Berg, Alban

"D^r Alfred Kalmus, 'dem lieben Menschen', mit einer (unverbindlichen) Beteuerung an den Verleger...'Ich bin jung! Ich will Dir treu sein mein Leben lang! Ich will nur Dir allein gehören!', Februar 1935 AlbanBerg"

comprising nine bars from Lulu's dramatic appeal in Act 2 scene 1, "Ich bin jung!...", to Alwa, after accidently shooting his father Dr Schön, the short score elegantly notated in black ink on two systems of four staves each, replete with phrasing and expression marks; Lulu's part contains the top notes C sharp and C, which are printed an octave lower in the published score, and other minor differences in the accompaniment



1 page, folio (c.28.5 x 20cm), loosely held in a card mount, [Vienna, February 1935], small tear repaired to top edge, some foxing and staining to margins

Alfred Kalmus, publisher (1889-1972); Hans Redlich, musicologist (1903-1968); George Perle, Berg scholar and theorist of twelve-tone music (1915-2009).  It was Perle that first drew attention to the fact that Berg had largely completed Lulu, at a time when the score was generally inaccessible. 

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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."

FINE. This is the longest and most important musical quotation by Alban Berg that we have seen at auction.  Given that autograph manuscripts of his music are so rare on the market, this is arguably also the finest such example to appear at auction.  

"I am still young!  I want to remain yours my whole life long...": the fifty-year-old composer's protestation to Alfred Kalmus is poignant, since he did not live to see the year out, nor finish his great opera Lulu, dying from blood-poisoning on Christmas Eve.  Alfred Kalmus was the owner of Universal-Edition in Vienna, which published Lulu, along with most of Berg's music.  In 1936 he was forced to emigrate to England, where he continued to promote the music of Berg and his contemporaries in the Second Viennese School.   

Berg composed Lulu in short score in 1929-1935, but he never completed the full orchestral score, which for many years was made inaccessible by the composer's widow.  Compared with the vocal score published by Universal-Edition, Lulu's vocal line here contains the top notes C sharp and C at the end of the first line, which were printed an octave lower (bar 633), the higher notes appearing in small notes only as an alternative.   The accompaniment is notated on three staves, whereas in the vocal score, this is arranged on two staves for performance and rehearsal by a pianist with practical adjustments to the tremolos etc.