Music Library News

Manuscripts Acquired at Auctions

With successful bids at two recent auctions, the Music Library has acquired three manuscripts that supplement our collection of primary sources documenting music of the twentieth century.

The manuscript for Henri Sauguet's (1901-1989) Deux mouvements symphoniques pour archets (1964) was purchased in London at Christie's on November 30. Notated in the composer's hurried hand, the manuscript offers evidence of Sauguet's initial inspirations as well as numerous corrections, cancellations, and other revisions.

On December 1, Sotheby's held its music auction in London, and there the library acquired two leaves of sketches by Albert Roussel (1869-1937). These working manuscripts for the opera Padmâvatî (1923) and the Piano Concerto (1928) offer early glimpses of Roussel's process in planning and developing material for these two large works.

These purchases were made possible with support from the Black Dog Fund and the James A. and Sally Ann Hagan Endowed Fund.