The earliest lot within the sale, a leaf from the liturgical Office of St Remigius, in Latin, (France, circa late 9th/ early 10th century) is among the earliest extant survivals of French Messine notation (estimate: £40,000-60,000) alongside a leaf from an Antiphonal, in Latin; a fascinating product of the Abbey of St Martial in Limoges, (circa 1030), arguably the most important scriptorium for the history and development of liturgical music in the Middle Ages (estimate: £5,000-8,000).
The sale also features works of Beneventan chant and notation, including a substantial fragment of a Beneventan Mass Book, in Latin, and the only known Beneventan Bari-type Sacramentary (estimate: £70,000-100,000, illustrated above). Also on offer is an important example of Romanesque script with early German neumes: a significant fragment of a 12th century Sacramentary (estimate: £15,000-20,000, illustrated below).
Joseph Haydn, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period, is represented in the auction by an autograph music manuscript of performance parts for Symphony no.90 in C major and the only autograph manuscript for a symphony by the father of the form to have appeared at international auction (estimate: £60,000-90,000, illustrated above right).
The online sale will additionally offer a rare and unpublished autograph manuscript leaf from Ludwig van Beethoven’s conversation books which features the composer’s early ideas in the form of a sketch for the Cavatina of the String Quartet No 13, Op.130 (estimate: £50,000-80,000). Only one other leaf from Beethoven’s conversation books has appeared in the past 25 years.
A manuscript quotation of the opening of Boléro, one of the most frequently performed works in the classical canon, signed by Maurice Ravel, and representing one of the composer’s most famous orchestral works, is also offered (estimate: £8,000-12,000, illustrated below left). The auction will offer the first edition of the full score of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser opera, one of the most celebrated examples of music publishing in the history of music. Of the hundred copies produced by Wagner, only twenty-nine are now known, of which only six in private hands (estimate: £20,000-30,000, illustrated below).
Eugenio Donadoni, Senior Specialist, Books and Manuscripts, Christie’s London comments: “The importance of the materials in The Schøyen Collection goes far beyond the scope of a private collection, or even a national public collection. No auction has ever before attempted to tell the history of music over 1200 years of human civilization, and we are proud to offer such an impressive collection which represents many of the greatest composers of all time.”
Highlight lots will be available to view at Christie’s headquarters in London from 4-7 November, 2023.
FURTHER SALE HIGHLIGHTS
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Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.
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