L12406

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Lot 214
  • 214

Holst, Gustav

Estimate
7,000 - 9,000 GBP
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Description

  • Holst, Gustav
  • Autograph working manuscript of part of Beni Mora
  • paper and ink
an apparently early draft of the first dance, substantially complete, with many substantial divergences from the final version, including entire bars, written in short score in dark brown ink on six systems per page, each of two staves, the final and accompanying parts added in ink and in pencil, incomplete, with many deletions, alterations and revisions, and with tempo and other markings all in the hand of the composer ("Vivace... bis... Tempo I... Rall e Dim... Andante... ")

4 pages, folio, 12-stave paper, no place or date, [c.1909], modern green morocco folder, some browning, tears to margins, slightly affecting lowest stave, trace of mount on last page.

Condition

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."

Catalogue Note

Beni Mora was written as a set of orchestral dances in 1909-1910 and performed in 1912: it is perhaps Holst's most important orchestral work before The Planets. This sketch is for the first movement, originally called "Oriental Dance", which was inspired and partly built on Moorish melodies that Holst brought home from a holiday in Algeria in 1908. It is substantially complete, although lacking anything equivalent to the final eighteen bars of Holst's final published version. Holst also later inserted several bars in the music.