Bartók, Béla

comprising the songs 'Fekete föd, fehér az én zsebkendöm' ('Snow-white kerchief, dark both field and furrow show'), 'Annyi bánat a szívemen' ('Skies above are heavy with rain'), 'Ha kimegyek arr' a magos tetöre' ('If I climb the rocky mountains all day through'), and 'Istenem, Istenem, áraszd meg a vizet' ('Coldly runs the river, reedy banks o'er flowing'), numbered 'I.'-'IV.', the music and Hungarian words notated in black ink by Bartók's first wife Márta Ziegler, the French translations of the song texts, some other annotations to the music, and also the title-page ("4 Melodies populaires hongroises. Reccueillis [sic] et harmonisés par Béla Bartók") in Bartok's hand, also in black ink, the songs written on up to three four-stave systems per page, a few minor corrections, deletions and erasures

8 pages, plus blanks, folio (34.5 x 26.5cm), 'J.E. & C.^o' paper ('N.^o 4 / 16 linig'), 16-stave paper, library stamp to each page ("Bibliothèque LALOY"), no place or date [c.1910, or later], hinge of outer bifolium and small tear to first leaf repaired with translucent adhesive tape, some staining to title-page

Formerly belonging to the music critic and scholar Louis Laloy (1874-1944), mentioned by Bartók in a letter of April 1913 to the composer Vilmos Géza Zágon, and whose acquaintance he had evidently made earlier.

Vera Lampert and László Vikárius, eds., 'The Making of a Cycle of Folksong Arrangements: The Sources of Bartok's Eight Hungarian Folksongs', Essays in Honor of László Somfai on his 70th Birthday: Studies in the Sources and the Interpretation of Music (Lanham, 2005), p. 390 (Source B).

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."

AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS BY BARTOK, PARTICULARLY FROM HIS EARLY YEARS, ARE SELDOM OFFERED FOR SALE. These works are among the first fruits of the composer's lifelong efforts to preserve the folk music of his native Hungary.

The present four songs were written by Bartók in 1907 and form nos. 1, 4, 5 and 2 of the 'Eight Hungarian Folksongs', for voice and piano, BB 47. Of the other songs, no.3 was also written in 1907, and nos. 6-8 in 1917; the set was not published by Universal until 1922. According to László Somfai, Márta Ziegler, whom Bartók met in 1908 and married in late 1909, probably did not prepare the present score before around 1910, the same year that saw Bartók first perform in Paris. The French translations show Bartók attempting to bring his nation's music to a wider audience. It is possible that they, together with the title-page, date from a later time than Márta Ziegler's copy.

We gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance of Dr. László Vikárius in our cataloguing of this lot.