Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) - photo 1

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

Lot 208
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1109008
Lot 208 | Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)
Estimate value
£ 8 000 – 12 000
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)
An important correspondence with Ernest Chapman, 1933-1958
Comprising c.120 autograph and typed letters signed to Ernest Chapman, many with his replies, San Francisco, Paris, Châtel, Geneva, Naples, New York, Rangeley (Maine), North Platte (Nebraska), Agate Beach (Oregon) and elsewhere in America, 21 September 1933 to 17 August 1958

In English. c. 345 pages, various sizes, some on postcards, telegrams or greetings cards. [With:] 12 letters to Chapman from Bloch's wife, Marguerite [And:] typescript of ‘Ernest Bloch at 75’ (published in Tempo) by Ernest Chapman, with autograph comments and corrections in Bloch's hand. Provenance: Sotheby's, 27 November 1980, lot 216.

An important correspondence between Ernest Bloch and Ernest Chapman, an indispensable source for the musical career, opinions, methods and personal life of the great Swiss composer, a singular figure in the music of the 20th century. The correspondence presents – except for a period of three years during WWII – a continuous picture of the last twenty-five years of Ernest Bloch's life, from 1933 until a few months before his death. Throughout this period Bloch was actively composing, continuing even during his long last illness until a few weeks before his death. Among the subjects covered are the gestation and creation of new works, including such important compositions as the Violin Concerto (recorded by Szigeti, Menuhin, Totenberg, Bress, etc), the 'Avodath Hakodesh' (or ‘Sacred Service’, recorded by Bloch and Bernstein), the 'Voice in the Wilderness' for cello and orchestra, the Concerto Symphonique for piano and orchestra, the Piano Sonata, the final Suites for unaccompanied stringed instruments (shortly to be recorded by Menuhin) and other works, including the difficulties in bringing his opera, Macbeth, to premiere 30 years after it was written, with the last-minute resignation of the conductor and Bloch’s illness; his conducting activities with leading orchestras in Europe and the United States; and his composition teaching courses at the University of California. In some letters he discusses the origin of his Jewish national style, and how he came to regard this in later years, and his artistic and philosophical outlook as a whole; some contain references to his personal life, and his view of his life as ‘a tragedy’, and his opinions on contemporaries such as Schoenberg and Stravinsky. He expounds upon his method of teaching composition, with many references to his extremely detailed analyses of Beethoven's 'Eroica’, fugues by Bach, works by Lassus (‘incomparable’), Josquin de Pres (‘no less extraordinary – more daring’), Palestrina and others; expressing his concern that his huge collection of pedagogical material should be properly edited and published.

During their twenty-five year relationship Bloch regarded Ernest Chapman first as a young admirer of his music, then as his publisher (at Boosey & Hawkes) and friend, and eventually as a confidant to whom he wrote with ever increasing frankness about himself, his music and the world at large. Some of the letters are – intentionally – extremely self-revealing. The correspondence as a whole constitutes a unique and indispensable source of information about Bloch's activities and thinking during the period of his full maturity as both man and artist. Bloch was a highly articulate writer, eager to convey all his news and views. His letters reveal a man of deep culture, wide ranging interests and passionate feelings. His prose is concise and clear, always lively and often extremely vivid. Ernest Chapman's replies are in a cooler, more factual style, making an appropriate foil.

Chronological index of the correspondence available on request.
Place of origin:Switzerland, USA
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 20:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
13.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.