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Trios: Pianoforte

Ludwig van Beethoven, and others
London: R Cocks & Co., c1840

Rare Books & Special Collections
Rare Books Collection RB 786.2 T834

We thank our donor...

Trios: Pianoforte was selected for conservation treatment by Lydia Low, a classical pianist studying at the Elder Conservatorium. Its restoration was generously funded in October 2018 by her Experience Adelaide contact, Bryce Saint OAM. Their valued contribution has ensured this important volume of 19th century sheet music will be available for future music students and researchers for many years to come.

Synopsis

Trios: pianoforte is a beautiful 19th century volume of sheet music, filled with trios for two flutes and piano.  A number of these have been supplied by Wessel & Co., London publishers and importers of foreign music, operating out of Soho Square; the vast majority, however, are courtesy of R. Cocks & Co.  This London-based publisher, established in 1823 by Robert Cocks, was responsible for introducing talents such as Austrian-born pianist Carl Czerny and Czech pianist and composer, Alexander Dreyschock, to the U.K.  Later in his life, Robert entered into partnership with two of his sons, Arthur and Stroud Cocks, with his grandson also joining the firm to carry on their interest.  It was not until 1898, that his children would begin selling off the company; its purchaser was George Augener who changed the firm’s name to Augener & Co.  In time, it would become a division of the current Stainer & Bell family-run publishing business.  When Robert Cocks died in 1887 he was thought to have been the oldest music publisher in the world.  The catalogue of his publications reportedly exceeded 16,000 and included many important works.

Trios: pianoforte includes the following pieces:

• Beethoven's celebrated septet, Op. 20, arranged for two flutes & piano forte. Part 1, in the key of E flat ; Part 2, in the key of E flat, dedicated to Mr William Graeff Nicholls / by William Forde
• Three favorite trios for two flutes and piano forte viz No. 1. Tulou's trio in E flat Op. 4, 2. Gabrielsky's grand trio dedicated to the King of Wurtemberg, 3. Beethoven's celebrated trio in D / arranged by James Clarke
• Book IV of trios for two flutes & piano. Grand trio, on Louis Spohr's nonetto, op. 31. Performed at the author's concert in London. Arranged for two flutes & piano, concertant, and dedicated to his friend Mr. C. Nicholson / by John Clinton
• Book I of trios for two flutes and piano. First grand trio, concertante, for two flutes and piano forte, composed and dedicated to his friend Mr. J. Sedlatzek / by Fred Kuhlau (of Copenhagen)
• No. 6 of Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes and piano: first grand original trio / composed by J. Clinton
• Book 7 of Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes & piano. Second grand original trio for two flutes and piano, concertant, composed and dedicated to Edward Stodart Esqr. / by J. Clinton
• No. 8 of Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes and piano. Third grand original trio for two flutes and piano, concertant. Composed and dedicated to his friend William Mellett Hollis Esqr. / by J. Clinton
• Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes & piano. Book XI. Larghetto and Rondeau from Frederic Kuhlau. Arranged for two flutes and piano and dedicated with permission to M. Montefiore Esqr. / by J. Clinton
• Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes & piano, Book 19 to 22. Four Italien trios on melodies of Bellini, Ricci, and Donizetti for two flutes and piano, arranged and dedicated to his friend Henry Alves Gibson Esqr. / by J. Clinton
• Wessel & Co's series of trios for two flutes & piano, Book 12. Three foreign melodies by Krommer and C. Kreutzer. Arranged for two flutes and piano and dedicated to J. H. Langworthy Esqr. / by J. Clinton

Original Condition

Half binding with green buckram to the boards and green leather to the spine and corners. Significant loss of leather to the spine, with both head and tail caps missing entirely.  Leather also missing from rear board corners.  Pages, attached with caoutchouc, beginning to loosen from the cloth spine lining.  Most also torn along their edges. Cloth lifting away from front and rear board edges.  Front board detached completely.  Item requires sewing and rebacking.

Restoration by Anthony Zammit

Cover removed from textblock, along with old cloth spine lining.  Loose pages removed and new spine lining of card created. Individual pages with tears repaired with Japanese paper and then reattached to the new lining.  Separating board corners consolidated with PVA and new green leather applied to all four corners.  Remains of original leather re-adhered over the top of the new leather to the front corners, giving the book its former aged appearance.  Green cloth lifted slightly on rear board and new cloth inserted underneath and around all of its edges.  New leather spine created and remains of original leather, including gilded title, re-adhered to the new leather. Inner hinges strengthened with dark green cloth.