- 217
Ustvolskaya, Galina
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description
- Ustvolskaya, Galina
- Two annotated scores of the Symphony No.2, one signed
- paper
1) Printed facsimile of the autograph score of the symphony, copiously annotated and corrected by the composer in black ink, blue ballpoint, blue pen and red crayon, including autograph corrections to the facsimile subtitle ("Istinniya i Blagaya Vechnost [True and Blissful Eternity]!" changed to "Istinniya, Vechnaya Blagost [True, Eternal Bliss]!"), and three pages of instructions and annotations, contained on the verso of the title and on both sides of the following inserted leaf, regarding the instrumentation and performance of the work, including instructions to the reciter and concerning dress ("After each exclamation the soloist says "God" quietly...Soloist - black shirt, black trousers [trans.]"), [4], 70 pages, 4to (28.8 x 20.3cm), the annotations dating from the 1980s, contemporary quarter cloth, splitting at upper hinge
2) Printed facsimile of a scribal copy of the symphony, annotated and corrected by the composer in black ink, blue ballpoint and blue pen, with additional autograph annotations to both sides of the front free endpaper (on recto, cancelled: ""Kompozitsiya" No 1 Dona nobis pacem. / "Kompozitsiya" No 2 Dies irae. / "Kompozitsiya" No 3 Benedictus qui venit...Galina Ustvolskaya"; on the verso: "Ustvolskaya / 1979r. / Symphonia No 2 "Istinnaya, Vechnaya Blagost [True, Eternal Bliss]...", altered from "Istinniya i Blagaya Vechnost [True and Blissful Eternity]..."), some annotations to the verso of the front free endpaper concerning tempi and the exclamations of the reciter, with further annotations on two sides of a leaf affixed to the first page of music, the first side containing an autograph drawing of a plan of the orchestra and many other annotations, the volume signed twice on the front free endpaper, the head of the score bearing the autograph instruction "Tempo always slower [trans.]!!!", other entries in the score in pencil in another hand, [4], 76 pages (pagination irregular), folio (45 x 28cm), original quarter cloth, the annotations dating from the 1980s, splitting at hinge, corners thumbed
Two extraordinary scores of one of the most important works by the Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006), creator of some of the 20th century's most original and innovative, as well as brutal and uncompromising, music.
We have traced no annotated scores or autographs by Ustvolskaya previously at auction.
The music of Galina Ustvolskaya is like that of no other composer. Only 21 enigmatic and ferocious compositions were acknowledged by the famously reclusive composer, who tried to destroy all traces of any lesser works written 'for money' - these being the revealing words she wrote on the few manuscripts which escaped the bonfire. The words appended to the autograph score of the Symphony No. 2, however - "scream into space" - may be taken as voicing the composer's artistic credo, one realised by means of a unique timbral soundworld, a violently uncompromising harmonic language and a highly individual choice of dynamic values (much of this music is very, very loud).
Consisting of a single movement, and dating from 1979, the Symphony no. 2 (subtitled "True and Eternal Bliss") is organized around the threefold declamation by a male reciter of just three words - Gospodi, vechnost, istina (Lord, eternity, truth), taken from the texts of Hermanus Contractus de Reichenau (1013-1054), the paralyzed German nobleman, monk and musician. Surrounding these three declaimed statements are homophonic instrumental passages performed by an orchestra of six flutes, six oboes, six trumpets, and a single trombone, tuba and piano.
The symphony was published in 1979 and first performed in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, V. Altschuler conducting, on 8 October 1980. Ustvolskaya's autograph manuscript of the Second Symphony is preserved in the Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel.
2) Printed facsimile of a scribal copy of the symphony, annotated and corrected by the composer in black ink, blue ballpoint and blue pen, with additional autograph annotations to both sides of the front free endpaper (on recto, cancelled: ""Kompozitsiya" No 1 Dona nobis pacem. / "Kompozitsiya" No 2 Dies irae. / "Kompozitsiya" No 3 Benedictus qui venit...Galina Ustvolskaya"; on the verso: "Ustvolskaya / 1979r. / Symphonia No 2 "Istinnaya, Vechnaya Blagost [True, Eternal Bliss]...", altered from "Istinniya i Blagaya Vechnost [True and Blissful Eternity]..."), some annotations to the verso of the front free endpaper concerning tempi and the exclamations of the reciter, with further annotations on two sides of a leaf affixed to the first page of music, the first side containing an autograph drawing of a plan of the orchestra and many other annotations, the volume signed twice on the front free endpaper, the head of the score bearing the autograph instruction "Tempo always slower [trans.]!!!", other entries in the score in pencil in another hand, [4], 76 pages (pagination irregular), folio (45 x 28cm), original quarter cloth, the annotations dating from the 1980s, splitting at hinge, corners thumbed
Two extraordinary scores of one of the most important works by the Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006), creator of some of the 20th century's most original and innovative, as well as brutal and uncompromising, music.
We have traced no annotated scores or autographs by Ustvolskaya previously at auction.
The music of Galina Ustvolskaya is like that of no other composer. Only 21 enigmatic and ferocious compositions were acknowledged by the famously reclusive composer, who tried to destroy all traces of any lesser works written 'for money' - these being the revealing words she wrote on the few manuscripts which escaped the bonfire. The words appended to the autograph score of the Symphony No. 2, however - "scream into space" - may be taken as voicing the composer's artistic credo, one realised by means of a unique timbral soundworld, a violently uncompromising harmonic language and a highly individual choice of dynamic values (much of this music is very, very loud).
Consisting of a single movement, and dating from 1979, the Symphony no. 2 (subtitled "True and Eternal Bliss") is organized around the threefold declamation by a male reciter of just three words - Gospodi, vechnost, istina (Lord, eternity, truth), taken from the texts of Hermanus Contractus de Reichenau (1013-1054), the paralyzed German nobleman, monk and musician. Surrounding these three declaimed statements are homophonic instrumental passages performed by an orchestra of six flutes, six oboes, six trumpets, and a single trombone, tuba and piano.
The symphony was published in 1979 and first performed in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, V. Altschuler conducting, on 8 October 1980. Ustvolskaya's autograph manuscript of the Second Symphony is preserved in the Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel.
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."
"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
Two extraordinary scores of one of the most important works by the Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006), creator of some of the 20th century's most original and innovative, as well as brutal and uncompromising, music.
We have traced no annotated scores or autographs by Ustvolskaya at auction.