MAPLESON, James Henry 1830-1901

Soul of Living Music for unaccompanied male voices. [Musical manuscript]

[Ca. 1860].

Oblong folio (ca. 250 x 305 mm.) Sewn. Ivory wrappers with "London: James H. Mapleson, librarian and music copyist, to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane" printed within decorative border to upper. 12 pp.

Notated in a fine calligraphic hand on 10-stave music paper with "Pro re natum" to head of verso of upper wrapper.

Scored for four voices. In two movements, the first marked "Allegro Moderato" and the second "Larghetto." Set to an English translation of a poem by the Dutch poet Cornelis Loots (1764-1834).

Wrappers soiled at corners and edges. Minor foxing and staining; edges soiled.

Apparently unpublished.

James Henry Mapleson was an "English impresario. He studied in London at the RAM and joined the orchestra of the Royal Italian Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre as a violinist (1848–9). After three years of vocal study under Mazzucato in Milan he sang briefly at Lodi and Verona under the name of Enrico Mariani. In 1856 he opened a musical agency, and in 1858 managed E.T. Smith's season at Drury Lane. In 1861 he began his own career as impresario at the Lyceum, and in his opening season produced Un ballo in maschera for the first time in England. He managed Her Majesty's, 1862–7, and in 1868 was at Drury Lane. He joined Gye at Convent Garden for the famous ‘coalition seasons’ of 1869 and 1870, and was again at Drury Lane, 1871–6. He reopened Her Majesty's in 1877 and continued to give seasons there until 1881. His last London seasons were in 1887 and 1889." William Brooks and Harold Rosenthal in Grove Music Online.

Item #35790

Price: $250.00  other currencies