Catalogue 63 - J & J Lubrano, Music Antiquarians

Second Edition. Eitner II p. 246. Gregory-Bartlett II p. 15. RISM BVI p. 192.
The "Conditions" for subscriptions to Burney's General History of Music are particularly interesting. They include a
description of the work [originally intended in "Two Volumes Quarto"], the price ["two guineas; one to be paid at the
time of subscribing, and the other on the delivery of the second volume, in sheets"], and a statement of the author's
intention to publish the first volume "in the course of the next year... But, as the printing of this work will be attended
with too great an expence [!] for him to risk it against the public opinion... he cannot venture to send it to the press
before five hundred copies are subscribed for... Subscriptions will be taken in, and Receipts delivered, by the Author,
at his house in Queens' Square, Bloomsbury...". Burney's monumental History was eventually published in four
volumes, from 1776 to 1789.
"Burney turned to writing about the history of his own art, but determined that he would need to engage in research in
France and Italy to augment his broad acquaintance with the relevant and available material in England. In June
1770 he left England on a tour of the leading cities of France and Italy... Burney's published account of this tour, The
Present State of Music in France and Italy, established him as one of music history's keenest observers and most
entertaining commentators." Grove online.
54. BURNEY, Charles 1726-1814. The Present State of Music in Germany, The Netherlands, and United
Provinces. Or, The Journal of a Tour through those Countries, undertaken to collect Materials for A General History
of Music... The second edition, corrected. Vol. I [-II]. London: T. Becket... J. Robson... and G. Robinson, 1775.
Two volumes. Octavo. Full mid-tan calf with raised bands on spines in decorative compartments gitl, dark red and
green title labels gilt to spines, blue speckled edges.
1f. (title), [iii]-viii (Introduction), [1]-372, [373]-380 (index) pp.; 1f. (title), 1f. (advertisement), [1]-344, [345]-352
(index) pp.
Bindings slightly worn, rubbed and bumped. Occasional light foxing. A very good copy overall. (18900)
$800.
Second Edition. Gregory-Bartlett I p. 48. RISM BVI p. 193.
Burney's writings on music are legendary. His History of Music, which remains of considerable importance today,
was the first to be written in the English language. Although but a music teacher with no University degree, Burney
moved in the circles of Samuel Johnson, Garrick and Joshua Reynolds. Upon coming to London, Haydn, with whom
Burney had had some correspondence, made a point of first calling on Burney.
55. [BURNEY, Charles] D'Arblay, [Frances] 1752-1840. Memoirs of Doctor Burney, Arranged From His own
Manuscripts, From Family Papers, and from Personal Recollections. By His Daughter, Madame D'Arblay....Vol. I [-
III]. London: Edward Moxon, 1832. 3 volumes. Octavo. Quarter mid-tan calf. [i]-xvi including half-title and title, 360
pp.; 2ff., 400 pp.; 2ff., 436 pp., 2ff. (publisher's advertisements. With postcard photograph of a painting of the author
by Edward Francis Burney laid down to front endpaper of Volume I. Binding somewhat worn and scuffed; upper to
Volume III professionally re-attached. Minor staining to lower blank outer corners of several leaves to Volume III;
occasional pencilled annotations. (18901)
$400.
Fanny [Frances] Burney, known as Madame D'Arblay after her marriage to Gen Alexandre D' Arblay, was a noted
novelist, playwright and chronicler of society and life during the reign of George III. After her father, Charles Burney,
died, she edited his memoirs and eventually decided to eliminate a fair amount of the material at hand "protecting her
sense of family dignity by emphasizing his accomplishments as a man of letters. Her wish to de-emphasize the place of
music in Burney's later life led to the destruction of material of inestimable value, including what was essentially a
diary of Haydn's activities in London." Grove online.