Haydn Clavichord

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1249 MS 4117
Held at	: Royal College of Music   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.rcm.ac.uk/library/contactus/archivesandrecords/ ›
Full 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 & 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.

Finding aids:

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

Archival Information

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

Related material:

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

Publication note:

Description Notes

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

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Sep 2001