Various - Piano - 1860

Rare 19th-century Sammelband containing 15 separately published works for piano, preserved together in a contemporary binding.
An attractive and highly characteristic collection of Romantic virtuoso piano music, including compositions, concert studies, fantasies, variations and opera paraphrases by Sigismond Thalberg, Carl Maria von Weber, Julius Schulhoff, Henri Herz, Alexandre Goria, Rodolphe Willmers, Jacques Blumenthal, Henri Rosellen, C. A. Osborne and J. Eykens.
The individual works were originally issued separately by important European music publishers including B. Schott's Söhne, S. Richault, Brandus et Cie, Maurice Schlesinger and Simrock, and were subsequently brought together in this single private piano volume.
Particularly noteworthy are:
Sigismond Thalberg – Grande Fantaisie sur la Sérénade et le Menuet de Don Juan, Op. 42, Schott, plate no. 6480.
Julius Schulhoff – Le Tournoi, Grande Étude pour Piano, Op. 19, dedicated to Charles-Valentin Alkan, Schott, plate no. 8739.
Rodolphe Willmers – 2 Études de Concert, Op. 28, dedicated to Madame Clara Schumann, née Wieck, Richault, plate no. 7352 R; comprising La Pompa di festa and La Danse delle Baccanti.
Rodolphe Willmers – Ode à l'amour, Op. 30, Richault, plate no. 2976 R; the engraved music is explicitly signed “Gravé par Melle Query”.
Alexandre Goria – Fantaisie brillante sur Semiramide, Op. 42, Schott, plate no. 9732.
Alexandre Goria – Fantaisie brillante sur l'opéra Ne touchez pas à la Reine, Op. 31, Schott, plate no. 9331.
Henri Herz – Rondo Militaire sur un air favori du Serment ou les Faux monnoyeurs de F. E. Auber, Op. 69, Schott, plate no. 3954.
J. Eykens – Souvenirs de Robert le Diable, Fantaisie pour le Piano, Op. 10, Schott, plate no. 4649.
Julius Schulhoff – 2e Valse Brillante, Op. 20, Schott, plate no. 9155.
Jacques Blumenthal – Les Deux Anges, Morceau Caractéristique, Op. 8, Brandus et Cie, plate no. 4937.
Further works by Henri Rosellen, Rodolphe Willmers, Carl Maria von Weber and C. A. Osborne, completing a total of 15 separately issued compositions.
Several pieces retain their attractive original typographical and ornamental title pages.
Of additional interest is the provenance. Two separately published works bear the same contemporary circular music-dealer's stamp with ornamental monogram, suggesting that they were acquired through the same music dealer before being bound together. An old handwritten ownership signature is also present.
The music is printed by the characteristic engraved/plate-printing techniques used by 19th-century music publishers. Individual plate numbers remain clearly visible throughout.
Binding: contemporary dark cloth-covered boards, with the gilt title “PIANO.” on the front cover.
Condition: the binding is heavily worn, with substantial wear and losses to the spine, rubbed corners and edges and general signs of use. Internally considerably better preserved. The paper shows scattered foxing, age-toning and some water/damp staining, particularly towards the lower margins of several leaves. Please study the photographs carefully. The wear is consistent with a working 19th-century volume of piano music.
An unusual surviving Sammelband of Romantic piano repertoire, retaining the individual title pages, publishers' imprints, plate numbers, contemporary dealer stamps and ownership evidence.
15 separately published works bound in one volume.