J. Brahms. Autograph manuscript of the song "Feldeinsamkeit", op.86 no.2, signed and inscribed, 1879 or later

Johannes Brahms

Autograph manuscript of the song Feldeinsamkeit ("Solitude in the Fields"), op.86 no.2, for baritone and piano, BOLDLY SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE COMPOSER ("Herrn Wilhelm Lindeck zu freundlichem Versuch angeboten von J. Brahms [Offered to Mr Wilhelm Lindeck for his kind efforts, by J. Brahms]")

A STUNNING FAIR-COPY MANUSCRIPT, notated in brown ink on up to three three-stave systems per page, with autograph title ("Feldeinsamkeit von Herman [sic] Allmers")

4 pages, oblong folio (21.6x 28.7cm), the music written within attractive blue vignette borders of flowers, fruit and musical instruments and music, no place or date [probably 1879 or after], both leaves expertly repaired at folds and centre-fold strengthened, first page a little dust-stained, otherwise in good condition

Feldeinsamkeit, ("Ich ruhe still im hohen grünen Grass [I rest quietly in the long green Grass]"), a setting of the poem by Hermann Allmers for bass-baritone, is widely regarded as one of Brahms’s greatest songs. The poet is recorded as not being satisfied with Brahms’s setting, feeling that it was serious for his light verse. We can only be grateful that Brahms persevered with this wonderful song. It is unlikely that Allmers would be remembered today if he had not.

Though written apparently in the summer of 1879, the song was not published until 1882. Only one other manuscript of this work is recorded, now surviving at the Hermann Allmers-Haus, near Bremerhaven.

The dedicatee of this manuscript was Wilhelm Lindeck, the Mannheim banker and brother of the conductor and Brahms and Wagner devotee, Hermann Levi.

LITERATURE:

Johannes Brahms. Thematisch-Bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis, ed. Margit McCorkle (1984), pp.355ff.

PROVENANCE:

Wilhelm Lindeck; Anne Lindeck; Private collection, Germany; Sotheby’s, London, 21 May 1998 (lot 146)