BEETHOVEN - Grand Quatuor en partition...Oeuvre 131." – EX- Dimitri Mitropoulos

Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827) [Mitropoulos, Dimitri. (1896–1960)] Grand Quatuor en partition pour deux Violons, Alto, et Violoncelle composé et dédié à Son Excellence Monsieur le Baron de Stutterheim, Lieutenant Maréchat de Camp Impérial et Royal d'Autriche &c: par L. v. Beethoven, Oeuvre 131." – From the collection of Dimitri Mitropoulos Mayence [Mainz]: Schott. [1827]. First Edition. Disbound upright quarto.  Lithograph.  [PN 2692].  Title (verso blank); 1–50 pp.  Light foxing throughout, wear (erasure?) to lower center of title page and first leaf, first two leaves creased to lower right corner, remnants of wrappers and string along left edge, else in fine condition. Kinsky, p.398; Hoboken 519; Dorfmuller, p.351. From the library of Dimitri Mitropoulos, though without any stamps or markings. Uncommon, only one copy having appeared at auction in over 60 years. Rare first edition of the score of the string quartet in c sharp minor, this copy is without the Beilage present in apparently the earliest issues of the first edition (see Kinsky, p.398). As Dorfmuller observes (p.351), the first edition of the score was published a little later than the first edition of the parts in the same year (1827). Beethoven oversaw the preparation of the publication, giving Schott instructions as late as February 1827, but he did not live to see the work in print.Dimitri Mitropoulos was Greece’s most prolific conductor and New York Philharmonic Music Director from 1949-1958.  Widely regarded as one of the most significant conductors of the twentieth century, he is best remembered for his significant recorded legacy and for his commitment in bringing new compositions to the stage of major symphony orchestras.  Indeed, it is thanks to his efforts that many of our current symphonic standards made their way into the repertory.  He gave World and American premiers of seminal works such as Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 and Schoenberg’s Erwartung, as well as other major works by Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and many others.  His personal collection has been held in private hands since his death in 1960, when it passed to conductor James Dixon, his student and protégé.  Mitropoulos came to consider Dixon his son, introducing him to conductors and performing arts institutions around the world, jumpstarting his career.  When Mitropoulos died in 1960 he left all his belongings, including his scores, to Dixon.  The bulk of the musical library has been subsequently gifted to the University of Iowa’s music library, but a selection of rare items have been selected to be offered for sale exclusively by Schubertiade Music & Arts.   Schubertiade Music & Arts LLC - BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! ***ALL AUTOGRAPHS GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC WITHOUT LIMIT*** I was the President of the Professional Autograph Dealers Association from 2013-2018 and a leading and trusted authenticator of autographs, including for many of the world's auction houses and for James Spence (JSA). Schubertiade Music & Arts are also members in good standing of ABAA/ILAB, the most exclusive consortium of Rare Book and Manuscript Dealers in the world, as well as the MLA (Music Librarian Association), and MARIAB (Massachusetts and Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers). You can read more about us by searching for Schubertiade Music & Arts and may buy with utmost confidence! SCHUBERTIADE MUSIC & ARTS deals in Music, Entertainment, Literary and other Autographs, Antiquarian Music, Books, Prints, Photographs & Paintings and Ephemera. Please read more about us in our "about me" page by clicking next to our username / feedback listing. We issue seasonal and occasional catalogues - please contact us if you would like to receive notifications or let us know about your collection. Everything we offer is guaranteed authentic without limit and is so stated on the signed and detailed receipt which comes with every item. Because this Guarantee is attached to an actual and meaningful money-back guarantee (see our Terms for further details), this is much more significant than most COAs which are generally but worthless pieces of paper if not issued by recognized experts in the field and backed by a real authenticity return policy. We accept payment by ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS, Check, and by Paypal. Shipping Charges are as listed and are not subject to negotiation. We will of course be happy to combine shipments and do NOT charge multiple shipping charges except for large/heavy items which naturally affect the cost. We ship exclusively via insured FedEx and pride ourselves on our thorough and expert packaging.

Disbound upright quarto.  Lithograph.  [PN 2692].  Title (verso blank); 1–50 pp.  Light foxing throughout, wear (erasure?) to lower center of title page and first leaf, first two leaves creased to lower right corner, remnants of wrappers and string along left edge, else in fine condition. Kinsky, p.398; Hoboken 519; Dorfmuller, p.351. From the library of Dimitri Mitropoulos, though without any stamps or markings. Uncommon, only one copy having appeared at auction in over 60 years. 

Rare first edition of the score of the string quartet in c sharp minor, this copy is without the Beilage present in apparently the earliest issues of the first edition (see Kinsky, p.398). As Dorfmuller observes (p.351), the first edition of the score was published a little later than the first edition of the parts in the same year (1827). Beethoven oversaw the preparation of the publication, giving Schott instructions as late as February 1827, but he did not live to see the work in print.