Reynaldo HAHN

First edition of this rare fascicle, unnumbered, and printed in a small number on Dutch laid paper. Illustrated with a portrait of Albert Cuyp after Maurin.
In sheets under gray-green publisher's wrapper printed in black and red, 5 pages of lithographed music (Imp. Delanchy), publisher's wet stamp on blank verso of last leaf. Very small nicks at head and tail of soft cover spine, copy in pristine condition.
Poetic and musical portrait of the Dutch Golden Age painter Albert Cuyp, created jointly by Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn who accompanies the writer's verses with a piano melody.
This is the first of four portraits of painters that Proust and Hahn admired at the Louvre (they devoted the following ones to Paul Potter, Anton Van Dyck and Antoine Watteau). The luxurious fascicles were sold separately as indicated on the printed cover. For each of them, Proust's verses specially composed for the occasion are printed in italic characters under reproductions of old engravings offering portraits of the painters evoked. The poems would be published the same year in the first edition of Plaisirs et les Jours. Hahn's melodies were premiered at Madeleine Lemaire's on May 28, 1895, in the presence of prestigious spectators, including Princess Edmond de Polignac, Count Robert de Montesquiou, José Maria de Heredia to whom the poems were dedicated, Count Primoli, as well as Anatole France.

"The interposition of the poem between painting and music has therefore proven to be an excellent conduit between the arts thanks to the fact that Hahn scrupulously respected the spirit of the poem while preserving his autonomy in his composition. The link between music and painting reveals itself after the other materials unite with each other; it is in this alliance that an astonishing complementarity then operates, desired on the soothing light of Albert Cuyp" (Nicolas Vardon)

Precious copy of utmost rarity, a superb manifestation of the immense artistic complicity between Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn.

First edition of this rare fascicle, unnumbered, published in a small number of copies on Dutch laid paper.
Work illustrated with a portrait of Albert Cuyp after Maurin.
In sheets under grey-green publisher's wrappers printed in black and red, 5 pages of lithographed music (Imp. Delanchy), publisher's blind stamp on verso of final blank leaf. Very small tears to margins of spine and boards, handsome copy.
Poetic and musical portrait of the Dutch Golden Age painter Albert Cuyp, created collaboratively by Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn who accompanies the writer's verses with a piano melody.
This is the first of four portraits of painters that Proust and Hahn admired at the Louvre (they devoted the following ones to Paul Potter, Anton Van Dyck and Antoine Watteau). The luxurious fascicles were sold separately as indicated on the printed wrapper. For each of them, Proust's verses specially composed for the occasion are printed in italic characters beneath reproductions of old engravings offering portraits of the painters evoked. The poems would be published the same year in the first edition of Plaisirs et les Jours. Hahn's melodies were premiered at Madeleine Lemaire's on May 28, 1895, in the presence of prestigious spectators, including Princess Edmond de Polignac, Count Robert de Montesquiou, José Maria de Heredia to whom the poems were dedicated, Count Primoli, as well as Anatole France.

"The interposition of the poem between painting and music has therefore proven an excellent conductor between the arts thanks to the fact that Hahn scrupulously respected the spirit of the poem while preserving his autonomy in his composition. The link between music and painting is revealed after the other materials unite among themselves; it is in this alliance that an astonishing complementarity then operates, sought upon the soothing light of Albert Cuyp" (Nicolas Vardon)

Precious copy of utmost rarity, a superb manifestation of the immense artistic complicity between Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn.

Autograph letter signed by Reynaldo Hahn, dandy, composer and great love of Marcel Proust (30 lines in blue ink from the Hôtel de la Réserve in Monte Carlo) addressed to Marthe Daudet, wife of the journalist and monarchist writer Léon Daudet, principal collaborator of Charles Maurras at Action Française.
Fold mark inherent to posting, the ink of some letters having bled on the verso.
Since the death of his sister, Reynaldo Hahn is inconsolable and recalls the all too rare joys he has experienced in recent times. He thanks Marthe Daudet who tempered his despondency: "... what sadness since our lunch in St Rémy! It is the last pleasant moment I have lived in long months, and I owe it to you..."
He also recalls the sufferings of his late sister: "... it is only at the end that she knew some rest. What courage she showed these past two years! " and draws a parallel with the tragic death of Philippe Daudet which shook the Daudet family: "... I think very often of him (Léon Daudet) and of your painful ordeal."
On November 23, 1923, traveling in a taxi, Philippe Daudet committed suicide at the age of 14, his father accusing anarchist circles or the Third Republic police of having disguised this "crime" as suicide.

Autograph letter signed by Reynaldo Hahn, dandy, composer and great love of Marcel Proust (22 lines in black ink) regarding the biography that Léon Daudet devoted to his father Alphonse in 1898.
Trace of fold inherent to mailing.
Reynaldo Hahn congratulates Léon Daudet for the rational pertinence and clarity of the biography: "... où l'on retrouve tout ce qui était définissable et analysable en Alphonse Daudet..." ["... where one finds all that was definable and analyzable in Alphonse Daudet..."] while regretting nonetheless that he had only imperfectly captured the author of Lettres de mon moulin : " ... ce que vous n'avez pu fixer c'est le mystère brûlant et doux qui émanait de lui, et qui s'est évanoui à tout jamais..." ["... what you could not capture is the burning and sweet mystery that emanated from him, and which has vanished forever..."]
In order to temper this criticism, he wishes to warmly thank Léon Daudet for having evoked in the work his friendship with Alphonse Daudet: "... je suis si fier de l'affection qu'il me témoignait..." ["... I am so proud of the affection he showed me..."]

Autograph letter signed by Reynaldo Hahn, dandy, composer and great love of Marcel Proust (20 lines in blue ink) addressed to Julia Daudet concerning the tragic death of her grandson Philippe who committed suicide at the age of 14; his father, Léon Daudet, accused anarchist circles or the police of the Third Republic of having disguised this "crime" as suicide.
Fold marks inherent to postal dispatch.
Reynaldo Hahn apologizes for not being as available as he would like for his friends and regrets having missed his correspondent at her home: "... à aller vous dire tout ce que je ressens si vivement..." ["to come tell you all that I feel so keenly..."] but will renew his attempt soon: "je tâcherai d'être plus heureux samedi après-midi..." ["I will try to be more fortunate Saturday afternoon..."]
Reynaldo Hahn wishes to show, during the trials the family is going through, all his attachment to them and his communion of spirit: "... toute la part profonde que je prends à votre chagrin et combien j'ai partagé vos émotions douloureuses..." ["all the deep part I take in your grief and how much I have shared your painful emotions..."]

Autograph letter signed by Reynaldo Hahn addressed to Madame Serge André and written on a blue paper letter-card in blue ink. Central fold inherent to the mailing.
Dominique André is a poetess, novelist and playwright. She notably published under the pseudonym Claude Isambert.
Charming letter of thanks: "Merci, chère amie, de m'avoir envoyé ce bouquet de fleurs épineuses et embaumées de tant d'arômes divers." ["Thank you, dear friend, for having sent me this bouquet of thorny flowers perfumed with so many diverse aromas."] The composer also mentions the collection of poems Cassandre that his friend published the same year by éditions du Divan: "Cassandre, si elle avait votre clairvoyance n'aurait pas votre philosophie triste et douce - ni votre esprit ! J'ai passé une heure mélancolique et charmante à respirer les émanations de votre pensée." ["Cassandra, if she had your clairvoyance would not have your sad and gentle philosophy - nor your wit! I spent a melancholic and charming hour breathing the emanations of your thought."]

Signed autograph note by Reynaldo Hahn addressed to Madame Serge André and written on a white paper letter-card in blue ink. Central fold inherent to the mailing.
Dominique André is a poetess, novelist and playwright. She notably published under the pseudonym Claude Isambert.
Reynaldo Hahn declines an invitation from his friend: "Est-ce possible, chère Madame ! Vous m'invitez à goûter ! Hélas, je ne pense pas aller nulle part dans la journée ! Un soir à l'Escargot d'Or on avait projeté de se voir : Lacretelle devait me faire signe - que sais-je ?" ["Is it possible, dear Madame! You invite me for afternoon tea! Alas, I don't think I'm going anywhere during the day! One evening at the Escargot d'Or we had planned to see each other: Lacretelle was supposed to let me know - what do I know?"]

Signed autograph note by Reynaldo Hahn addressed to Madame Serge André and written on a white paper letter-card in blue ink. Central fold inherent to the mailing.
Dominique André is a poetess, novelist and playwright. She notably published under the pseudonym Claude Isambert.
"J'ai trop tardé, chère Madame, à vous remercier de votre livre et du plaisir qu'il m'a procuré. Plaisir amer et trouble - mais rare. Ce qui est particulièrement remarquable en ces pages, c'est leur extrême distinction..." ["I have delayed too long, dear Madame, in thanking you for your book and the pleasure it has given me. Bitter and troubled pleasure - but rare. What is particularly remarkable in these pages is their extreme distinction..."]

Autograph card signed by Reynaldo Hahn addressed to Georges Hoog. About ten lines written in blue ink.
Interesting card discussing the opera Mireille: "We performed Mireille here, the true Mireille, with exceptional brilliance and success. I patiently await the day when this masterpiece can return to the Opera theater, but without mutilations."
Composed by Charles Gounod after Frédéric Mistral's Provençal poem, the opera Mireille premiered on March 19, 1864 at the Théâtre Lyrique. The work was reworked numerous times and considerably reduced. It was not until 1939 that the original score was rediscovered, notably thanks to the help of Reynaldo Hahn who conducted a performance of the "true Mireille" in Arles on June 28, 1942.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Reynaldo Hahn to Henri Béraud.
Spine sunned, covers stained, light foxing affecting mainly the endpapers.
Provenance: from Henri Béraud's library on the Île de Ré.