RPS MS 395

Catalogue of orchestral music and opera scores in the Society’s music library; begun circa 1846, with additions to 1906. No title, but lettered ‘Philharmonic Society. Symphonies Overtures &c.’ on the upper cover. Mostly the work of William Goodwin, and the partial cause of his difficulties with the Society when George Budd succeeded Joseph Calkin as librarian. Works are given different catalogue numbers from those used in RPS MSS 392 and 393; blocks of 500 numbers each are allocated to symphonies and overtures to allow for expansion, concertos and miscellaneous items follow, also with blank numbers left for additions; opera scores are listed last in a separate numerical sequence. The front fly-leaves (ff. 1, 2r) and ff. 3v, 4r have notes by Alfred Mapleson, 1892, 1895, 1900, 1902, mostly relating to checks carried out on the occasions when the library was moved. The catalogue is in four sections, apparently originally independent, on paper with watermark dates 1845, 1851-52. The binding has end-papers watermarked 1861. For further notes on this volume and a reproduction of f. 15v, see King, Musical Pursuits, pp. 167-8. For scores and parts of individual vocal numbers see RPS MS 394.

ff. 167. 245 x 295mm. Quarter leather binding with moiré cloth, lettered on the upper cover ‘Philharmonic Society. Symphonies Overtures &c.’

1. ff. 4v-93r. Symphonies (ff. 4v-48r) and Overtures. Neither section has a title. Entered on to printed, or printed and stamped, paper, with, on the versos, columns for number, composer and work, stave for musical incipit, details of parts (headed ‘Remarks’), and score, and on the rectos space headed ‘Memorandums’. ‘Symphonies’ or ‘Overtures’ stamped above the incipit staves on the relevant pages. All numbers and original entries in Goodwin’s hand. Parts are originally described as ‘Complete’ (sometimes using a stamp) or, where incomplete, listed in detail. In all cases these entries have been expanded later to a complete list of numbers of all string parts, and sometimes wind also, using the memorandum page where necessary. Memoranda also record purchase of new materials for works already entered, loans of material, and occasional performance details. Notes on most of the autograph material by Otto Goldschmidt and W. H. Cummings, dated 1891, are entered in pencil (see RPS MS 405, ff. 1-50 for copies of the list of this material published in 1893); other identifiable hands are those of Alfred Gilbert, who initials a number of entries in a check carried out 1899-1901, and James H. Mapleson, the Society’s Librarian from 1871 to 1909. The number series is extended to 1004 to allow for additional works of Richard Wagner; most of the unallocated numbers entered after this have been cancelled. On paper with watermark date 1845.

2. ff. 94v-123v. Concertos. Printed title (at head of f. 94v): ‘Concertos for Piano Forte, Violin, and Miscellaneous works’. Pages set out as above for Symphonies and Overtures, but without memorandum pages, using both rectos and versos. Arranged by solo instrument, piano and violin stamped above the incipit column, the others added there in pencil. Uses nos. 1001-1704, many left blank; ‘A’ added to nos. 1001-12. Nos. 1001-1700 and the original entries are in the hand of William Goodwin. Similar annotations, particularly in details of sets of parts, as in Symphonies and Overtures section above. On paper with no watermark date.

3. ff. 124r-137v. ‘Miscellaneous’, comprising shorter orchestral pieces, chamber music, etc. Engraved pages with columns for no., composer, title (with ‘Miscellaneous’ stamped above), and ‘remarks’. Initially laid out with nos. 1705-1904 all entered in the same hand (similar to, but apparently not that of, Goodwin), and extended later to no. 1997. The additions include many entries in pencil in Mapleson’s hand. Incipits are not given. On paper with watermark date 1851.

4. ff. 138r-167v. ‘Scores of Operas &c. &c.’ Using same engraved pages as ‘Miscellaneous’ above, but with this title above the central column. A separate numbering system, 1-684, is used. The numbers and original entries in a different hand from any of the above. With a small number of additions by Goodwin and by Mapleson. Incipits are not given. On paper with watermark date 1852.

James Henry Mapleson, singer and impresario: Otto Moritz David Goldschmidt, pianist, conductor and composer; husband of Jenny Lind: William Goodwin, music copyist: Alfred Mapleson, music librarian and copyist: Alfred Gilbert, pianist and composer: William Hayman Cummings, Mus.D: Catalogue of orchestral music and opera scores in the library of the Philharmonic Society , mostly the work of William Goodwin, with notes by Alfred Mapleson, Otto Moritz David Goldschmidt, William Hayman Cummings, Alfred Gilbert and James Henry Mapleson: circa 1846-1906.