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RARE SIGNED & INSCRIBED COPY by both authors. This copy is SIGNED & INSCRIBED by BOTH Igor Stravinsky AND Robert Craft to Lucia Davidova, who translated Stravinsky's letters. Wonderful association copy. Stravinsky's florid signed inscription, in blue ink, appears on the ffep: "To you dear Lucia with love in 1961 as ever, I. Stravinsky". Robert Craft has circled his printed name on the 'Illustrations' page & written a signed inscription above, also in blue ink: "To Lucia with love, Robert Craft, Jan 7/61". Craft has additionally made some interesting corrections & additions within the text in German & English. Two pages contain lower-margin notes: (p.160) three lines in German; (p.164) five lines in English & German. Robert Craft's notes make reference to W.H. Auden & Chester Kallman (American poet, librettist, & translator, best known for his collaborations with Auden & Stravinsky). Robert Craft (born 1923) is an American conductor & writer. He is best known for his intimate working friendship with Stravinsky, a relationship which resulted in numerous recordings & books. The recipient of the inscriptions is Lucia Davidova, Stravinsky's friend & patron. She translated the diaries & letters of Igor & Vera Stravinsky for publication. Lucia Davidova was also a close associate of the father of American ballet, choreographer George Balanchine. Provenance includes auction record, with pre-certified PSA/DNA & auction house COA. Illustrated with b&w photographs. Includes b&w photographic frontispiece (of Stravinsky & Craft in 1959). With genealogical table at front, printed music notation examples in text, footnotes, appendix, plus index. From inner front flap of dustjacket (in part): "This remarkable book comprises a new series of conversations with Igor Stravinsky, a first series of which appeared last year & attracted wide attention. These further conversations, again in question & answer form, range even more widely & in greater detail across matters musical & biographical. An extended conversation on specifically musical topics covers many points arising from Stravinsky's own music & his lively opinions of the music of his contemporaries as recent as Stockhausen's". Printed in Great Britain. Bound in original full blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine, in publisher's unclipped pictorial dustjacket (retaining original published price of "25s net" on inner front flap). Closed tears and small chips to dustjacket (the largest chip to upper rear panel at spine fold, 1.5 x 2cm), slight handling wear, some marginal fingerprint smudges [by ??], bookseller's small label to rear pastedown, unobtrusive old tape ghostings to half-title page, otherwise a nice clean tight solid hardcover copy. Overall VG/VG. The dustjacket is now protected in a removable clear Bro-dart cover. 183pp. Important scarce association copy signed & inscribed by both Igor Stravinsky & Robert Craft. RARE & UNIQUE.
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