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AURIC, FRANCAIX, MILHAUD, POULENC, PREGER, SAUGUET
Mouvements du Cœur. Un Hommage à la Mémoire de Frédéric Chopin. Suite pour Chant et Piano sur des Poéms de Louise de Vilmorin.
Signed Doda Conrad on front wrapper and with inscription by Heugel to Marya Freund and Doda Conrad on title page. Heugel & Cie.: Paris, 1949. Pl.n: H. 31,304-31,310. first edition. Quarto. 36 pp. Together with facsimile copies of the manuscripts by two of the composers, Auric (signed) and Sauguet, as well as three pertinent autograph letters, one by Auric and two by Poulenc, one of which also has a note by Pierre Bernac. Original paper wraps. In excellent condition.The work Mouvements du Cœur was conceived of and assembled by the noted Polish baritone Doda Conrad in 1949 as an homage to Chopin. It is written for voice and piano and sets poems by Louise de Vilmorin. This particular copy belonged to Conrad, who performed the premiere in Paris in the spring of 1950 and from whom we purchased it; his signature and the date is on the outer cover. There is an additional unsigned inscription from the publisher, Heugel, on the title page, which reads: pour Madame Marya Freund [the well-known Polish soprano]: Hommage de l'Editeur et de son fils Doda/Paris 1950, with an arrow leading from Conrad's name at the bottom of the page to his name in the inscription. (Hommage de l'Editeur is stamped, not written).
This score is accompanied by the following:
Auric, Georges:
Facsimile of the manuscript for the Valse. 8 pp. With Auric's original signature in red grease pencil. Penciled timing on p. 1 and a few minor markings in pencil in an unknown hand (possibly Doda Conrad's).
Sauget, Henri:
Facsimiles of the manuscripts for both the Prelude and the Postlude. 6 pp. & 10 pp. Many corrections shown in the facsimile. A couple of minor original markings in pencil as well as timing in an unknown hand (possibly Doda Conrad's).
Poulenc, Francis:
Original autograph letter by Poulenc in ink, to Dodoush from Poupoule, sending a draft polluted with corrections and asking Conrad to keep it for the performance on a date still mysterious. Poulenc hopes to see Doda soon and will also give him his sonata at an upcoming visit. (Conrad told us that Poulenc was referring to his flute sonata, but that work wasn't completed until 1957, so it may have simply been a draft of it).
Poulenc, Francis and Bernac, Pierre:
Original autograph letter by Poulenc in ink, to Doduski from Poupoule, on 1 p. of folded hotel stationery from Roanoke, Virginia, written while on tour with Pierre Bernac. Poulenc notes that there are many echoes that the performance was unanimously acclaimed as tres bien, and that Conrad succeeded in rendering nos melodies very listenable; Merci - merci -. Additional note on pp. 3-4 by Bernac, signed P., sending congratulations for the performance, especially Dichterliebe and saying that they are looking forward to returning to our old Europe.
Original autograph letter in ink on two sides of a single sheet with letterhead address and with original envelope. September 21, 1949. To Cher ami from Georges Auric. A long and excellent letter in response to Conrad's request for publicity material. Auric explains that he is an author who never was prepared for publicity and that he has no appropriate photograph, going on to suggest where to get one. He continues, providing other biographical details, warning that I have a very bad memory. He offers a list of his compositions, mentioning at the end that Three Interludes based on poems by René Chalupt should be added, a work written in 1914 when I was 15 years old and perhaps the melodies most frequently performed. He is sorry he can't be more precise but Conrad can add what he wants. He is grateful for what Conrad is doing with Valse (the third movement of Mouvements du Cœur) and he is thrilled that the work pleases Conrad. He hasn't heard from Heugel yet and doesn't think that the editor will take too long. Conrad should absolutely go ahead if he can find an American to buy the manuscript, that would be marvelous. Finally, he thanks him for what he is doing and looks forward to hearing him perform the work.
