Finding Aids

Biographical Sketch

Arthur Hartmann (1881-1956) was born on July 23, 1881 in Philadelphia, although later in life he would persist in claiming to have been born in the town of Mate Szalka, Hungary. (The town does not exist.) A child prodigy on the violin, he made his debut in Philadelphia in 1887. His career as a concert artist brought him into contact with many well-known composers and performers of his time. Most notably he became a close friend of Claude Debussy, who dedicated his transcription of Minstrels for violin and piano to Hartmann. He was a member of the founding faculty of Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York during its first academic year, 1921-22. Hartmann was very active in promoting new music for the violin, which led to a correspondence with several prominent composers in order to determine points of interpretation. Hartmann suffered financial hardship at different times during his life, which led to his sale of manuscripts and other possessions in order to raise money. He died in New York on March 30, 1956.

Provenance

This collection of letters is the result of Hartmann’s personal and professional correspondence. An undated typewritten inventory of the correspondence along with references to several music manuscripts (see Associations section below) is present in the Sibley Library, Special Collections’ reference file on Arthur Hartmann. It is probable that all the materials were acquired by Sibley Music Library as a gift from Hiram Sibley in the early 1920’s, but files relating to this period are lacking. The accession records of the apparently related music manuscripts are also confused. The accession dates cover a range of years from 1926-1932. Most confusing of all is the fact that one of the manuscripts, by Edward MacDowell, is bound with a special presentation page stating that the manuscript was donated to Sibley Music Library by Hiram Sibley in 1922, yet the manuscript was not accessioned until January 30, 1928. A letter included in this collection but really extrinsic to it is from Hartmann to the “Librarian of The Sibley Music Library” (then Barbara Duncan) and dated July 28, 1940. In it he expresses his desire to sell certain items to the library. It was probably during a similar time of financial need in the early 1920’s that Hartmann sold this collection.

Scope and Content

The collection mainly contains correspondence between Arthur Hartmann and notable composers and performers of his time. The content of the correspondence ranges from casual personal messages to important discussions of interpretation and performance. The musical significance of some of the correspondence is considerable, for Hartmann was a personal friend of many of the individuals as well as a very active promoter of modern music. Many American composers of the day are represented. Perhaps the two most important letters in the collection are those of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton von Webern. The latter discusses some issues of performance of his work, Four Pieces for Violin and Piano op.7. The letter from Charles Martin Loeffler (June 12, 1905) as listed in the early inventory and another prepared in the 1980’s is missing from the collection. Most important related individuals: Claude Debussy, Anton von Webern. Related subject areas: performance practice (music)–20th century, violin–performance.

Restrictions and Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. Negatives exist for the Anton von Webern letter, and prints may be ordered from Sibley Library, Special Collections.

Associations

The Special Collections letter file contains a letter from Claude Debussy of May 30, 1910 thanking Hartmann for sending a copy of the violinist’s transcription of the composer’s “La fille aux cheveux de lin.”

The Sibley Library possesses five music manuscripts apparently purchased from Hartmann along with this collection. All are the composers’ holographs and are dedicated to Hartmann. The MacDowell manuscript is particularly significant for containing bound with it a letter from Mrs. MacDowell (July 25, 1907) to Hartmann concerning the present work and mentioning her husband’s rapidly declining health.

The manuscripts are:

Claude Debussy, Minstrels. ML96 .D289mi acc. no. 154771 (February 8, 1932).

Benjamin Godard, Chant et Baiser. ML96 .G57 acc. no. 113156 (October 20, 1926).

Edward MacDowell, To a Wild Rose and Will O’ the Wisp. ML96 .M13 acc. no. 146184 (January 30, 1928).

Tivador Nachéz, Concerto No. 2. ML96 .N11.2 acc. no. 145903 (December 5, 1927).

Emile Sauret, Farfalla. ML96 .S25 acc. no. 113157 (October 20, 1926)

DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Correspondence

The series contains 72 letters from composers, performers and friends of Arthur Hartmann relating to his performance career and personal life. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically according to the name of the correspondent.

INVENTORY

Box 1