CONTENTS
- Description of Collection
- Description of Series
- Inventory
- Series 1: Published music
- Series 2: Manuscripts
- Series 3: Composition Text
DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION
(1864-1898, bulk 1884-1898)
Location: M1A 3,1
5″, music
Biographical Sketch
A. (Adrien) Barthe (1828-1898), a pseudonym for Grat-Norbert Barthe. Barthe began his music studies with piano and composition lessons, and eventually became a student of Leborne at the Paris Conservatory. In 1854 he took first prize in composition at the Rome Institute with a cantata entitled Francesca de Rimini. His later oratorio Judith and opera Don Carlos also won acclaim. Halévy praised Don Carlos as “…well written, instrumentated with care…and giving true hope for M. Barthe’s future…”. After his return from Rome, Barthe attempted to work in the theater, but to no avail until 1864, when his opera la Fiancée d’Abydos won first prize in a competition, and was subsequently staged at the Theater-Lyrique on December 30, 1865. Due to a weak libretto,however, la Fiancée d’Abydos never attained a place in the repertoire and it was shortly thereafter that Barthe decided to discontinue his career as a composer. He married Mlle. Banderali, daughter of the singer of that name, who had herself achieved a considerable reputation in her father’s field. Norbert took up a career as a teacher, apparently working for the French government as well, in which connection he published his composition text. [sources: Lavignac I/3, Fetis Suppl., Pazdirek, Baker’s]
Provenance
This collection was purchased by Sibley Library in 1983 from the dealer, aGatherin’, of Wyantsville, New York. No further information regarding provenance was provided by the dealer.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of published works, manuscripts and materials relating to a composition text. In addition to a piece for piano four hands and a set of pieces for oboe and piano, the published works also include an autographed copy of Barthe’s prize winning opera la Fiancée d’Abydos. The bulk of manuscripts consist of songs for voice and piano, and the composition text materials are sketches and entries Barthe used for a composition contest in 1898. The material is of interest to the study of nineteenth-century French opera and especially art song as practiced by a minor but respected composer.
Restrictions and Use
There are no restrictions on the use of the collection.
Associations
DESCRIPTION OF SERIES
Series 1: Published Music
This series includes a small number of the published works of Barthe. They have been arranged according to genre in the following order: opera, piano, other instrumental.
Series 2: Manuscript Music
These manuscripts include exclusively unpublished works by Barthe. They arranged first into vocal works, which predominate, and instrumental works. Within those categories the arrangement is chronological. A small number of fragments are included at the end.
Series 3: Composition Text
The series includes both manuscript and printed material, apparently publisher proofs, relating to Barthe’s composition text. The material is exceedingly diverse in nature and has been grouped into broad categories by type.
INVENTORY
Series 1: Published music
Box 1
| folder 1 | La fiancée d’abydos. Opera en 4 actes de Jules Adenis . Musique de de A. Barthe. Paris: Choudens, n.p.n. |
| folder 2 | Pays Basque. Esquisses musicales pour piano á 4 mains par A. Barthe. Paris: Alphonse Leduc, p.n. A.L. 10.013. Five copies. |
| folder 3 | Idylle, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (1). |
| folder 4 | Legende, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (2). |
| folder 5 | Bourrée, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (3). |
| folder 6 | Le Berger, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (4). |
| folder 7 | Couvre feu, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (5). |
| folder 8 | Scherzo, from Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (6). |
| folder 9 | Six piéces pour piano et hautbois. Paris: Legouix, p.n. B.P. 5067 (1-6). |
Series 2: Manuscripts
Vocal Music
| folder 10 | No title, “They sat by the bank of the river, the bright birds were singing above…”, Paris, October 14, 1878. |
| folder 11 | Esperance, “Mon âme…o douce…”, Paris, 1882. |
| folder 12 | Berceuse, “Dors, dors, dans ton berceau…”, Paris, 1883. Original draft. |
| Moderato, “Dors, dors, dans ton berceau…”, n.p., n.d. Fine copy. | |
| folder 13 | No title, “Vous souvient-il un peu de ce que vous disiez…”, Paris, October 24, 1884. Original draft. |
| No title, “Vous souvient-il un peu de ce que vous disiez…”, Paris, October 24,1884. Fine copy. | |
| folder 14 | Trois jours de vendange, “Je l’ai rencontrée un jour de vendange…”, Paris, December 1, 1884. |
| folder 15 | No title, “Mon secret chéri ne saurait se dire…”, Paris, 1885. |
| folder 16 | Aux petits enfants, “Enfants d’un jour o nouveau nés…”, Paris, June 1, 1885. |
| folder 17 | Bocquillon dans l’embarras, “L’autre jour en permission nom de nom…”, Paris, February 16, 1886. |
| folder 18 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| Le depart des hirondelle, “L’été s’en va, les hirondelles s’en vont aussi…”, Paris, December 18, 1886. | |
| [illeg.], [illeg.], Paris, January 17, 1887. | |
| folder 19 | The Song of Death, “The birds in the tree-tops are singing…”, Paris: June 30, 1886. |
| folder 20 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| Point…, “Je voudrais bien, ma tante belle…”, Paris, February 20, 1887 | |
| La chanson de Maia, “Assise, un soir, sur le rivage…, Paris, February 27, 1887. | |
| folder 21 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| Aubade, “J’ai vu la nuit, ouvrant les yeux…”, Paris, May 19, 1887 | |
| La chanson du Printemps, “Quand vous verrez de la fenêtre…”, Paris, May 22, 1889. | |
| folder 22 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| Doux messages, “Avez vous a matin dans la parc solitaire…”, Paris, January 11, 1888. | |
| L’amour et la vie, “Pour tant l’aimer qu’est-ce donc que la vie…”, Paris, May 24, 1889. | |
| folder 23 | Arithmetic song, “12 times 2 are 24…”, Paris, May 1889. |
| folder 24 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| [illeg.], “Lorsque je vivais (?) loin de vous…”, n.p., July 9, 1893. | |
| Dandelions & Timothy, “Up from the green of the tender grass…”, Paris, March 20, 1892. | |
| folder 25 | Marseilles, “O…je veux chanter tes…”, Paris, March 7, 1892. |
| folder 26 | Toujours, “Les plus belles fleurs se flétres…”, [illeg.], September 23, 1892. |
| folder 27 | These two songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| Fais l’ame pur ami [du soir?], “Un proverbe…”, Paris, December 22, 1895. | |
| [illeg.], [illeg.], [illeg.], 1890. | |
| folder 28 | All six songs are composed on the same manuscript. |
| The Air Shaft | |
| Morning day, “Rising early, working late…”, Paris, (?) 29, 1897. | |
| When a man, who goes a’wooing, “When a man, who goes a’wooing…”, Paris, December 5, 1897. | |
| The Bachelor Girl, “She may have her degree of M.D.P…”, Paris, (?) 8, 1897. | |
| The Burglar & the Mouse, “The burglar, who at dead of night…”, Paris, January 2, 1898. | |
| Finale, “In the lott’ry of love…”, Paris, February 9, 1898. | |
| The Fall, “Locked in by a love-sick storm…”, Paris, March 6, 1898. | |
| folder 29 | Dieu saint et grand, “Dieu saint et grand…”, n.p., n.d. |
| Sainte Sion, “Sainte Sion Ode-meure éternelle…”, n.p., n.d. | |
| folder 30 | Song fragment, with the following text; “Champagne, champagne, champagne!, n.p., n.d. |
| folder 31 | Three poetic song texts from unknown journal, titled Menuet, La vieille mendiante, and Coeur vieilli. |
Instrumental Music
| folder 32 | [illeg.], waltz for piano four hands. Marseilles, September 26, 1883. |
| folder 33 | [?] Polka, for solo piano. Paris, January 13, 1884. |
| folder 34 | Untitled, piece for solo soprano instrument and piano. New York, April 19, 1884. |
| folder 35 | Untitled, set of three pieces for solo piano. New York, October 12, 1892. |
| folder 36 | Untitled, piece for solo bass instrument and piano. N.d., n.p. |
Fragments
| folder 37 | Three manuscript fragments, two of which are dated April 15, 1884, and January 11, 1888. |
Series 3: Composition Texts
| folder 38 | Original drafts of bass and solo voice parts composed for the Concours 1898. |
| folder 39 | Original drafts of bass and solo voice parts. |
| folder 40 | Original drafts of bass and solo voice parts composed for the Concours 1898. |
| folder 41 | Fine copy of solo voice part with piano accompaniment. |
| folder 42 | Various manuscripts entitled Lecons d’Harmonie 1898. |
| folder 43 | Fine copy of bass and solo voice parts. |
| folder 44 | Various manuscripts entitled Alternés Concours 1898. |
| folder 45 | Various manuscripts and fine copies. |
| folder 46 | Proofs of composition text; dated 1892, 1893 and 1898. |
