEIR OWN TONGUES…THEY SOUND FIERY AND YOUNG…AND WHEN THE NEW SUCCESS DIES DOWN, THEY WILL STAND FLATTER ON THEIR FEET AND SING WITH MORE … [ Read More ]
Handy, W. C.
African American blues composer. Autograph Musical Quotation Signed and Inscribed, “The Memphis Blues / to Lionel A Aucoin by W. C. Handy”, on a one-page sheet with three staves, narrow oblong quarto, February 13, 1946. Below his inscription, Handy has written two measures from his song with the lyrics, “They had a fiddler there who … [ Read More ]
Haydn, Franz Joseph
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN. Austrian composer. Signature, Haydn, with his paraph, on a 2 1/4 by 2 1/2 inch sheet. Matted in beige and brick with a vintage photograph of an oil portrait. Framed in decorative carved gilt measuring 9 1/2 inches wide by 15 1/2 inches high. Price: $7,500 This item is associated with the … [ Read More ]
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Austrian composer. Printed musical score signed, Haydn [paraph manu propria], on the title page of Ariana a Naxos, Cantata a Voce Sola, first British edition, 18 pages, oblong folio. London: Published for Haydn by J. Bland. Rare. Franz Haydn gave the music publisher John Bland the copyright to Ariana when the two first met in … [ Read More ]
Kern, Jerome
American composer. Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed Jerome Kern twice, on the title page and to the right of the song title on the first page, six pages, folio, October 1, 19[4]2. Entitled Look Who’s Here! This unpublished manuscript is the Opening Chorus Song, Miners, Girls and Band, from Act III of Look Who’s Here!, comprising … [ Read More ]
Liszt, Franz
FRANZ LISZT. Hungarian composer. Autograph Letter Signed, three pages, octavo, March 11, 1841. In French, to Monsieur Kuranda. “…I was wrong…to ask you to come to me on Saturday at 3 o’clock. My business manager, Monsieur Billon, will send you what we agreed on. If, however, you have a moment free on Saturday, I … [ Read More ]
Loewe, Frederick
THE ONLY KNOWN MANUSCRIPT, RETAINED BY LOEWE HIMSELF, OF THIS FAMOUS AND POPULAR SONG FROM CAMELOT. FREDERICK LOEWE. Vienna-born American songwriter. Autograph Musical Manuscript of one of his most famous songs from Camelot, “Fie On Goodness,” three and one-quarter pages, large quarto, [1959]. Frederick Loewe writes thirty-nine lines of music and lyrics to the song, … [ Read More ]
Loewe, Frederick
FREDERICK LOEWE. Vienna-born American songwriter. Autograph Musical Manuscript of one of his most famous songs from Camelot, “Then you may take me to the Fair,” two pages, large quarto, [1959]. With the title page bearing the notation, “Guenevere, men”. THE ONLY KNOWN MANUSCRIPT, RETAINED BY LOEWE HIMSELF, OF THIS FAMOUS AND POPULAR SONG FROM CAMELOT. … [ Read More ]
Marks, Johnny
“YOU’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY!” (AND HE DID!) JOHNNY MARKS. Composer of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Autograph Musical Quotation Signed, one page, quarto, undated. In red ink. Marks write the notes and lyrics (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) of the first two measures of his hit song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Rudolph (with his shiny nose) was … [ Read More ]
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix
FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY. German composer. Autograph Letter Signed, one page, large quarto. Leipzig, May 12, 1846. In French. To Signor Marchese Domenico Capranica in Rome. “I thank you sincerely and from my heart for the translation of my St. Paul you kindly sent me; you provided me a real pleasure with this consignment and the agreeable … [ Read More ]
Perkins, Carl
CARL PERKINS. American singer, songwriter, and guitarist; wrote “Blue Suede Shoes.” Autograph Manuscript Signed, one page, quarto, 1991. On Perkins’ personal letterhead. Carl Perkins has transcribed six lines of lyrics from his 1956 hit “Blue Suede Shoes”. “‘Blue Suede Shoes’ / Well it’s one for the money / Two for the show / Three to get … [ Read More ]
Piaf, Edith
EDITH PIAF. French singer and actress whose interpretation of the Chanson, or French ballad, made her internationally famous. A close-up, head-shot Photograph of the legendary chanteuse in a wistful gaze, her hand on her cheek, Signed Edith Piaf and Inscribed in the dark upper portion, “Pour Monsieur Maurice Croifer / Sympathique… / Edith Piaf”. The black … [ Read More ]
Porter, Cole
CONTRACT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE PLAY, “ANYTHING GOES” COLE PORTER. American composer. Document Signed, four pages, legal folio, May 8, 1953. Also signed by Porter’s co-librettists P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The contract concerns the production of the musical play, Anything Goes, “on the spoken stage in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland … [ Read More ]
Porter, Cole
COLE PORTER. American composer. Formal bust-length portrait photograph of the composer, sporting a polka dot tie and a carnation in his lapel, Signed in the light right portion above his shoulder. The sepia-toned photograph measures 4 1/2 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches high. Matted in cream and yellow, and framed in antiqued gilt. Framed … [ Read More ]
Puccini, Giacomo
GIACOMO PUCCINI. Italian operatic composer. Autograph sketch leaf from the Bible Scene from the composers opera, La Fanciulla del West [The Girl of the Golden West]. Two pages [recto and verso], folio [14 by 9 inches], on lined music paper. Puccinis working manuscript, with corrections and deletions, thirty bars total, scored for voice and accompaniment. … [ Read More ]
Ravel, Maurice
MAURICE RAVEL. French composer. Autograph Letter Signed, two full pages, octavo, June 7, 1916. Written during his World War I service to his Marraine [de guerre], Mme Fernand Dreyfus, mother of the composer Roland-Manuel. Fine condition. Your label didn’t surprise me; since arriving here I have been having a misperception that packages and perhaps letters … [ Read More ]
Rimsky-Korsakow, Nicolai
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOW. Russian composer. Printed Letter Signed, N. Rimsky-Korsakow, two pages, quarto, St. Petersburg, November/December 1906. As president of the committee organizing the celebration of Glazunov’s 25th anniversary as a composer, to an unnamed “leading person connected with music and art.” Also signed by two of the committee members, A. I. Siloti and A. K. … [ Read More ]
Rodgers, Richard
RICHARD ROGERS. Composer and librettist of film and Broadway musicals. Mimeograph Document Signed in ink, 52 pages, quarto, May 4, 1940. The agreement between Rodgers and Hart and RKO Radio Pictures for exclusive motion picture rights to the musical comedy Too Many Girls. The agreement contains clauses regarding advertising, musical recording rights and distribution rights. … [ Read More ]
Rossini, Gioacchino
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI. Italian operatic composer. Autograph Letter Signed, one very full page, quarto, Bologna, August 2, 1847. To Filippo Santocanale, Esq. “The fear of bothering you is what keeps me from writing you more often. Since I am tormented by the heirs of my late wife, I must now write to you begging you, entreating … [ Read More ]
Rouget de Lisle, Claude Joseph
CLAUDE JOSEPH ROUGET DE LISLE. Composer of the Marseillaise. Autograph Letter Signed, Rouget de Lisle, two pages, octavo, April 29, 1829. To Mr. Lafebvre, saying that he is embarrassed not to have answered his letters, and that his health prevents him from travelling. Horizontal fold expertly repaired, otherwise fine. Price: $4,750 This item is associated … [ Read More ]
Strauss, Johann
JOHANN STRAUSS. Viennese composer of waltzes. Autograph Letter Signed, one page, octavo, undated, [Saturday]. To a colleague. As no concert is taking place today Herr Geber is asking for a new program for Sunday, as the one which would have been given tomorrow has already been publicized twice. I have therefore taken the liberty of … [ Read More ]
Strauss, Johann
JOHANN STRAUSS. Viennese composer of waltzes. Very fine contemporary carte-de-visite size photograph of the Waltz King, wearing formal attire and medals, inscribed to Monsieur Tudshoorn in bold blue pencil, and signed beneath the image of Johann Strauss. A fine example. Matted in tan and claret, in an antique gilt frame measuring 9 inches wide by … [ Read More ]
Strauss, Richard
RICHARD STRAUSS. German composer. Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed, Richard Str, two pages, folio, undated. Together with a typewritten letter of the composer’s son, Dr. Franz Strauss, dated July 24, 1978, stating that manuscript sketches of his father are very rare. This manuscript is [leaf] 31 of a sketch from Richard Strauss’s opera Capriccio, comprising thirty … [ Read More ]
Stravinsky, Igor
IGOR STRAVINSKY. Russian composer of Firebird. Typewritten Document Signed, a carbon typescript signed in ink, one page, quarto, April 27, 1964. A legal agreement with Paul Kohner, Inc., in which Stravinsky states “that you acted as my exclusive agent in procuring employment…with Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica…covering my services as composer and conductor of music in … [ Read More ]
Verdi, Giuseppe
Italian operatic composer. Autograph Musical Quotation Signed, “G. Verdi,” 1889, one page, from “Otello.” On an album page, Giuseppe Verdi has penned five notes from the arresting theme of the “Ave Maria” (“Prega per chi ado[rando]” or “Pray for all sho adore…”) from the fourth act of his tragic opera “Otello.” Interestingly, Verdi substituted the … [ Read More ]
Verdi, Giuseppe
Italian operatic composer. Autograph Note Signed, G Verdi, with a musical quotation of one measure, one page, small octavo, undated [end of April or May 1, 1874]. In purple ink, to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi. With the original envelope. Giuseppe Verdi. “In the printed edition at p. 36, in the figure for trumpet, there is … [ Read More ]
Wagner, Richard
German operatic composer. Autograph Musical Manuscript, Richard Wagner, one page, small oblong octavo, [Paris], undated but circa March 1861. A manuscript comprising Tannhäuser’s final words in the second Act “Vers Rome,” in score, for voices and strings. Four measures, notated in pencil on six staves. This is probably an alteration attached to the manuscript of … [ Read More ]
Weber, Carl Maria von
German composer. Autograph Quotation Signed Carl Maria von Weber, oblong octavo sheet, Perseverance leads to the goal! Bremen, September 3, 1820, on…journey to Copenhagen. Price: $4,250 This item is associated with the following category in our inventory: Musicians / Composers