Poetry and Plays and Music Scores

Testimony – The Memoirs of Shostakovich. – Solomom Volkov – First UK Edition 1979

A first UK edition of the memoirs … as related to and edited by Solomon Volkov.

Much controversy surrounds this book perhaps because of its fairly frank position of the great man’s views on … other composers, Stalin, the system etc. However, Solomon Volkov was very close to Shostakovich in his final years … and unsurprisingly Shostakovich instructed for it not be published until after his death and Volkov, who presumably had the control, never published the book in Russia.

Published by Hamish Hamilton, London 1979. Octavo, 238 pages with index and numerous illustration from period photographs. Very nice.

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was nine before being taught the piano by his mother … his natural talent was immediately identified … he could repeat the pieces the next day without reference to the music score. His first symphony at 19 was success. Not all of his efforts were successful afterwards … his music too experimental at times for the Communist rule … particularly Stalin … who later had a habit of disposing of his friends and relatives. Later his music softened and he was gradually brought into the embrace of the hierarchy.

The photographic images are special … with Prokofiev and Khachaturian … imagine the conversations.

Shostakovich thorough and believable

$40.00

Updating cart…

Poems to Pavlova – Tulloch Cull – First Edition 1913

A first edition of this poetic homage to the great ballerina Anna Pavlova.

Published by Herbert Jenkins, London in 1913. Square octavo, 62 pages after preliminaries with 8 plates from period photographs. Original decorative green cloth covered boards, all in very good condition.

Russian born Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) hardly requires introduction. Principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes … forever to be remembered as the dying swan.

Her name was pronounced Pa … vlova unfortunately the pudding designed in her honour Pav … lova has corrupted our understanding. Invented (the pudding) during her tour of Australia in the 1920’s … disputed by Kiwis across the Ditch who believe it was first made in Wellington.

Anna Pavlova … much more than a meringue with fruit!

$60.00

Updating cart…

Beethoven Ninth Symphony Pianoforte Score arranged by Carl Reinecke (Choral Portion) English Translation by Rev W.T. Southward – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy dated 1910 whilst at Oxford.

Published by Breitkopf & Hartel, Leipzig circa 1900. Large octavo, 78 pages. Original cloth backed wrappers, slightly aged but still very good.

Symphony No.9 in D minor Op 125 the final complete Beethoven symphony compose between 1822 and 1824. Many regard this his greatest work. The first major symphony to use voice in here the fourth movement with four soloists and a choir. The words from a poem “Ode to Joy” a poem by Friedrich Schiller with Beethoven additions.

Published Breitkopf & Hartel being the worlds oldest music publishing house established in 1717. Their rendition of the Ninth arranged by Reinecke was to become a favourite of quality orchestra’s around the world.

Sir Adrian Boult’s copy inscribed on the upper wrapper … “Adrian C Boult 15 Oct 1910”

Adrian Boult (1889-1983) schooled at Westminster and then went up to Christ Church, Oxford reading History in 1908, but later changed to Music graduating in 1912. So, the ownership of this item clearly resides with his university days. In fact, in 1910 he was the President of the University Music Club. He met Ralph Vaughan Williams at Oxford and was already acquainted with Elgar. He then went on to study at Leipzig and it was there that he developed into the man he was. Surely one Britain’s greatest orchestral conductors … he was the first to tackle Holst’s Planets and was to form the BBS Symphony Orchestra and conduct the LSO and the LPO

Beethoven Ninth Choral – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy

$120.00

Updating cart…

The Fortunes of Fifi – Molly Elliot Seawell – First Edition 1903

A first edition published by Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis in 1903. Interestingly, carries the booksellers sticker of Dymock’s Book Arcae, 428 George Street. Dymocks, Australia’s favourite book store was started in 1879 but soon moved to the aforementioned address as the business took off.

Fifi is a young actress in fourth rate theatre in Paris. Napoleon is involved in a minor way. She has confidantes and admirers and much love and lost love ensues. She turns out to be related to a certain person in very high place … things get rich and in a tangle which really she is not that thrilled with – eventually, she ends up with the one she should. Complex and intriguing romance. The outline is easily told … it became an early silent movie circa WW! And was very successful.

Octavo, 239 pages, with decorative end papers that match the delightful pictorial covers. A very good copy.

Classic Romance based in Paris, became one of the very first movies.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Mr Tambourine Man (EP 1965) Spanish Pressing with Special Cover – Les Byrds

Or “El Hombre de la Pandereta” … first Spanish pressing of the Byrds no 1 hit interpretation of Bob Dylan’s classic song … same year as his 1965. Les Byrds first all up.

45 rpm EP, including All I Really Want to Do. I Knew I’d Want You and Feel a Whole Lot Better. Very good condition.

Bob Dylan gave his blessing to the recoding before it was released. Dylan’s version ran for over 5 minutes, but the Byrds decided on a version half that length for air play. It was effectively the first “Folk Rock” hit and in a sense created the genre. Using only the second verse and the chorus twice and an additional construction, starting off with a Bach inspired intro the twelve sting guitar effect is a winner. “You can dance to that” … quote Bob Dylan. The Byrds got Hall of Fame recognition … unusual for a cover … but a special one.

Get out La Panderata tonight …

$30.00

Updating cart…

Sarah Bernhardt – William Embodden (Introduction Sir John Gielgud)

A first edition published by Studio Vista (part of Cassell), London in 1974.

Quarto, 176 pages, some signs of age still a very good copy of a excellent work on Bernhardt, not the least for the introduction by Sir John Gielgud.

Nicely illustrated throughout from period photographs. Includes our image of Sarah as Frou-Frou.

Accompanied by a useful appendix listing the plays in which she acted chronologically and a healthy bibliography.

Sarah Bernhardt – well-presented and with exceptional images.

$40.00

Updating cart…

Testimony – The Memoirs of Shostakovich. – Solomom Volkov – First UK Edition 1979

Poems to Pavlova – Tulloch Cull – First Edition 1913

Beethoven Ninth Symphony Pianoforte Score arranged by Carl Reinecke (Choral Portion) English Translation by Rev W.T. Southward – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy dated 1910 whilst at Oxford.

The Fortunes of Fifi – Molly Elliot Seawell – First Edition 1903

Mr Tambourine Man (EP 1965) Spanish Pressing with Special Cover – Les Byrds

Sarah Bernhardt – William Embodden (Introduction Sir John Gielgud)

Product Categories