In October, Christie’s is set to dazzle music enthusiasts and collectors with a unique online-only event. “The History of Western Music: Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection” is a groundbreaking sale that will take aficionados on a melodious journey through the annals of musical history.
This exclusive event, open for bidding from the 25th of October to the 8th of November, will feature over 150 lots, ranging from medieval notations to musical manuscripts, scores, drafts, and composer’s letters, encompassing an impressive span of over 1200 years of human civilization.
Notably, the collection includes works by some of the most celebrated composers in history, including Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Wagner, Dvořák, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky. At the heart of this auction lies a remarkable autograph music manuscript by Tchaikovsky, showcasing two substantial sections from the first version of the opera Mazepa, a rarity in the auction world and one of only three substantial Tchaikovsky autographs to surface in the last four decades.
Exploring the Schøyen Collection
The Schøyen Collection, representing one of the world’s most significant private collections of ancient manuscripts, boasts a heritage spanning an astonishing 5,000 years of human history. Established in the 1920s by M.O. Schøyen, this treasure trove contains over 20,000 culturally significant manuscripts with global provenance. In this extraordinary sale, you will discover the earliest lot, a leaf from the liturgical Office of St Remigius, written in Latin, and dating back to the late 9th/early 10th century.
This piece is among the earliest extant survivals of French Messine notation, offering an invaluable glimpse into the historical development of music notation. Alongside this, another leaf from an Antiphonal in Latin, produced by the Abbey of St Martial in Limoges around 1030, sheds light on the evolution of liturgical music during the Middle Ages.
The Schøyen Collection also delves into Beneventan chant and notation, showcasing a substantial fragment of a Beneventan Mass Book in Latin, alongside the only known Beneventan Bari-type Sacramentary. These items offer a rare opportunity to explore the unique and historically rich musical traditions of the Beneventan region.
For enthusiasts of Romanesque script with early German neumes, the auction presents a significant fragment of a 12th-century Sacramentary. This piece provides a valuable glimpse into the intersection of script and music during this period.
Celebrating Iconic Composers
The Schøyen Collection also pays homage to iconic composers. Joseph Haydn, a luminary of the Classical period, is represented by an autograph music manuscript for Symphony No. 90 in C major. This piece provides a unique opportunity to delve into the mind of one of the most prolific composers of his era.
George Frideric Handel is celebrated through a contemporary scribal manuscript of the four Coronation Anthems. This work, originating in England after 1730, offers insights into Handel’s compositions.
Richard Wagner’s opera, “Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg,” is commemorated with the first edition of the full score. This represents a significant milestone in the history of music publishing.
Maurice Ravel’s famous orchestral work, “Boléro,” is celebrated through an autograph manuscript quotation of its opening, a true gem for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Conversation Books The online sale further astonishes with a rare and unpublished autograph manuscript leaf from Ludwig van Beethoven’s conversation books. This leaf features early ideas for the Cavatina of the String Quartet No. 13, Op. 130. Only one other such leaf has appeared in the last 25 years, making this an extraordinary find.
Preparation for the Auction Highlight lots from the sale will be on display at Christie’s headquarters in London from the 4th to the 7th of November 2023, offering an exclusive opportunity for aficionados and collectors to get up close and personal with these remarkable pieces of musical history.
In conclusion, Christie’s “The History of Western Music: Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection” is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire pieces that embody the rich tapestry of Western musical heritage. This auction not only presents an extensive range of historically significant manuscripts but also celebrates the ingenuity of the composers who have shaped the course of musical history. Don’t miss the chance to own a piece of this extraordinary legacy.
Images: Christie’s
