JULES MASSENET On the date of the premier of his comic opera masterpiece Manon, he penned and signed these four double bars from Act II. Autograph Musical Quotation signed: "J. Massenet”, in /Paris/1 er presentation op: comique/samedi 19 Janvier 1884 [1st presentation opera: comic/Saturday 19 January 1884]", in black ink, 9½x2½. The composer has drawn four double bars of music, and written in French: "Prelude de l'act II (Manon) [Prelude to Act II (Manon)]". This historical musical quote was written on the first performance of his comic opera, Manon, considered his operatic masterpiece. The opera, which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, is a staple in the repertoire of many operatic companies and has been featured on numerous recordings, beginning with the historic first recording in 1923. Jules Massenet (1842-1912), who was extremely popular in his day, wrote numerous operas, but Manon established his reputation as a composer. Lightly creased with folds, vertical fold at 1 word of writing. read more...

"MY ALBUM IS OUT AND A NEW SINGLE RECORD 'THREE CIG IN AN ASH-TRAY' THIS COMING MONDAY." PATSY CLINE Rare ALS: "Patsy", 5 pages, 5½x8¾, separate sheets. Winchester, Va., 1957 July 31. With original stamped envelope, sent by special delivery, addressed by Cline to: "Miss Treva Miller/Route #1/Telford, Tenn.", postmarked Winchester, Va., August 1, 1957. Signed at upper left: "Patsy Cline/Winc. Va." Torn right edge from opening. Creased and worn. Most probably penned by 24-year-old Patsy Cline from her 608 South Kent Street home to the President of her fan club. In part: "Well, I received your letter and I'm sorry I haven't written sooner, but I had to take a little rest & then I had to go to New York for the 'Big Beat' Show, which I don't know if you seen or not, last Fri. Then Aug 10th I'm on the Ozark Jubilee again. My Album is out and a new single record 'Three Cig In An Ash-Tray' this coming Monday. They are puting (sic) out an L.P. & and (sic) an E.P. you know 4 songs on a forty-five speed. So maybe we will have good luck of some sort of out of 13 songs. I sure hope so. Sure is a bad time of the year right now. read more...

ANTONIN DVORAK A signed autograph note on a postcard, giving instructions to a music publisher in London, addressed in his hand and mailed from Prague in 1892. Both sides of the postcard can be viewed in the frame! Autograph Note Signed with two musical quotes: "A. Dvorak" in English, 5½x3¾. On verso of stamped postcard addressed by Dvorak to: "Novello & Ewer/ 1 Berners Street/London", postmarked Prague, March 24, 1892. In full: "I have no objection to it, when the two bars notes the Viola [c note] page 291. 207 are to be omitted and given to the Cello [two bars, two notes]". Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) is best known for his symphony in E minor, From the New World, composed in 1893. He is also noted for success in adapting folk music to serious romantic music. Dvorak was the Director of The National Conservatory of Music from 1892-1895. Note side is soiled, worn torn edges (all intact). Corners torn away affecting some writing and 1 musical quote. Address side is soiled and worn, edge flaws are framed over. Light stains. read more...

VERDI WRITES TO MARIA WALDMANN WHO APPEARED IN HIS FIRST PRODUCTION OF AIDA IN MILAN   GIUSEPPE VERDI. ALS: "G. Verdi", 1p, 4½x3½. Sant'Agate, 1889 November 18. To his close friend, Maria Massari Waldmann. In Italian, partially translated. In part: "Thank you, my dear Maria, and thanks to your kind Duke for the affectionate remembrance...Greetings to the Duke and a warm handshake...." On February 8, 1872, mezzo-soprano MARIA MASSARI WALDMANN starred as Amneris in the Milan premiere of Aida under Verdi's direction. At the time of this letter, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) spent part of the year at the Villa Verdi at St. Agata diBusseto, close to his birthplace in Le Roncole, and part in Genoa in an apartment in the Palazzo Doria. Inscription on verso of Verdi's letter, in Italian: "To my dear/friend Margherita/from/Maria Massari/Zavaglia/Ferrara, 22-1-905". There is a collection of nearly 100 letters from Verdi to Waldmann in La Biblioteca del Conservatorio "G.B. Martini" in Bologna, Italy. Lightly stained. Overall, fine condition. read more...

TAX DOCUMENT REVEALS THAT GEORGE GERSHWIN GOT 60% AND IRA GERSHWIN RECEIVED 40% FROM THEIR COLLABORATIONS   GEORGE GERSHWIN and IRA GERSHWIN. Carbon Typed Document Signed: "George Gershwin" and "Ira Gershwin", 1p, 8½x13. Los Angeles, California, 1936 September 30. In part: "GEORGE GERSHWIN and IRA GERSHWIN each, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is one of the parties to the written agreement dated July 29, 1936, executed by and between RKO STUDIOS, INC. and GEORGE GERSHWIN and IRA GERSHWIN, under the terms and conditions of which the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin are employed by the said RKO Studios, Inc. and under the terms and conditions of which the compensation payable to the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin is paid to them jointly, without any allocation between them. That under the terms and conditions of an agreement existing between the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin all compensation received by them read more...

SIGNED, HANDWRITTEN COPY OF "CHANTILLY LACE" RECOVERED FROM THE BIG BOPPER'S SUITCASE ON THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED J.P. RICHARDSON "THE BIG BOPPER" Autograph Musical Manuscript signed: "Big Bopper", 9½x12½ lined music paper. The second trumpet part for "Chantilly Lace", written in signer's hand in black ink. A "flat" sign has been added in blue ink to the key signature. Accompanied by photocopy of a handwritten letter from Richardson's son, J. P. Richardson, Jr., which reads in part: "These three pieces (Chantilly Lace, Big Boppers Wedding, Little Red Riding Hood), were recovered from my fathers' briefcase which survived the plane crash of Feb. 3, 1959." [The other two pieces mentioned are not included with the sale of this item.] Jiles Perry Richardson (1930-1959) was a Texas disc jockey who called himself "The Big Bopper" after the latest dance craze, the bop. His song, "Chantilly Lace", which he wrote and sang, reached the "Top Ten" in 1958. In January 1959, The Big Bopper was booked on the Winter Dance Party tour that would cover most of the Midwest. The tour included such headliners as Buddy Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, Waylon Jennings and Ritchie Valens. read more...

BUDDY HOLLY He has signed his handwritten answers to a high school quiz, before he changed the spelling of his name! Autograph Manuscript signed: "Buddy Holley", 1 page, 8x10¼. Sheet of two-hole loose-leaf paper from his junior high or high school days in Lubbock, Texas. No date. The second page of a test graded with red pencil. Headed: "2". In full: "22. Hidalgo/23. nitrogen-humus/24. Pecan/25. Insurance-Retail trade-/Wholesale trade-manufacturing/26. Peanuts/27. Corn-Oats/28. Mineral water and salts/29. Federal Reserve Bank/30. Fourth/31.---/32. State capitol-Texas University/33.---/34. S.M.U. Southern Methodist University/35. T.C.U. Texas Christian University/36. Bal Baylor College/37. Price University University of Houston/38.---(Houston-University of Houston)/39.---(Houston-Baylor Medical College)/40.---(Houston-Texas School of Dentistry)". Number 22 ("Hidalgo") is marked wrong. #23 "nitrogen" is underlined, "humus" is circled, and "½" is written, probably giving half credit for the answer. Numbers 31 and 33 (no answers) are marked wrong. Born in 1936 in Lubbock, Texas, as Charles Hardin Holley, he became known as "Buddy". Holley attended J.T. Hutchinson Junior High in Lubbock. read more...

THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: JOHN PHILLIPS, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, DENNIS DOHERTY and CASS ELLIOT and LOU ADLER The singing group The Mamas and the Papas signs a document terminating their contract with Lou Adler. Rare Partly Printed Document Signed: "John Phillips", "Michelle Phillips", "Dennis Doherty", "Cass Elliot" and "Lou Adler", 2p, 8½x10½, separate sheets. No place, 1967 September 27. To Lou Adler, who has signed under "Agreed to and Accepted". In part: "We have requested that you terminate your contract with Dunhill Records, Inc., pursuant to which you act as our Producer in connection with the making of phonograph records for Dunhill Records, Inc. In consideration of your doing so, and in consideration of your rendering services as our Producer in the future, we agree as follows: We hereby engage your nonexclusive services as a producer and as an independent contractor to supervise, direct and produce our recording sessions, up to the point of delivery of finished tapes.... read more...

JAZZ GREATS: DJANGO REINHARDT, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, STEPHANE GRAPPELLI, JACK TEAGARDEN. EARL HINES and 17 OTHERS Program of the 1948 Jazz Festival in Nice, France, signed by 21 famed jazz musicians. The signatures are historic, but so is the program! Nice claims this event as the world's first ever jazz festival! Program signed: "D Reinhardt", "Louis Armstrong", "S Grappelli/xxx", "Jack Teagarden", "Barney Bigard", "Arvell Shaw", "Earl/Fatha/Hines" (twice!), "Rex Stewart", "Jimmy Archey", "Henry Goodwin", "Milton Mezz Mezzrow", "Big Sid Catlett", "Hugues Panassie", "Baby Dodds/2-25-48", "Good luck/George Kennedy", "Sandy Price", "Sandy Williams", "Lucky Thompson", and 3 unidentified signatures. 8 pages 9½x12. Accompanied by a 6¼x10 unsigned program, 5 pages. Program of the International Jazz Festival, Nice (France), February 22-28, 1948. In all 20 signatures! From February 22 to 28, 1948, the world's first ever jazz festival was held in Nice, France. Organized by HUGUES PANASSIE, President of Hot Club de France, the festival demonstrated Europe's recovery from World War II and helped popularize the new bop style of jazz in France. read more...