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Two rare partly-printed self-contained DSs in French, each signed, “Frederic Chopin,” two pages, 9.75 x 10 and 9.75 x 6.5, August 1843. An assignment of copyright for five of his significant works, plus the receipt confirming payment. In part: "I have this day sold to Messrs. Christian Rudolph Wessel & Frederic Stapleton, Importers and Publishers of Foreign Music…at the price or sum of Forty Nine Pounds, Nineteen Shillings sterling, all my Copyright and Interest, present and future…for the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of and in the following works for the pianoforte: Op. 52 Quatrieme Ballade, Op. 53 8eme Polonaise, Op. 54 Quatrieme Scherzo, Op. 55 Deux Nocturnes, Op. 56 Quatre Mazurkas." Next to each title is a brief musical quote from the beginning of the piece, penned by an amanuensis. By the second document, apparently cut from the conclusion of the above, Chopin acknowledges his receipt of £49.19.0 for the sale of the publishing rights to these works. On both, Chopin signs in ink over a still-visible pencil guideline. In very good condition, with edge staining touching the tail end of each signature, and professional archival backing to reinforce paper loss to the edges.
This document concerns some of Chopin's most famous and best-loved works, particularly his Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53, which is one of Chopin's most widely admired compositions. It has long been a favorite of the romantic piano repertoire, and is a piece that requires great virtuosity to be interpreted at a high degree of proficiency; the legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein, one of the greatest Chopin interpreters of his time, calling it 'the composition which is the closest to my heart.' Chopin also sells the publishing rights to the Fourth Ballade (Op. 52) and the Nocturne (Op. 55, No. 1), both works in F minor. The Ballade is considered one of the masterpieces of 19th-century piano music, and the Nocturne remains a staple of the piano repertoire: the piece was performed by Vladimir Horowitz in his television debut concert at Carnegie Hall in 1968, which was broadcast nationwide by CBS.
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