Overture in G minor - Overture to Giordano Bruno
The archive consists of:
M-H 2/4-1—A full score of Overture in G Minor.
M-H 2/4-2—A full score of Overture to Giordano Bruno, i.e. M-H 2/4-1 under another name, also known as Dramatic Study.
M-H 2/4-3—Orchestral parts for Overture to Giordano Bruno.
Holdings
- M-H 2/4-1
Composer’s autograph ms. full score of ‘Overture in G Minor.’ Black inked. Bound in dark green leatherette with the cover embossed in gold: ‘Overture in G Minor’, now scratched over. 29.5cm x 23.5cm x 0.5cm. 18-stave score paper. Inner front cover holds the label of: ‘T. Craig & Co, Bookbinders & Manufacturing Stationers. 268 Post Office Place, Melbourne.’ Verso of the front endpage holds a blurred impression from a rubber stamp reading: ‘G.W.L. Marshall-Hall.’ There are 52 pencilled paginations. The single endpage holds another impression of the rubber stamp described above.
The first recto of the score has the title: ‘Dramatic Study’ superimposed on a partially obliterated former title. The left margin is inscribed in pencil: ‘Overture in G Minor.’ The top right of the page is signed: ‘G.W.L. Marshall-Hall.’ The score ends at p.52 where there is an additional pencilled sketch and the signature: ‘G.W.L. Marshall-Hall. 1891.’ This date refers to the completion of the score as this was Marshall-Hall’s custom.
The work is scored for: 2 flutes, 2 hautboy, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, bass clarinet in B flat (labelled: ‘N.B. Played as written’), 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, bass tuba, kettledrums, strings.
- M-H 2/4-2
Overture to Giordano Bruno. This is another copy of the Overture in G Minor, also known as the Dramatic Study, i.e. M-H 2/4-1. An unbound autograph full score. 20-stave score paper sewn at the left fold. 34cm x 26.75cm x 0.5cm. Black inked. 52 pencilled paginations. Imprinted ‘B.C. No 20’ on a bar over a lyre emblem The first recto holds the inscription: ‘Overture to Giordano Bruno. (N.B. the various changes of tempi must be brought about as it were imperceptibly—without interruption to the flow of rhythm.)’ The upper left hand corner of the first recto holds an impression of a rubber stamp which is now much faded. It reads, in part: ‘J.W. Grainger, clarinet. Music Copyist. Allans Collins St.’ The same stamp occurs at p.52. The same page, the final one of the score, is signed ‘G.W.L. Marshall-Hall’ and bears, in blue pencil, the inscription: ‘12 M.’ Possibly 12 minutes duration is thus indicated.
- M-H 2/4-3: 1 to 56
Orchestral parts of Overture to Giordano Bruno. 2 types of paper are in use. Both are 12 stave. The large format is 27cm x 34cm. The small format is 24.5cm x 30.25cm. Present are: 8 first violin, 7 second violin, 5 viola, 5 violoncello, 5 double bass, 2 first flute, 1 second flute, 1 oboe, 1 first and second oboe, 2 clarinet, 2 bass clarinet, 2 bassoon, 2 first and second French horn, 1 third French horn, 2 third and fourth French horn, 2 trumpet, 2 first and second trombone, 1 third trombone, 1 bass trombone, 1 tuba, 1 bass tuba, 2 kettledrum.