Item #26830 Autograph letter signed "D.M." to the American pianist, educator, composer, and arranger Livingston Gearhart. Darius MILHAUD.

Autograph letter signed "D.M." to the American pianist, educator, composer, and arranger Livingston Gearhart

1 page. Folio (ca. 279 x 215 mm.). N.d. In English.

Milhaud very enthusiastically thanks Livingston for his "kind collaboration," and will send a 2-piano version of some of his Songs as soon as it is photocopied. He includes greetings for Livingston's wife, Virginia Morley, for whom his Song arrangements are presumably also intended. He will come in December, and hopes to see Livingston often.

"10000000 thanks. You acted very wonderfully and I jumped on my desk and made a 2 pianos version of three numbers of my Songs which I intended to do for months ... I think you will like those little pieces. The Russian-River-Pianist asked me only the rights of the 1st performance and no exclusivity. You will be able to play 'his' piece after January if you wish ... I am too glad to send you new old pieces because you [and Virginia] are both artists that I love and admire ..."

Slightly worn; minor edge tears; creased at folds and corners; tape repairs to central fold of blank verso with minor remnants of former mount to upper margin.

"A pioneer in the use of percussion, polytonality, jazz and aleatory techniques, [Milhaud's] music allies lyricism with often complex harmonies. Though his sources of inspiration were many and varied, his music has compelling stylistic unity." Jeremy Drake in Grove Music Online.

"Gearhart (1916-1996) is probably best known for his hit arrangement of the classic 'Dry Bones' and his 'Session Series' of skills-building books. Gearhart attended the Curtis Institute of Music. Subsequent studies in France included composition with Nadia Boulanger, Igor Stravinsky, Darius Milhaud and piano with Robert Cadadesus and Isodor Philipp. During 1941 to 1954, the two-piano team of [Virginia] Morley and Gearhart performed over 2000 concerts throughout the US and Canada in addition to recording for Columbia Masterworks and Decca Records. Gearhart also made numerous TV and radio appearances on the Fred Waring Show, for which he wrote as staff arranger ... In 1955 Gearhart joined the University of Buffalo Music Faculty, retiring to Professor Emeritus status in 1985." Hal Leonard website.

Item #26830

Price: $750.00  other currencies

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