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First edition, advance review copy (with "S. P." stamp on rear cover). 223pp. A distinguished association copy, between two giants of 20th-Century musical composition, who first met in Paris in the 1920's, when Poulenc was associated with Les Six and Virgil Thomson was touring with a Harvard musical group. Writing on Poulenc's one hundredth anniversary, Roger Clement stated: "Born in 1899, Poulenc first drew attention to himself as a composer with his piano works. At the age of 19, his 'Mouvements perpetuals' for piano garnered widespread admiration and the support of Erik Satie, who was to play a major role in leading Poulenc away from impressionism and towards a clearer and more classical style. his main talent was as a melodist, and some of his many songs rank not only among his best works, but among the finest examples of French music in the 20th century.". Composer Virgil Thomson (1896-1989), following his education at Harvard, went to Paris and studied with Nadia Boulanger. Paul Wittke states: "In the summer of 1921, at the invitation of the French government, Davison and the Harvard Glee Club embarked on a European tour. Thomson, who had just been awarded a John Knowles Paine Teaching Fellowship for a year's music study in Paris, was the accompanist. The vivacity of the group's performance so impressed Satie, Poulenc, and Milhaud that they offered to write music for them." Spine is moderately browned, front cover has light (two-inch) soil mark, rear cover has a tiny chip, else a very good copy, unopened copy; the text, printed on acidic paper, is moderately tanned First edition, advance review copy (with "S. P." stamp on rear cover).
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