Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Busoni, Ferruccio Benvenuto, 1866-1924
- Abstract:
- The Busoni mss., 1901-1920, are the letters of Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni, 1866-1924, Italian pianist and composer. Born in Tuscany and dying in Berlin, Busoni writes these letters in German. To Otto Lessmann of Charlottenburg in 1901 and 1902 he writes about his recent concert tour and comments on the work of the Norwegian composer Christian Sinding.
- Extent:
- 1 folio
- Language:
- Materials are in German .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Busoni mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
The Busoni mss., 1901-1920 contains the correspondence of Italian pianist and composer Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni (1866-1924). Born in Empoli, Italy, Benvenuto quickly proved himself to be a pianist prodigy and began performing at a young age. Between the ages of nine and eleven, he then studied at the Vienna Conservatory. After composing his own piano and string concerto, as well as other early pieces, he was elected in 1881 to Bologna's Accademia Filharmonia. In 1888, he also became the director of the Institute of Music at Helsingfors. In addition to this and other teaching work, Benvenuto is known for his countless musical compositions. He also published Sketch of a New Esthetic of Music (1907), a treatise on his principles of musicology, and left his opera Doctor Faust unfinished at the time of his death.
- Scope and Content:
The Busoni mss., 1901-1920, are the letters of Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni, 1866-1924, Italian pianist and composer. Born in Tuscany and dying in Berlin, Busoni writes these letters in German. To German composer and critic Otto Lessmann in 1901 and 1902 he writes about his recent concert tour and comments on the work of the Norwegian composer Christian Sinding. In 1903 he recommends to Herren Ibach, piano manufacturer of Barmen, one of his outstanding piano pupils, Egon Petri. To Ilse the sculptor in 1908 he criticizes a Brahms monument as a "verlegenes Werk." From his retreat in Zurich in 1916 he expresses appreciation to an undentified friend for his fiftieth birthday observance.
Accompanying the letters is an outline in pencil for a Toccata dated 3 August 1920.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchase: 1975
- Physical location:
- Lilly - Folio
Indexed Terms
- Subjects:
- Music
- Names:
- Busoni, Ferruccio, 1866-1924
Lessmann, Otto, 1844-1918
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Busoni mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@indiana.edu