[CALLIGRAPHIC SCORES.]
Two anonymous manuscript scores.
London, 1820s.
Comprising:
‘Mme Lavallière, romance historique avec accompagnement de piano forte’. [Before 1828]. 4to, 2 facing pages of music on a bifolium, executed in an extremely fine hand in gold ink within a decorative chainlink border in black and gilt, stitched into blue stiff paper covers with a calligraphic title above a wreath of oak leaves and the same chain-link border in black and gold.
‘Rondo pour piano forte à quatre mains composé exprès pour être très respectueusement offert à deux sœurs par un anonyme’. [14 July, 1828] [with:] Le Soupir, romance. [26 June 1828]. 2 works, oblong folio, pp. [10], and [p. 2] of music, each with a title-page, that to the Rondo executed in the same fine hand as the item above, within a similar wreath of oak-leaves; stitched with blue silk into a contemporary marbled paper portfolio.
Two charming productions, sent as anonymous gifts, presumably to the wife or daughter(s) of Col. Thomas Nuttall (or Nuthall) (d. 1829) of the Madras Cavalry.
The second volume is annotated ‘Sent to me Anonymously directed “Miss Nuthall” when living in Berners Street Oxford Street. 1828 – 14 July. Another piece – Blue & gilt cover & notes gilt [i.e. ‘Mme Lavallière] was previously sent’. Nuttall married twice and had at least one daughter.
‘Mme Lavalliere’ (for voice and piano) sets an unidentified text about Louis XIV’s mistress Louise de la Vallière. The Rondo is a sprightly duet for four hands; and ‘Le Soupir!’, ’composée à Londres le 26 juin 1828’, for voice and piano, sets words by the Chevalier de Messence (‘Petit chagrin de notre enfance…’). The composer was presumably a French émigré, but has not been identified. Were these pieces perhaps intended to preface a profession of romantic interest?
