Music Memorabilia

[Elgarian]

I don't fully understand the attraction towards historical ephemera, autographs, and so on. But I don't have to understand it to experience it, and there's no doubt that the signature of a much-loved performer on a CD, or of an admired author on his or her book, does have a transforming effect on my perception of the CD or book. It doesn't have to be a signed item - sometimes any old piece of historical ephemera associated with a composer can have a certain kind of magic, perhaps because it's a lovely thing in itself, or, more likely, just because it provides a physical connection with the past.

Anyway, I wanted to create a space to talk about this sort of thing, so here's a start. Here's an item I picked up in a secondhand bookshop (already discussed a little in the chat thread in the diner): Russell Braddon's biography of Joan Sutherland. And here's the title page:



All copies of this book have a printed facsimile signature on the page following, beneath the printed inscription 'TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER'. An interesting feature of my copy is that she's crossed out the word 'FATHER' and replaced it with 'HUSBAND' - and has initialled the change in her own hand.

So here's a start. Show your treasures, tell your tales. I guarantee you at least one reader.

[DFO]

Signed photos by: Heifetz, Oistrakh, Francescatti, Szigety, Ricci, Campoli, Odnoposoff, Menuhin, Szering.
And: Amparo Iturbi, Edward von Kilenyi, Raymond Lewenthal, Gulda, Badura-Skoda, Alexander Borowsky, Weissenberg.

[karlhenning]

When Carter came to Symphony for the premiere of his Horn Concerto, he autographed my program.

His assistant was helping him walk along the corridor on the Mass Ave side of Symphony Hall;  they had left the Hall while applause for the Mahler continued, no doubt to avoid the foot traffic, as perforce Carter moves a bit slower these days.  The maestro did not answer me, himself . . . I introduced myself as a composer, I congratulated him on the premiere, and asked if he would sign (I did bring a pen with me).  The gentleman assisting him did not address me directly, either, but Carter (who spoke not a word thoughout) and the assistant made eye contact, and the latter said something, I forget exactly what, but it was a gracious understatement suggesting compliance.  We guided the (elder) composer to a nearly-horizontal display case sturdy enough for him to sign that page of the booklet upon it.  I thanked them, and left them to their further promenade.

[hornteacher]

I've got a few autographs.  I don't order them though.  To me its about meeting the person and the autograph is just the token of the experience.  The nicer the person the more valuable the autograph is to me.

My modest list:

Hilary Hahn (violinist)
Frances McBeth (composer)
Shannon Miller (Olympic Gymnast)
Pam Stone (Stand Up Comic/Actress)
Jonathan Frakes (actor)
Marina Sirtis (actress)
Sarah Sutton (actress)
Bonnie Langford (actress/singer)

[karlhenning]

Jonathan Frakes (actor)

Star Trek Next Generation guy, right?  Has he done much acting apart from that?  For whatever passel of reasons, he fell completely off my radar since Buffalo (where my roommate was a Next Generation junkie).

[Elgarian]

Signed photos by: Heifetz, Oistrakh, Francescatti, Szigety, Ricci, Campoli, Odnoposoff, Menuhin, Szering.
And: Amparo Iturbi, Edward von Kilenyi, Raymond Lewenthal, Gulda, Badura-Skoda, Alexander Borowsky, Weissenberg.

Could you post one or two favourites, so we can see them?

[Elgarian]

When Carter came to Symphony for the premiere of his Horn Concerto, he autographed my program.

His assistant was helping him walk along the corridor on the Mass Ave side of Symphony Hall;  they had left the Hall while applause for the Mahler continued, no doubt to avoid the foot traffic, as perforce Carter moves a bit slower these days.  The maestro did not answer me, himself . . . I introduced myself as a composer, I congratulated him on the premiere, and asked if he would sign (I did bring a pen with me).  The gentleman assisting him did not address me directly, either, but Carter (who spoke not a word thoughout) and the assistant made eye contact, and the latter said something, I forget exactly what, but it was a gracious understatement suggesting compliance.  We guided the (elder) composer to a nearly-horizontal display case sturdy enough for him to sign that page of the booklet upon it.  I thanked them, and left them to their further promenade.

Great story. Smashing autograph. Thanks.

[springrite]

Some of you have impressive collections. I have none. My highest ambition is getting an autography of the esteemed Dr. Karl Henning. 

[Elgarian]

I've got a few autographs.  I don't order them though.

'Order them'? Do you mean, buy from a dealer? Write to the person directly?

[DavidW]

Star Trek Next Generation guy, right?  Has he done much acting apart from that?  For whatever passel of reasons, he fell completely off my radar since Buffalo (where my roommate was a Next Generation junkie).

He became a director and a producer for tv shows (and a couple of the Star Trek movies).  I saw him talk about how he got into directing on the Captain's Summit bonus disc on the Star Trek movies blu-ray set.

His biggest creative effort has been Roswell, which had a promising first season despite being a scifi 90210, but it quickly went downhill and suffered multiple cancellations and resurrections.

[DFO]

Could you post one or two favourites, so we can see them?

Sure: There is my favorite:

[Tapkaara]

I have autographs of the composers Akira Ifukube and Khachaturian. Also have Osmo Vanska's autograph as well as a signed photo of the koto virtuosa Keiko Nosaka.

I've collected rare articles about Sibelius from old magazines but I have yet to get his signature...it's pretty expensive.

[MishaK]

I only have two: Hilary Hahn's autograph on her Elgar VC CD and Barenboim's autograph on his Beethoven cycle.

[hornteacher]

He became a director and a producer for tv shows (and a couple of the Star Trek movies).  I saw him talk about how he got into directing on the Captain's Summit bonus disc on the Star Trek movies blu-ray set.

His biggest creative effort has been Roswell, which had a promising first season despite being a scifi 90210, but it quickly went downhill and suffered multiple cancellations and resurrections.

He had a decent role in North and South as well (a huge mini-series in the 80s), although that was before TNG.  He was a really nice guy too.  Met him in Atlanta, GA just after TNG finished their first season.  He had just grown his beard and asked if I thought he should keep it for the next season.  I'm sure he asked a lot of people but it was still kind of neat, especially since he kept it for years.

[hornteacher]

'Order them'? Do you mean, buy from a dealer? Write to the person directly?

Exactly.  Writing to the person is okay I guess but ordering from a dealer just doesn't mean much to me.  I think the real charm of having an autograph is that one actually meets the person.

[Elgarian]

Sure: There is my favorite:

Thanks. Nicely composed autograph, tucked there under his hand!

[Elgarian]

I think the real charm of having an autograph is that one actually meets the person.

That's the best of all possible worlds, but of course it isn't always possible. For example:



On the previous page, in huge sprawling writing, completely filling the page:

[Elgarian]

I've collected rare articles about Sibelius from old magazines but I have yet to get his signature...it's pretty expensive.

I can imagine. My equivalent is that I'd love to have something that Elgar's signed, but it's hopeless, really, apart from stumbling upon the most unlikely good fortune. What I do like doing, however, is rummaging around in secondhand bookshops for period pieces of Elgar sheet music:



The one on the left hangs in a frame in the bathroom.

[Harpo]

I have a photo of Mel Torme with a signature that was verified by a guy on eBay!!   



(I really have one)

[DFO]

Just a tip: most wanted and expensive signatures on the market are:
1) any composer
2) Glenn Gould
3) Ginette Neveu
4) S.Richter
5) Heifetz, in particular young
6) young Horowitz
7) young Furtwangler
Josef Hassid (if it exist, it'll be worth several thousends)
9) Ferras
10) Rabin
11)in general, any composer, player, conductor who had died young
12) and the Beetles, of course.