ERNST BACON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/15/1966 - HFSID 272470

ERNST BACON
The Pulitzer Prize winner signs on this typed letter regarding literary materials he sent
Typed Letter Signed: "Ernst Bacon", 1p, 8½x11. Orinda, California, 1966 July 15. To Mr. James Lyons, Editor, The American Record Guide, New York, New York. In full: "The enclosed material may be of interest to you. At least I am chancing it. Incidentially, I am not a much recorded musician (recent recordings, Cello-Piano Sonata, CRI, and coming up, 'Songs' to Emily Dickinson, who incidentally I was the first to set to music, with Helen Boatwright; older recordings, not very well prepared musically, 'Ford's Theater,' AmRecSoc, also 'Enchanted Isle,' Louisville Records). However, I am not approaching you about the records but rather as a literary person." American composer and pianist Ernst Bacon (1898-1990) won the Pulitzer Prize for his Symphony in D minor (1932), and he was also the recipient of two Guggenheim Fellowships. Bacon, who wrote symphonies, piano concertos, chamber music, ballets, is best known for his songs, which include lyrical arrangements of texts by Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman as well as arrangements of American folk songs. Twenty two of his Dickinson works were recorded by Helen Boatwright (mentioned in this letter), with the composer at the piano. Bacon, who also performed as a pianist in both the U.S. and Europe, also wrote several books on music and was a talented painter. Lightly creased with folds, horizontal fold underlines signature. Otherwise, fine condition.