LES SIX: An interesting group of A.Ls.S. (2) and autograph statements signed by each of the composers collectively known as Les Six, a group of musicians informally associated with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie, and who worked and lived in the Montparnasse district of Paris in the years following World War I. The lot comprises -(i) Georges Auric (1899-1983) French composer. Autograph statement signed, Georges Auric, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (1951), in French. The composer writes, in full, ´Voici donc "le Groupe des Six" une fois encore réuni, à la faveur d´une exposition dont l´intention est si charmante et si cordiale qu´elle nous permettra, je l´esperè, d´en parler sans etre aussitot accusé d´une fatuité ou d´une vanité qui seraient aujourd´hui assez irsupportables! Remontant à cette occasion la Machine à explorer le Temps, que vois-je tout de suite qui, dans tout cela, me semble le plus saisissant? Non plus un "groupe" de musiciens desireux, "vingt ans après", de reprendre je ne sais trop quelles controverses esthétiques. Mais six camarades qui ont la très grande chance de se retrouver maintenant comme ils se retrouvaient naguère - et dont l´amitié n´a jamais changé. Voila, me semble-t´il, la plus belle leçon de cette petite exposition. Et c´est pourquoi je me rejouis d´y participer´ (Translation: ´So here is the ‘Group of Six’ once again reunited, thanks to an exhibition whose intention is so charming and so cordial that it will allow us, I hope, to talk about it without immediately being accused of a conceit or vanity that would be quite unbearable today! Going back to the Time Machine on this occasion, what do I see immediately that, in all this, seems to me the most striking? No longer a ‘group’ of musicians eager, ‘twenty years later’, to resume I don't know what aesthetic controversies. But six friends who are very lucky to be together now as they were in the past - and whose friendship has never changed. That, it seems to me, is the most important lesson of this little exhibition. And that is why I am delighted to be taking part´).(ii) A.L.S., Georges Auric, to the recto of a printed correspondence card as President of the Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs & Éditeurs de Musique, Paris, 28th November 1972, to a friend, in French. Auric writes, in part, ´Merci pour cette réédition des "Bagatelles" - qui me rajeunit singulierement. Je souhaite vous exprimer tout cela beaucoup mieux que dans ces quelques lignes qui d´ailleurs vous parviendront Dieu sait avec quel retard (parce qu´une nouvelle greve commence aujourd´hui!..)´ (Translation: ´Thank you for this reissue of ‘Bagatelles’ - which makes me feel remarkably young. I would like to express all this to you much better than in these few lines, which will reach you God knows how late (because a new strike starts today!)´ ).(iii) Louis Durey (1888-1979) French composer. Autograph statement signed, Louis Durey, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. (1951), in French. Durey writes, in full, ´Quoi qu´aient pu dire certains esprits chagrins, le Groupe des Six aura marqué une étape importante dans l´évolution de la musique francaise. Significatif à cet égard, ce 34e anniversaire où chacun apporte le fruit de son labeur personnel à une petite communauté définitivement scellée par une amitié et une estime réciproque´ (Translation: ´Whatever some naysayers may have said, the Group of Six marked an important stage in the evolution of French music. Significant in this respect is the 34th anniversary, when each member brings the fruit of his personal labour to a small community definitively sealed by friendship and mutual esteem´).(iv) A.L.S., Louis Durey, two pages, 8vo, Rue Boissonade, Paris, 9th January 1952, to a gentleman, in French. Durey writes to his correspondent following a telephone conversation and gives his full consent ´ pour que les documents que je vous ai confiés en vue de l´exposition du "Groupe des Six" figurent dans une série d´expositions à l´etranger´ (Translation: ´for the documents that I entrusted to you for the ‘Groupe des Six’ exhibition to be included in a series of exhibitions abroad´), further adding ´Toutefois je desirerais que les manuscrits de musique dont je ne possède pas de doubles soient photocopiés ou microfilmés avant leur départ. Ce sont, par ordre de préférence: 1. La partition de "l´Occasion" 2. La Fantaisie concertante pour violoncelle et orchestre, ou les deux au cas où serait prévu l´envoi de plusieurs oeuvres. Je désirerais d´autre part retenir les partitions des trois cantates: La Guerre et la Paix, La Longue Marche, Paix aux Hommes par millions dont je pourrais avoir à disposer ici´ (Translation: ´However, I would like the music manuscripts, of which I do not have duplicates, to be photocopied or microfilmed before they are sent. These are, in order of preference: 1. The score of ‘l'Occasion’ 2. The Fantaisie concertante for cello and orchestra. Or both if several works are to be sent. I would also like to have the scores of the three cantatas: War and Peace, The Long March, Peace to Men by the Millions that I may have available here´). Two file holes to the left edge and with a few small, minor tears to the edges.(v) Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) Swiss composer. Autograph statement signed, A Honegger, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. (1951), in French. Honegger writes, in full, ´Voici ce que me suggére le trentieme anniversaire de notre groupe des Six: D´abord la satisfaction de nous retrouver aussi amicalement liés que par le passé et toujours aussi different dans nos gouts et nos conceptions. De sentir chez certains cadets ou vieux critiques la confirmation de l´opinion que je me plais a repéter: En musique on passe sans transition de l´etat de jeune fumiste ou de jeune espoir à celui de vieux maitre ou de vieux fossile bon pour la retraite. Que, fort heureusement les interessés n´en soupçonnent rien´ (Translation: ´Here is what the thirtieth anniversary of our group of six suggests to me: First, the satisfaction of finding ourselves as amicably connected as in the past and still as different in our tastes and conceptions. To feel in some younger or older critics confirmation of the opinion that I like to repeat: In music, one passes without transition from the state of young upstart or young hopeful to that of old master or old fossil good for retirement. That, fortunately, those concerned suspect nothing of this´).(vi) Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) French composer and conductor. Autograph statement signed, Milhaud, one page, small 8vo, n.p., n.d. (1951), in French. The composer writes, in full, ´Grace à l´exposition de Six organisée par le centre de Documentation Musique Internationale, nous avons eu la joie de nous retrouver autour de Cocteau comme au bon vieux temps. Quelle joie d´évoquer ensemble en 1951 cette merveilleuse époque d´après 1919....´ (Translation: ´Thanks to the exhibition of the ‘Six’ organised by the International Music Documentation Centre, we had the pleasure of getting together around Cocteau, just like in the good old days. What a joy to evoke together this marvellous period after 1919 in 1951´).A rare and unusual grouping, with some minor faults and age wear, generally G to VG, 8 + 10OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED - PLEASE CONTACT IAA EUROPE DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
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