Sir Harrison Birtwistle | Autograph manuscript signed of "Nine Settings of Lorine Niedecker", 2000

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

Autograph manuscript of Nine Settings of Lorine Niedecker, for soprano and violoncello

a fair-copy manuscript of the complete work, signed at the head ("Harrison Birtwistle"), notated in pencil on up to two two- or three-stave systems per page, the individual settings numbered "I"-"X" ("I...There's a better shine on the pendulum...II...My friend tree I sawed you down...III...Along the river wild sunflowers over my head...IV...Hear where her snow grave is...V...How white the gulls in grey...VI...My life by water...VII...Paul when the leaves fall from their stems...VIII...O late fall marsh...IX for Amelia...Sleep[']s dream the nerve-flash in the blood..."); the autograph commission details in black ink below the title ("Commissioned by Amelia Freedman & the Nash Concert Society"), autograph dating at end in blue ballpoint ("Silk House. Mere. / 17. 2. 2000"), with a number of autograph erasures and corrections

15 pages, oblong folio (29.7 x 42cm), unbound, modern cloth-backed folder, Silk House, Mere, 17 February 2000

THIS IS A RARE, POSSIBLY THE LAST, OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE AN AUTOGRAPH SCORE OF A COMPLETE WORK BY THE FOREMOST BRITISH COMPOSER SINCE BENJAMIN BRITTEN.

Birtwistle's composition sets nine poems by the important American objectivist poet Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970), whose work is famed for its spareness, subtlety and intelligence. Songs I-III were first published (as an autograph note at the foot of the first setting indicates) in the music magazine Tempo (December 1998), with a dedication to Elliott Carter on his ninetieth birthday. The remainder were completed two years later. The fragile, haiku-like quality of the nine poems here is mirrored by Birtwistle in this highly atmospheric and aphoristic score reminiscent of Webern, one of Birtwistle's musical heroes.

An additional three settings of poems by Niedecker were composed in 2011 by Birtwistle, who instructed performers that any selection from the twelve was permissible, with the proviso that the ninth setting, which concluded the first set, should always be included and placed last.

The Nine Settings were first performed at the Purcell Room, London, on 16 March 2000, by the soprano Valdine Anderson and cellist Paul Watkins.

The present manuscript, which was a gift to the composer's family, is being sold here in aid of the Accrington Music Association. A key focus of the Association's work is to promote local recognition of Sir Harrison Birtwistle who was born and raised in Accrington (as a child he learnt the clarinet and played it in the local pantomime and the Accrington Clef Club). In carrying out its mission the Association uses the composer's music to work with schools and arts organisations to inspire and encourage musical creativity in local children and young people. Its work is supported not only by the Birtwistle family, but also by many advisers and professional artists, including Sir John Tomlinson, David Aspin, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Gillian Moore, and by institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, the Paul Sacher Stiftung, Lancashire Schools Music Service and Hyndburn Borough Council.

LITERATURE:

9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker (Boosey & Hawkes, 2000)