A Sanctuary of Friends: Cherubini’s Collection of Musical Autographs by Other Composers (original) (raw)

Abstract

Luigi Cherubini’s collection of autographs by other composers (which survives in large part) offers an unprecedented view into its owner’s intellectual and cultural milieu, documenting also his own concern for his artistic legacy. Illustrating Cherubini’s graphological interest, which can be traced down to his extraordinary care in copying music by others for study purposes, this collection also opens up new perspectives on the period’s hobby of collecting musical autographs. Rather than a mere whim of fashion, Parisian artists and intellectuals often created an evocative intérieur, made of portraits, souvenirs, belongings of departed friends or even objects telling a particular story of some relevance to their owners. Investigating the relationships between Cherubini and the composers represented in his collection, my paper argues that these autographs created an imaginary sanctuary of students, fellow composers and musicians – past and present, based in Paris or abroad – in whose enduring company to live with and be inspired by.

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