Four Dialogues for Two Voices and Two Pianos
New York: Boosey & Hawkes, (1969). Side-stapled musical score, measuring 12 x 9 inches: 64. Original color pictorial wrappers, small price sticker to title page. Spine ends lightly bumped, crease to lower right corner of upper wrapper.
First edition of the song cycle that poet Frank O'Hara called “The Quarrel Sonata,” first performed in 1955, with an introduction by composer Ned Rorem. These four art songs follow the rise and fall of a modern romantic relationship, from the first meeting on a Brooklyn-bound subway to the final break: “‘you win the bet / I'm off to Siam / I'll climb to Tibet / the eternal I am’ . . . ‘You hateful man! / Leave while you can.’” In his introduction, Rorem notes: “The singers should not limit themselves to classifications of tenor and soprano. If negotiable, they may be baritone and mezzo. In fact, anyone who wants to sing the piece may sing the piece.” The striking wrappers were designed by O'Hara and Rorem's mutual friend, New York artist Joe Brainard, in the pop style he developed for his mimeographed C Comics. A near-fine copy.
Price: $200.00