Ustvolskaya, Galina

Three autograph leaves of music, containing 41 bars in all--1)  scored for piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat, horn, celesta and violins, with cancelled movement numbers 'IV' and '6' at the head of the music, notated in dark blue ink on two 11-stave systems per page, the music cancelled in pencil and red crayon, numbered 31-32, inner edge cropped, splitting slightly along horizontal fold, tiny hole to upper right-hand corner--2) the outer third of a leaf, scored for piccolo, flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba, celesta, piano and strings, notated in dark blue ink on one 24-stave system per page, cancelled in pencil and blue crayon, numbered 73-74, central horizontal fold--3) the outer half of a leaf, scored for piccolo, flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba, celesta, piano and strings, notated in dark blue ink on one 24-stave system per page, cancelled in red crayon, numbered 77-78, tiny tear to leading edge, central and vertical folds

6 pages in all, one folio leaf (36 x 24cm) and two smaller leaf fragments, cut down from larger leaves, no place or date

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."

THESE ARE APPARENTLY THE ONLY EXAMPLES OF DRAFT MATERIAL BY USTVOLSKAYA TO SURVIVE, AS SHE DESTROYED ALL HER OTHER SKETCHES.

This is a seemingly unique survival of music rejected by the composer, who is famous for having destroyed the drafts and scores of works she considered  imperfect. Containing music that might be described as relatively 'normal' in appearance, the present leaves may have been part of a score of one of her so-called 'contract' works, compositions written to order out of purely financial considerations, and which she strove ruthlessly to keep out of the canon of her acknowledged works.