Sir H. Birtwistle. Autograph sketch for "Deep Time", signed, c.2016

Sold in aid of the University of York Music Press (UYMP)

Sir Harrison Birtwistle (1934-2022)

Autograph sketch for Deep Time, signed ("HB")

a composing manuscript, notated in pencil and red and green pen, with indications of scoring, and containing a number of erasures, deletions and corrections

1 page, large oblong folio (c.42.5 x 60cm), 16-stave paper, no place or date [c.2016], a few tiny stains

A STUNNING COMPOSING MANUSCRIPT BY THE FOREMOST BRITISH COMPOSER SINCE BENJAMIN BRITTEN.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WRITING OF HIS INITALS AT THE FOOT OF THE SKETCH WAS THE LAST TIME THE COMPOSER LIFTED A PENCIL AND MADE A MARK.

Deep Time, scored for a Mahlerian-sized orchestra, including double tubas, double contrabass clarinets, upright piano, soprano saxophone and quadruple brass, was conceived as the closing companion-work to the earlier The Triumph of Time (1970–1972) and Earth Dances (1985–1986), with which it shares a preoccupation with time and geology, specifically the vast slowness of geological time, riven as it is by sudden violent fractures and catastrophes. The work received its world premiere on 6 May 2017 at the Berlin Philharmonie, with Daniel Barenboim conducting the Staatskapelle Berlin.

The Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel, established a so-called living archive agreement with Birtwistle in 1989, acquiring his manuscripts as they emerged. The present manuscript, which fell under that agreement, is included here courtesy of the Sacher Stiftung.

Manuscripts by living composers have become rare items, swept aside by technology. Few composers cultivate individual calligraphy when they can access sophisticated music notation on their ipads or computers. This sale of autograph manuscripts, sketches and scores composed in the last twenty years therefore represents a special opportunity.

The manuscripts comprising lots 82-93 are offered for sale by the University of York Music Press (UYMP), a charity that champions contemporary concert composers, with a focus on helping younger composers establish themselves.

The lots in this section encompass music for the concert hall, opera house and film by some of today's best-known composers: Thomas Adès, George Benjamin, James MacMillan, and Debbie Wiseman. Included too are those who continue to write an elegant calligraphy - Robert Saxton, Michael Finnissy, and Judith Weir. Most topical is John Rutter's anthem for Ukraine. Particularly fascinating is a sketch by the late Harrison Birtwistle (his initials at the foot of the manuscript were the last thing he ever wrote).

Altogether, twenty-two composers are represented in the sale, all of whom have donated their manuscripts for the support of UYMP's charitable activity.