Alfor's Rarities

[fhimpsl]

Vielen Dank, Freund Alfor.... for your posting of the two remarkable volumes of the "Collection Moderne." While it may be obvious to all, I'll nonetheless state this for the record. These volumes represent the ultimate in importance, in terms of musical value, and rarity as far as we value the physical artifacts of old sheet music. On a personal level, they represent the philanthropy and musical insight of a remarkable man, Edward B. Marks. There could hardly have been any money in publishing classical piano music during the depression era of the US when these volumes were issued. And yet here you see such beautifully produced, authoritative scores with art design covers. A fitting presentation for the masterpieces which lie within. And in turn, a fitting tribute to the memory of the publisher. I've spent a lifetime collecting music, and have noted several individual Marks imprints of great composers such as Medtner, Stravinsky, DeFalla and others. But never would I have imagined that Marks had published collections such as this. These volumes represent the "non plus ultra" of sheet music collecting (to use James Huneker's description of Chopin Op. 10-4 in context of difficulty).

I wonder whether the folks at Disney first learned of Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1" from this score, and hence were inspired to use it in their "Fantasia" of 1940....

Thank you for your own continued philanthropy, dear Alfor, which continues to enrich our lives.

All Best,

Frank H.

[alfor]

Ey, danke, Alter!

Ey, bitte, Junger!

[alfor]

Vielen Dank, Freund Alfor.... for your posting of the two remarkable volumes of the "Collection Moderne." While it may be obvious to all, I'll nonetheless state this for the record. These volumes represent the ultimate in importance, in terms of musical value, and rarity as far as we value the physical artifacts of old sheet music. On a personal level, they represent the philanthropy and musical insight of a remarkable man, Edward B. Marks. There could hardly have been any money in publishing classical piano music during the depression era of the US when these volumes were issued. And yet here you see such beautifully produced, authoritative scores with art design covers. A fitting presentation for the masterpieces which lie within. And in turn, a fitting tribute to the memory of the publisher. I've spent a lifetime collecting music, and have noted several individual Marks imprints of great composers such as Medtner, Stravinsky, DeFalla and others. But never would I have imagined that Marks had published collections such as this. These volumes represent the "non plus ultra" of sheet music collecting (to use James Huneker's description of Chopin Op. 10-4 in context of difficulty).

I wonder whether the folks at Disney first learned of Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1" from this score, and hence were inspired to use it in their "Fantasia" of 1940....

Thank you for your own continued philanthropy, dear Alfor, which continues to enrich our lives.

All Best,

Frank H.

Dear Frank,

thank you very much for your comment!
I always appreciated the Edward B. Marks volumes.
Amazing that they included composer like Juon and Niemann!!

They had very nice „Radio City Albums“, „Kaleidoscope Editions“, etc.,
often with valuable fingering.

While all these are out-of-print, a Mompou volume is still in print
for a very decent price.

I will keep my eyes open for more Marks editions.

Best regards

alfor

[fleubis]

Frank, thank you for your insightful commentary. Such publications as these two volumes must have been a revelation to many pianists at the time and their high quality still shines today. One tends to expect beginner or intermediate level collections but to see a collection of then relatively unknown concert works in one volume....wow!

[alfor]

How do you rate this music?
And what about the author's ship??

Author's Ship.pdf

[Ferruccio]

How do you rate this music?
And what about the author's ship??

Author's Ship.pdf

I like the piece, but have no plane about the author's ship. Curious now, though....

[alfor]

I like the piece, but have no plane about the author's ship. Curious now, though....

The composer is very well-known.
Unfortunately mainly for one single piece.
The posted piece was composed at the age of 16.

Next questions:
19th century, 20th century??
European, American??

[alfor]

No hint from anybody???

Some help:

You may recall this simple phrase („scherzando“) from a major work of this composer:

g#, a#, g#, b, g#.....g#, a natural, g#, b, b, g#, g#, a natural, g#, b, a natural...

[alfor]

You s-h-o-u-l-d know the following theme (from the same work):

e flat minor:

(ascending): e flat, g flat, b flat, d natural.....f

[emma]

You s-h-o-u-l-d know the following theme (from the same work):

e flat minor:

(ascending): e flat, g flat, b flat, d natural.....f

Dear Alfor,
I Suggest S Barber, as your clues refer to his piano sonata (last part).
Best regards,
Emma