Hard-coded id of currently selected item: . JSON version of its record is available from Blacklight on e.g. ??
Metadata associated with selected item should appear here...
MS Mus. 1863
- Record Id:
- 032-003947807
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003947807
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100124034719.0x000001
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- MS Mus. 1863
- Title:
- Sir Arthur Sullivan: Symphony in E major, autograph full score
- Scope & Content:
-
‘Symphony in E’ for orchestra, in four movements, by Arthur Sullivan. Autograph full score in black ink with annotations in black ink, red ink, pencil and blue pencil. Bound in green leather, similar to other Sullivan autograph scores (see MS Mus. 1824/1/7/1 for example). The pages appear to have been trimmed slightly when bound.
- ff. 1v-53. Movement I. Andante-Allegro, ma non troppo vivace
- ff. 54-73. Movement II. Andante espressivo
- ff. 74-97. Movement III. Allegretto
- ff. 197-137. Movement IV. Allegro vivace e con brio
A number of cuts are indicated in the score, either through crossing out or pasted over slips of paper. 11 unpaginated pages between pages 73 and 74 (ff. 44-50) appear to have been stitched together in the past and a passage after page 145 is hidden due to pages 145 and 146 (ff.89-90) being glued together. The most substantial cuts to the first and second movements are detailed, in Sullivan’s hand, at the front of the score. The score is paginated lightly in pencil at the top right hand corner, presumably at a later date since pages containing cut passages are not numbered.
Additionally there are several other alterations to passages in the score, indicated either by annotation, or on extra slips of paper pinned or pasted over the original notation (see folios 6, 34-37, 65, 84 and 96). Other annotations, some of which are in the composer's hand, appear to relate to either performances or the preparation of the score for publication. The first page of score has a copyright line added lightly in pencil at the bottom: 'Copyright 1902 by Novello & Co Ltd / 11434'.
Sullivan is said to have conceived the first ideas for the symphony in 1863. It was first performed in March 1866 and at least twice more that year. It seems to have been performed again towards the end of Sullivan's life, on 29 April 1899 with the composer conducting. A note by Rupert D’Oyly Carte from 1923, found in the D’Oyly Carte Archive (see correspondence with Dr Arthur Fagge, Add MS 89231/20/5), suggests that it was most likely this later performance that saw the score heavily revised, as reflected in the annotations and cuts of this manuscript.
The score was first published by Novello & Co. in 1915 (see British Library, h.1389.d.) and that edition reflects the final revised version presented in this manuscript.
- Collection Area:
- Music Collections
- Project / Collection:
- Music Manuscripts
- Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-003947807", "parent" : "#", "text" : "MS Mus. 1863: Sir Arthur Sullivan: Symphony in E major, autograph full score" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003947807
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-003947807
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 1 bound volume (137 folios)
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- English
- Scripts:
- Latin
- Start Date:
- 1860
- End Date:
- 1915
- Date Range:
- 1860s-1915
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
-
Please request the physical items you need using the online collection item request form.
Digitised items can be viewed online by clicking the thumbnail image or digitised content link.
Readers who have registered or renewed their pass since 21 March 2024 can request physical items prior to visiting the Library by completing
this request form.
Please enter the Reference (shelfmark) above on the request form.If your Reader Pass was issued before this date, you will need to visit the Library in London or Yorkshire to renew it before you can request items online. All manuscripts and archives must be consulted at the Library in London.
This catalogue record may describe a collection of items which cannot all be requested together. Please use the hierarchy viewer to navigate to individual items. Some items may be in use or restricted for other reasons. If you would like to check the availability, contact our Reference Services team, quoting the Reference (shelfmark) above.
- User Conditions:
- Physical Characteristics:
-
Bound volume (half calf). 305mm (H) x 245mm (W) x 38mm (D)
- Custodial History:
-
Following Arthur Sullivan's death, the score was bequeathed to his nephew, Herbert Sullivan. It was evidently given to Novello & Co. for preparation of their edition of the score published in 1915 (although this manuscript has a copyright line of 1902 by Novello & Co. added in pencil). In 1923 its whereabouts were unknown to Rupert D'Oyly Carte (see Add MS 89231/20/5) but the manuscript was briefly placed on loan at the British Library by Novello & Co. in 1987, along with other manuscripts from the company archive (Music Loan 93/33: deposited 1987, withdrawn Marh 1989). The score then appeared at the auction of the archive of Novello & Co. at Phillips on 14 June 1989 (lot 23), where it was purchased by John Wolfson.
- Former Internal References:
- Music Deposit 2020/13
Music Loan 93/33 - Source of Acquisition:
- Purchased from John Wolfson, September 2020, with support from the British Library Collections Trust, The American Trust for the British Library and the O. W. Neighbour Bequest.
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Names:
- Sullivan, Arthur Seymour, Knight, composer, 1842-1900
Sullivan, Herbert Thomas, nephew of Sir Arthur Sullivan, 1868-1928
Wolfson, John, collector, author - Subjects:
- Sullivan, Arthur, 1842-1900. Symphony, E major