SULLIVAN, Arthur.

The Window, or, The Songs of the Wrens. Words written for music by Alfred Tennyson, Poet-Laureate. The Music by Arthur Sullivan.

London, Strahan & Co., 1871. 4to, pp. 54 [i.e. 83], with texts and printed floral decorations on leaves between songs, errata slip; occasional spotting; a very good copy in original decorative gilt embossed blue cloth, all edges gilt, front cover dusty; edges a little rubbed, corners slightly bumped. First edition of a song-cycle by Arthur Sullivan to words by Tennyson. The cover has the subtitle ‘Or the Loves of the Wrens’ which was the original subtitle. Arthur Sullivan received the idea of this song cycle from Sir George Grove in 1866, and it was originally intended to have Sir John Millais illustrate the volume. Unfortunately Tennyson procrastinated and even wanted to stop publication, believing his poems to be too light and thus potentially damaging to his reputation. He allegedly offered the young composer £500 to drop the idea, and, in the ensuing period, Millais dispersed his original designs. Millais was later to paint the composer in 1888.The preface by Tennyson reads: ‘Four years ago Mr. Sullivan requested me to write a little song-cycle, German fashion, for him to exercise his art upon. He had been very successful in setting such old songs as ‘Orpheus with his lute,’ and I drest up for him, partly in the old style, a puppet, whose almost only merit is, perhaps, that it can dance to Mr. Sullivan’s instrument. I am sorry that my four-year-old puppet should have to dance at all in the dark shadow of these days [a reference to the Franco Prussian war]; but the music is now completed, and I am bound by my promise.’ The volume contains twelve songs with piano accompaniment.

• GBP 600.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: F1148.3

• bookseller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd. (GREAT BRITAIN)