Massenet, Jules.

and inscribed by him above the music ("...Instrumenté pour les concerts de Mme Dyna Beumer-Lecocq en Amérique"), the violins, violas, cellos and basses all muted throughout, notated in dark brown ink on thirteen staves per page, a few autograph additions in lighter or darker brown ink, the poem by Armand Silvestre ("Comme un rideau sous la blacheur"),  marked up for performance by the conductor in red and blue crayon



9 leaves, folio (c.35 x 27cms), written on one side only, 20-stave paper, no place or date, [probably c.1897], some browning and small chips to margins

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."

This version of 'Crépuscule' is apparently unpublished. 

Massenet originally composed 'Crépuscule' in 1870-1872 (published by Hartmann in 1872). The present version, with its remarkable accompaniment for muted divisi strings, harmonium and piano obligé, made for the Belgian coloratura soprano Dyna Beumer (1856-1934), appears to be a later and unrecorded version.  The handwriting suggests a date in the 1890s. The string band is marked sourdines throughout (the violins divisi), with dynamics descending from "ppp" to "pppp" at the end.   The New York Times published a review of Dyna Beumer's New York début on 10 November 1897, when she sang "a song by Massenet" in an orchestral concert conducted by Seidl.  Earlier, in 1880 or 1885, Massenet had orchestrated the song and also made two chamber arrangements (with flute and string quartet, and another with solo violin and cello parts). However the present manuscript contains a distinct and later autograph arrangement,