A. Dudley, P. Mealor, and D. Wiseman. Three autograph manuscripts, including the theme from "Poldark", 2010-2022

Sold in aid of the University of York Music Press (UYMP)

Anne Dudley, Paul Mealor, and Debbie Wiseman.

Three autograph manuscripts

Dudley, Anne. Autograph manuscript of the theme from the television series Poldark, signed ("Anne Dudley"), scored for piano and violin, 18 bars in all, notated in black ink, 2 pages, 4to (31.4 x 22.5cm), 10-stave paper, no place or date [2022] 

 Mealor, Paul. Two sketchleaves for Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal (Four Madrigals on Rose Texts), signed ("Paul Mealor"), notated in pencil, on two-stave systems, one signature in black ink, 2 pages each bearing 9 staves, cut down from larger leaves, c.17 x 26.3cm, Scotland, 2010 and 2022

Wiseman, Debbie. Two lengthy autograph musical quotations signed ("Debbie Wiseman"), being Oscar's theme from the soundtrack to the 1997 film Wilde, and Juliet's theme from the 1995 film Haunted, notated in black ink, 12 and 18 bars, respectively, 2 pages, 4to (29.6 x 21cm), 12-stave paper, no place or date, [2022]

In 1998 Anne Dudley (b.1956) won an Oscar for her musical score for the film The Full Monty. Her much-loved soundtrack to the television series Poldark dates from 2015. The motet Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal (rearranged as Ubi Caritas et Amor) by Paul Mealor (b.1975) was a royal commission for the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The award-winning Debbie Wiseman (b.1963) has been Composer in Residence at Classic FM since 2015.

Manuscripts by living composers have become rare items, swept aside by technology. Few composers cultivate individual calligraphy when they can access sophisticated music notation on their ipads or computers. This sale of autograph manuscripts, sketches and scores composed in the last twenty years therefore represents a special opportunity.

The manuscripts comprising lots 82-93 are offered for sale by the University of York Music Press (UYMP), a charity that champions contemporary concert composers, with a focus on helping younger composers establish themselves.

The lots in this section encompass music for the concert hall, opera house and film by some of today's best-known composers: Thomas Adès, George Benjamin, James MacMillan, and Debbie Wiseman. Included too are those who continue to write an elegant calligraphy - Robert Saxton, Michael Finnissy, and Judith Weir. Most topical is John Rutter's anthem for Ukraine. Particularly fascinating is a sketch by the late Harrison Birtwistle (his initials at the foot of the manuscript were the last thing he ever wrote).

Altogether, twenty-two composers are represented in the sale, all of whom have donated their manuscripts for the support of UYMP's charitable activity.