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Royal College of Music

Haydn Clavichord

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 1249 MS 4117

Held at: Royal College of Music

Title: Haydn Clavichord

Date(s): 1766, 1835-1930

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 1 volume

Name of creator(s): Richter | Hans Baptist Isidor | 1843-1916 | Austro-Hungarian conductor

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was appointed Vice Kapellmeister to the Esterházy court at Eisenstadt, Austria, in 1761, and became Ober-Kapellmeister in 1766. Anton Richter (1802-1854) was an organist and choirmaster at Eisenstadt and father of Hans Richter (1843-1916) the Austro-Hungarian conductor. Anton Prinster and his brother Michael were horn players in Haydn's orchestra at the Esterházy court. Their niece, Fanny Elssler, was the daughter of Johann Florian Elssler (1769-1843), music copyist to Haydn.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Volume containing documents relating to a clavichord made by Johann Bohak, Vienna, 1794, belonging to the composer Joseph Haydn, including incomplete keyboard partite in manuscript of Haydn [1766]; letter from Anton Prinster on provenance of the partite, 1835; statement by Anton Richter on the provenance and ownership of the clavichord [1852]; letter from Prinster on same subject, 1852; statement from Prinster's niece, Fanny Elssler, on same; letter to Anton Richter from members of his orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria, on a performance of his Requiem, undated; English translations of the original German documents; two letters from Hans Richter, on sale of the manuscripts, 1911; article `Haydn's clavichord and a sonata manuscript' from The Musical Times, 1 Apr 1930.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Original documents are in German, with English translations. The letters from Hans Richter are in English.

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Usual conditions of the Library of the Royal College of Music apply. See the RCM website or contact the RCM Library for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

An entry is given in volume 2 of the Manuscripts catalogue in the library of the Royal College of Music.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The documents appear to have been sold by Hans Richter to a Mr Hill in 1911 for £150. They were in the possession of a Miss Chapman in 1930.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Not known

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

British Library holds correspondence and music of Haydn, c1781-1805.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: Grove Dictionary of Music.