VIOLIN

An interesting sidelight into a neglected area of Joachim scholarship, the 'Joseph Joachim - biography and research' website containing no references at all to Macirone. Joachim's acquaintance with England (where his elder brother Henry settled) had begun while he was still a child, when his teacher Felix Mendelson (himself a prodigy) had brought him to the country, where his playing caused a sensation. 14 letters, in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The combined letters total 34pp. in 8vo and 12mo, with Joseph Joachim's eleven letters consisting of 25pp. of this amount, of which 15pp.

16 pp., 8vo. In printed wraps with advertisements of performances at the Queen's Hall on the back cover. Stapled. Aged and damp-stained, with chipping and wear to edges. Punch hole at head. Pp.2-16 carry Walker's notes on the five sections of the concert: a Beethoven quartet performed by the Kruse Quartet; Berger songs performed by Mrs Henry Wood, accompanied by her husband; a Brahms piano piece performed by Willibald Richter; Borodine songs performed by Mrs Henry Wood, again accompanied by her husband; and a Sinding quintet performed by Richter and the Kruse Quartet.

Piece of paper, 11 x 7com, tipped on to larger piece of paper. "En attendant les plaisirs recus [?] Mademoiselle les sinceres salutations de votre [serv[an]t?] devoue" (or soenthoing like that, hand difficult).

Part of a card, 7 x 3cm, laid down on larger piece of paper, some staining (glue?) bur signature clear.

8pp., 12mo. Stapled into beige wraps with deckled edges, with attractive illustration of street musicians on front in brown and red. In good condition, with rusting to staple having loosened the central bifolium. A pleasing memento of an early concert by Elman (he was fifteen at the time). Pp.4-8 carry the 'Words of the Songs'. 'At the Piano - Mr. Charlton Keith. Piano by Bechstein. Suppied by Mr. Arthur Wood, Redhill.' Scarce: no copy on COPAC.

Substantial Typed Letter Signed "Max Rostal", 16 July 1956, one page, 4to, good condition, in which he writes to Gladys Pankhurst, his secretary, from Salzkammergut, Austria, requesting additional items for his school - pieces of music (specific details), a recording, 600 Players cigarettes "on the boat" i.e. duty free for three people.

4to, 1 p. Fair, on aged paper, with a couple of closed tears neatly repaired on reverse with archival tape. Letterhead ('Importers of Violin, Violoncello and Harp Strings'), with decorative device of two violins, gives the 'Proprietors' as 'S. Bernard Withers, Douglas S. Withers', but with the first name crossed out. Withers writes that 'In this sad time of the loss of my Brother Bernard' Miss Gunn's 'condolences are sincerely appreciated'.

On one side of a piece of pink wove paper, roughly 19 x 15 cm. In poor condition, aged and ruckled, with several closed tears repaired on reverse with archival tape, and a hole (roughly 1 x 1.5 cm) through the musical notation, which heads the page and consists of a staff with grand clef and three notes of music. Beneath this: '[signature, underlined] Willy Hess | April 1892'.

The cover is printed on one side of a piece of shiny art paper, roughly 20.5 x 13 cm. Photograph of Kubelik and his violin roughly 10.5 x 8 cm. Paper lightly creased and with slight wear along vertical fold across middle of photograph. Good firm signature.

On light-yellow page (roughly 11 x 14 cm) removed from autograph album. Four glue stains showing through from the reverse (not affecting the signatures), otherwise good. Reads 'Dora Stevens | Ethel Hobday | Marjorie Hayward | Cedric Sharpe'. Lightly docketed in pencil.

On leaf (roughly 10 x 15 cm) torn from autograph album. Good, on lightly aged paper. Signed 'Hugo Rignold' with another signature ('John <?> | <?>') in pencil above it. Docketed in pencil.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. He was absent when the letter to his wife (the English contralto Charlotte Dolby) arrived. He has heard 'the little boy', and thinks that 'with proper care he may turn out a good Violinist, but he hs to undo every thing and to be guided in the right Way. He has undoubtedly great disposition. If he is persevering and hard Worker (the Violin being the most difficult instrument) I believe he can be one day a very good player'. It is however 'impossible for me to forsee in the future before he has a good start in his Studies.'

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'I shall sing il "Soave e bel contento" [aria by Pacini] and will be happy to take a part in the quintetto[,] you must procure the parts of my song'. May possibly refer to the J. N. Hummel Benefit Concert in London on 29 April 1830, where Pacini's aria was played.