Sibelius, Jean

1) Eight autograph music fragments, forming, together with autograph revisions entered in a copy of the 1907 first edition of the vocal score, the hitherto unknown main source for the version for male choir and orchestra; the music fragments written in black ink on small strips of paper, loose in a copy of the first edition of the vocal score, two containing other, unidentified, music in Sibelius's hand on the verso; the vocal score (Die gefangene Königin...The Captive Queen...Berlin: Schlesinger'sche Buch- & Musikhandlung (Rob. Lienau), 1907, 22 pages, small 4to, printed wrappers, inscribed on the upper cover in an unidentified hand "Muster für Männerchor") containing extensive autograph alterations and annotations in dark ink on 18 pages, these alterations and the entries on the manuscript strips undated [at the latest 1910] 

2) Scribal manuscript copy of the full score, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE COMPOSER ON THE TITLE ("Da singt eine Königin / Cantat für / Chor und Orchester. / Jean Sibelius Op 48") AND APPARENTLY ALSO CONTAINING A FEW ENTRIES BY HIM, THE STICHVORLAGE FOR THE LIENAU 1907 EDITION, written in dark brown ink on one 20-stave system per page, the English text added in the score in violet ink by Rosa Newmarch, the German text added in cerise ink in another hand, marked up by and for the printer in pencil and crayon, 52 pages, plus blanks, folio, no place or date [by August 1907], browning, a few tiny tears



3) Manuscript Stichvorlage for first edition of the vocal score in the hand of Paul Juon, CONTAINING CORRECTIONS BY SIBELIUS, some entries apparently in another hand or hands, marked up by and for the printer in pencil and crayon, 30 pages, folio, no place or date [by 1907]



together with: an unbound copy of the 1907 Lienau edition of the score (plate number S. 9337), annotated by the publishing house on the first page of music; scribal manuscript orchestral parts, apparently the Stichvorlage for the 1907 Lienau edition of the parts; a proof copy of the first edition of the vocal score, stamped at the end "C. G. Röder... 22 JUN. 1907..."; and a copy of the first edition of the vocal score with the text in Russian added in manuscript [1910?], presumably the Stichvorlage for a variant edition (7)

Dahlström, pp. 224-226

As is often the case with unbound page proofs, two pages are absent from the engraved proof copy of the first edition of the vocal score. There are also a few very small tears here and there.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This remarkable collection of sources for Die gefangene Königin (The Captive Queen), Op. 48, contains a major Sibelius discovery: THE HITHERTO UNKNOWN CENTRAL SOURCE FOR THE VERSION FOR MALE CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA, COMPRISING EIGHT AUTOGRAPH REVISIONS ON STRIPS OF MANUSCRIPT PAPER, AS WELL AS AUTOGRAPH REVISIONS ENTERED IN A COPY OF THE 1907 VOCAL SCORE.  

The dramatic ballad for mixed choir and orchestra The Captive Queen, Op. 48, which sets a Finnish text (Vapautettu kuningatar) by Paavo Cajander, was written by Sibelius in 1906 for a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Finnish statesman J. V. Snellmann, organised by the Alexander University in Helsinki. The first edition of the work took the form of a facsimile of a fair-copy autograph by the composer, and appeared, without publisher's details, in 1906. The following year saw the publication of the work, in score  and parts, by Lienau. The version for men's chorus was published in 1910.

The 2003 catalogue of Sibelius's works describes the autograph for the version of the work for male choir and orchestra as lost. It is probable, however, that such a score never existed, and that in preparing the version for men's choir Sibelius simply wrote out the more extensive alterations on the eight manuscript fragments contained here, entering the other simpler changes directly into the present copy of the 1907 first edition of the vocal score.