The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26


Boieldieu; "MefstofeIe." Boito; "Eu-
gen Onegin' "Pique Dame" of Tschai-
kowski; Eliza" CheruDIni; Der Cid"
Peter Cornelius; don Pasquale"
Donizetti; "Hulda." Cesar Franck;
Russian LudmilIa," Glinka; all Of the
Gluck operas; Die KOenfgen Won
saba of GOldmark, and Gounod's
queen Of Sheba": Halevy's La
Julve' and La Refine de Chypre";
Tampa" Herold; "L'Etranger." Vim
cent Indy; "Armide, 4" Lulu; Joseph"
Mehul; all Of the Meyerbeer operas;
some OF Ohenbach: La GiOconda" Of
Ponchielli-the only modern Italian
opera; Rossini. lie Siege de Corinthe";
Ernest Reyer, La Statue; Rimsky-
Korsakov. "SadkO" and May Night:
Saint-Saens, 'Phryne," Samson ct
Dalila"; Smetana, Die Verkaufte
Braut"; ''Fernand Cortez." Spontini;
much Verdi; all of the Wagner operas.
and most Of Weber's: also / believe,
the only Hugo Wolf opera. Der
CorregidOr." And this is only a small
proportion Of the full score operatic
collection.
Then there is a formidable list OF
operas with pianoforte scores, oratorios
and cantatas, orchestral music in full
score and chamber music. Further.
there is an exhaustive collection OF
musical biography. history, works on
harmony, on the physics and philosophy
of music and the like
With this enviable list comes the fol-
lowing letter that, in the belief that its
facts may prove of use to some musi-
clans. as they will be of interest to all,
1 print. The invitation at the close to
make full use of the library and it's
facilities is open to all musicians
WASHINGTON. D. C.
Dear Madam BY direction Of the Librarian
of Congress take pleasure in forwarding 10
you a copy Of the Select List OF Recent Pur-
chases Of the Library OF Congress reprinted
from the Librarians report for the last fiscal
Year,, assuming your particular interest pos
sibly in that section Of the list which ex-
hibits the aecessions in music (See pp. so
1410
The Division OF Music in the library was
set apart in the reorganization OF the library
in 1897. when all the music that had accu-
mulated since the foundation Of the. library
in lSoO was given into its custody. With the
exception Of a few rareties the collection was
almost entirely the result of deposits under
the copyright law. For reasons connected with
the history Of copyright legislation only a por-
tion Of the music entered for copyright between
1888 and ISIS was in possession Of the IL
brary; but that issued since 1919, 50 far as
representing the press of the United States,
represented in a collection which was fairly
comprehensive. and, of course unique. or
European publications the library in 1897 pos
sessed very few prior to 1891, and these prin-
eipally works by American composers. Since
1891, when protection under our copyright
laws was extended to the works of foreign
authors. the collection came TO embrace music
which foreign publishers cared thus to enter for
protection. AS all the Continental countries
making important contributions to music. with
the exception Of AUSTRIA Hungary, Russia Nor
way and Sweden, have been included In this
protection and as the European publishers
copyrighted the majority of their publications
land frequently works by Russians. Austrians.
ete). the Library OF Congress, under the in
ternatonal copyright law Of 1891. came to
acquire very extensive and representative
collection Of contemporary European music.
Within the past three years however, there
has been systematic effort and a very consid-
erable expenditure to increase the scope OF the
collection in order TO make it a center OF
research TO the student critic and historian
Of music. The accompanying list. although
only a select one, will show to some extent
the character of the acquisitions which have
resulted in pursuance OF this policy
In the report of the Librarian for the past
year the collections in the Division OF Music
were thus briefly described:
The Library of Congress now possesses a
good working collection OF the literature on
music fundamental to the student Of the history
and theory OF music. and the collection Of music
is no longer limited 10 that which has come
from copyright In order that il should also
contain representatives Of the best printed
scores of classical and standard material the
works OF the classical composers have been
purchased in complete editions so far as thew
have been published. and those of the more
notable modern masters have been acquired
in selection intended to represent their COM
positions in opera, oratoriO. cantata, orchestral
and chamber music.
Special attention has also been paid to
early American psalmody. civil war music,
and TO serial publications of historical char
acter. such the Denkmaler der Tonkunst in
Oesterreich. Finally efforts have been made
toward the acquisition OF dramatic music In
full score, that the student may consult the
standard operas In their original form and at
first source"
Such gaps as necessarily still exist will il
is hoped, disappear as the plans for a system
attic development Of the collection are carried
into effect.
On July l, 1908. the total number Of volumes
and pieces OF music in the Division was esti-
mated at 66.7S5. this being an Increase OF
q, 224 over the preceding year. In addition
the division had in its custody some 4TOO vol
umes and pamphlets dealing with the history
and theory Of music. Not included in this
enumeration was instructive material estimated
at about 5000 volumes. pamphlets and pieces,
since set apart in a special section OF the col
lection.
The accessions during the past ten months
would bring the grand total of the collection
to the neighborhood Of 100000 items
This collection will be made as freely acces-
sibe as any other in the Library OF Congress-.
and the Library of Congress is now the Ma
tional Library Of the United States. entirely
free and accessible, without formaIity. Re-
garding itself as having a duty to research,
wherever originating It Is also quite ready,
within its capacity to answer inquiries adj
dressed to it by mail 1t would be gratified
at any opportunity that you may AFFORD IL
to be Of service to your own Investigations.
Very respectfully,
o. G. SONNECK
Chief Of the Division OF Music.