ELGAR'S DREAM OF GERONTIUS MANUSCRIPT PRINTER'S PLATE

£ 102

$ 135

£ 102 Sold For

Feb 16, 2007 Sold Date

Feb 6, 2007 Start Date

25 Number Of Bids

Great Britain Country Of Seller

eBay Auctioned at

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Description

This must be a unique piece of classical music memorabilia: a printer's plate of the final bars of the Dream of Gerontius, hand written manuscript in Sir Edward Elgar's own hand. It is signed and, as far as I can make out, dated, but what is for sure is that it bears the quotation from Ruskin:"This is the best of me; for the rest, I ate, and drank, and slept, loved and hated, like another. My life was as the vapour, and is not; but this I saw, and knew; this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory." I would assume that this small block, about 4" square was used for programme notes. It came from Birmingham Town Hall, where this towering work was first performed in 1900, conducted by Elgar himself. It looks like an etched copper plate. On the back of the wooden block is written: "USE THIS, Final page of Elgar's maunuscript of Gerontius." I cannot claim that this plate dates back to the first performance, but it is a little piece of history forever intertwined with, arguably, the most sublime English choral work.

For more information on The Dream of Gerontius:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dream_of_Gerontius

For a video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeiWMXQYy18

From UK buyers, Paypal, Postal Orders or cheques drawn on UK banks. Overseas buyer must use Paypal. Postage of £4 only Royal Mail 1st Class. Overseas bidders - please enquire for postage rates. Insured postage available to all at cost.

On 15-Feb-07 at 09:21:22 GMT, seller added the following information:

For information on The Dream of Gerontius:

http://birmingham.digicity.co.uk/City-District/Birmingham_Wikipedia-18849329id.html

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