Copland, Aaron.

inscribed and signed on the title by Leonard Bernstein to Phillip Ramey ("For Phillllippp---'Lass' uns Sühne trinken...' Love, or something similar, Lenny B 5 Feb '81"), the revisions by Copland and Bernstein (the title page marked in pencil by Copland: "with revisions by A.C. and L.B."), and possibly other hands, in pencil, some additions made on blank staves above the printed score, some deletions, including one cancelled bar between the fourth and fifth bars after rehearsal number 17, 18 pages, folio (37 x 27.8cm), no place, [1941], splitting along folds, discolouration to outer pages, a few tiny tears to margins of outer leaves

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An important document in the composing history of one of Copland's most evocative compositions, revealing significant changes in the work's instrumentation.

As a note by Copland on the original score makes plain, the thematic material of the work is derived from incidental music Copland composed for Irwin Shaw's 1939 play 'Quiet City'. This original version was scored for trumpet (representing the troubled main character of the play), saxophone, clarinet and piano. The composer elsewhere indicates (in Copland and Perlis, Copland 1900 through 1942, p.287), that his (re-)scoring of the work for trumpet and string orchestra (this is the scoring of the printed facsimile) was modified by the addition of a cor anglais, to provide contrast and to give the trumpeter breathing spaces. Copland told Phillip Ramey in 1985 that "the idea of contrasting trumpet with English horn was a trouvaille, a 'find', giving, I think, a certain freshness and variety of instrumental color".  Some passages in the present score are indeed indicated to be played by the cor anglais; some added parts, however, are marked for oboe, this instrument, according to the 1941 first edition of the work, being employed should no cor anglais be available (the present score differs in a number of points from the 1941 edition). According to Copland, the orchestration was completed in September 1940, the premiere taking place on 28 January 1941 at Town Hall, New York, with Daniel Saidenberg conducting the Saidenberg Little Symphony (Copland and Perlis, p.287-288). We understand that this score was used for the first performance, and that the significant alterations in the score were made during rehearsals.