Joseph Haydn
n.p., [1794]
Joseph Haydn Signed 1st Ed. Sheet Music, "Dr. Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas"
ALS

A first edition of printed sheet music to six English canzonettas composed by Austrian Classical composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), signed by Haydn as "Haydn" on the title page at lower right. "Dr. Haydn's IV Original Canzonettas, for the Voice with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte Dedicated to Mrs. John Hunter" (London: "Entd. at Stationers Hall ? Pr. 7s, 6d; Printed for the Author, & Sold by him at No. 1, Bury Street, St. James's; at Messrs. Corri, Dussek & Co. Music Sellers to her Majesty; No. 67, Dean Street, Soho & Bridge Street, Edinburgh"), [1794]. Expected wear consistent with age. Missing its covers but with remnants of the spine. Tight binding. Even toning and isolated edge grubbiness, else clean within. Minor isolated chipping and minor deckling to the page edges. Else near fine. 31pp. 9.375" x 12.625." Ex-Christie's. Accompanied by a small engraving of Haydn after Ludwig Guttenbrunn, trimmed to an overall size of 4.5" x 5.75."

This collection of Joseph Haydn's canzonettas includes:
1) "The Mermaids [sic] Song";
2) "Recollection";
3) "A Pastoral Song";
4) "Despair";
5) Untitled, with lyrics beginning "Far from this throbing [sic] bosom haste ye doubts ye fears that lay it waste".
6) "Fidelity."
The canzonetta was a type of secular vocal composition first developed in sixteenth-century Italy. By the eighteenth century, the canzonetta had become one of the most popular composition types to showcase voice with musical accompaniment.

The Irish-born poet Anne Hunter (1742-1821), wife of London surgeon John Hunter, provided the English lyrics to Haydn's first six canzonettas published here, as well as to a select number of a second set of Haydn's canzonettas published the following year, in 1795. Anne Hunter collaborated with Joseph Haydn in other instances too, with Haydn composing music to accompany some of Anne's poems.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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sheet music measures 9.375" x 12.625"
Ex-Christie?s, December 19, 1986, lot 138.