Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Felix

Estimate

40,000 - 50,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Felix
Fine contemporary manuscript full score of the "Wedding March" from A Midsummer's Night's Dream, with an autograph title page, signed inscribed and bound by the composer, and with a presentation inscription by him to the composer Paul Cuzent
ink on paper

"Hochzeits-Marsch aus Shakspear's Sommernachtstraum Partitur. Herrn Paul Cuzent zu freundlichem Andenken Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy...[and, on the preceding flyleaf:] Souvenir de la soirée du 16 Mai 1846 à Leipsic", calligraphically inscribed on two leaves preceding the music, the music notated in brown ink by an unknown scribe on sixteen staves per page,

24 pages, folio (c.33 x 26cm), 16-stave paper, fine contemporary German presentation binding comissioned by Mendelssohn, red morocco elaborately gilt, border roll with spray and vase tools, dedicatee's initials to front cover ("P. C."), contemporary red leather slipcase, incorporating an ornamental conductor's baton, decorated with coloured and gilt beads, overall size: 33.8 x 30cm

Literature

MWV M 13: this presentation manuscript is unrecorded.

Catalogue Note

This is a remarkable and most attractive item, the composer's presentation copy of one of the most famous and best-loved pieces of music ever written.

Mendelssohn had his famous work copied out in full orchestral score, evidently for a conductor, adding an autograph dedication title and memento of a performance, and had the volume specially and elaborately bound with a conductor's baton. Paul Cuzent was active as a composer of quadrilles, but also, more particularly, as an equestrian artist and subsequently as a conductor. The soirée at Leipzig in 1846, recalled by Mendelssohn's flyleaf inscription, may record one of Cuzent's equestrian performances or alternatively Cuzent's own wedding. On 22 May 1846, Mendelssohn recorded in his account books (which are now in the Bodleian Library) that he paid 2.15 Thaler for binding a march for Paul Cuzent.

Paul Cuzent (1812-1856) came to know Mendelssohn first through his skills as a horse-rider. A report in the Athenaeum 1856 states that "on one of M. Paul Cuzent’s [equestrian] tours, the grace of his performances, and the taste which he displayed for the art in which he has produced himself, brought him into the acquaintance of Mendelssohn, who used to speak of him with admiration and interest; and who...attested these by composing some marches and other stage-music expressly for M. Cuzent."

Sotheby's is most grateful to Dr Ralf Wehner for his advice and assistance in our cataloguing of this lot.