Bidspirit auction | [MUSIC AUTOGRAPHS] - FERRUCCIO BUSONI

[MUSIC AUTOGRAPHS] - FERRUCCIO BUSONI (1866–1924) - Autograph letter signed to Isidore Philipp - FERRUCCIO BUSONI (1866–1924) - Autograph letter signed to Isidore Philipp, concerning Saint-Saëns’s Fifth Piano Concerto and the exchange of orchestral performance material. 18 January 1922. Autograph letter signed “F. Busoni”, to the French pianist and pedagogue Isidore Philipp (1863–1958), in French. 18 January 1922. One page, large 4to, on squared paper, written in dark ink. An attractive professional letter between two eminent pianist-composers, concerning Camille Saint-Saëns’s Fifth Piano Concerto and the circulation of Busoni’s own orchestral material. Addressing Philipp as “Cher Ami”, Busoni explains that he is reorganising his library and can no longer find the music for Saint-Saëns’s Fifth Concerto: “Je transforme ma bibliothèque et ne trouve plus le 5me de S. Saëns; donc je vous prierais de me faire envoyer la partie de piano à Londres (mais sûrement!! et bientôt!).” (“I am reorganising my library and can no longer find Saint-Saëns’s Fifth; I would therefore ask you to have the piano part sent to me in London (but definitely!! and soon!).”) The reference is to Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103, the celebrated “Egyptian” Concerto. Busoni immediately reciprocates by arranging for his own orchestral material to be sent to Philipp: “Je fais envoyer à vous (aujourd’hui même) tout le matériel de mes choses d’orchestre…” (“I am having all the material for my orchestral works sent to you this very day…”) The letter opens a window onto the practical exchanges underlying the international concert world of the period, with scores and orchestral parts circulating directly between two of its leading pianist-composers. Busoni concludes emphatically and affectionately: “Merci 20000 fois! Votre très dévoué F. Busoni.” Busoni and Isidore Philipp Isidore Philipp (1863–1958) was a leading representative of the French piano school, a distinguished pianist and composer, and a long-serving professor at the Paris Conservatoire. He and Busoni maintained a substantial correspondence over many years, discussing performers, compositions, concert engagements, and practical musical matters. The present letter is particularly appealing for bringing together Saint-Saëns and Busoni’s own music within a single exchange, while documenting the direct circulation of performance material among prominent musicians in the early twentieth century. Provenance: Formerly offered by Kotte Autographs as part of a group of three autograph letters signed by Ferruccio Busoni to Isidore Philipp, dating from 1916 to 1923.