115. Prokofiev, Sergei. Autograph musical quotation signed, (4.12 x 6 in.; 105 x 152 mm.), [no place], 1938; some creasing, three small punch holes at far left margin not affecting text. Accompanied by a fine image of the composer.

A fine autograph musical quotation inscribed and signed, 2nd Violin Concerto, Serge Prokofieff, 1938. The quote constitutes one and one half measures of the violin solo from the first movement of Prokofiev’s 2nd Violin Concerto.

The Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63, written in 1935 by Sergei Prokofiev, is a work in three movements: Allegro moderato, Andante assai and Allegro, ben marcato. It premiered on 1 December 1935 in Madrid with the French violinist Robert Soetens and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra conducted by Enrique Fernández Arbós. Prokofiev wrote it after the first performance of his Sonata for Two Violins, by Soetens and Samuel Dushkin, which pleased him greatly. Dushkin had just recently had a concerto written for him, by Igor Stravinsky, so Prokofiev did the same for Soetens. Prokofiev was on a concert tour with Robert Soetens while he was working on the concerto, and later wrote, “The number of places in which I wrote the Concerto shows the kind of nomadic concert-tour life I led then. The main theme of the 1st movement was written in Paris, the first theme of the 2nd movement at Voronezh, the orchestration was finished in Baku and the premiere was given in Madrid.” The Spanish enjoyed the premiere so much that they sent a delegation of musicians to thank Prokofiev after the performance.

As the creator of acknowledged masterpieces across numerous musical genres, Prokofiev is regarded as one of the major composers of the twentieth century. His works include the March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and Juliet – from which “Dance of the Knights” is taken – and Peter and the Wolf, as well as twelve completed operas, seven symphonies, nine ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, and nine completed piano sonatas.
$4,000 - $6,000