André JOLIVET. Lot n° 45

Two autograph music manuscripts, one signed, Étude sur des modes antiques [K 110], 1944; 3 and 3 pages in-fol. Draft and final manuscript of this piece for piano, written at the request of the Durand publishing house, which wished to promote Obouhov notation and published it in 1947 (in Obouhov notation), then in 1970 in traditional notation; it was premiered at the Radiodiffusion Française on June 9, 1949, by Janine Haloua. "A slow, somewhat monotonous piece, the Étude sur des modes antiques is written entirely in homophony of bass and voice (often in parallel thirds or sixths), the intermediate part always being syncopated" (Lucie Kayas). First draft, heavily crossed out and corrected, in pencil, on 14-line paper, with hesitations on the title: "Prelude to a Poem by Allan Seeger," and "[Meditation crossed out] Study on Ancient Modes. Final manuscript in traditional notation, signed and dated 1944, in black pencil, on 14-line paper. The inscription: "Tempo rubato very free of nuances and movement". At the bottom of the first page, Jolivet noted the three modes used: Aeolian mode: karnatic scale no. 20: Nâtabhairavi; Lydian chromatic mode: karnatic scale no. 2: Rhâtnangi; Phrygian mode with chromatic tetrachord: karnatic scale no. 59: Dhârmovati". An autograph sheet is attached, noting the different scales used, with different striped titles: "Oraison, Prélude choral, Méditation, Feuillet d'album"; plus 2 l. s. by Jacques and René Dommange from Éditions Durand for the 1970 edition. Discography: Pascal Gallet (Maguelone, 2003).