Sale 2461 - Autographs, November 7, 2017

LETTER CONTAINING MAGNIFICENT FAIR COPY OF HIS “MAY SONG” 180 c   MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, FELIX. Autograph Letter Signed, including an Autograph Musical Manuscript, to philologist Adolf Friedrich Stenzler (“Dear [Sten- zler’s name in a Brahmic script]”). The letter, in German, recalling their last meeting on Blackfriars Bridge [London], expressing pleasure at the ability of young musician Eduard Granek, giving news of common acquaintances, and hoping to meet again. The manu- script, written at bottom of page two, a fair copy of his “May Song” (Op. 34, No. 1), 28 bars notated on three systems of three hand-drawn staves, with holograph title, tempo directive, and lyrics, in German. 2 1 / 2 pages, 4to, written on a folded sheet, address panel on terminal page; few closed separations at folds, small holes at fold intersections with minor loss to text on third page, minor loss from seal at upper edge of third page, faint bleed-through throughout, remnants of hinging along upper and lower edge of first and terminal pages. Düsseldorf, 21 June [1834: from docketing] [10,000/15,000] “. . . So it has now been a year since we parted on Blackfriars Bridge, and then it will soon be 10 years, and then etc. That’s the trouble with time—it passes so utterly and completely. . . . Eduard [Granek] is an excellent player; he took up my difficult English instrument as if it were entirely tame. Furthermore, he is an undemanding, good fellow. I just hope he comes to like it in Düsseldorf . . . .