MENUHIN Yehudi [New York, 1916 - Berlin, 1999], American com - Lot 220

MENUHIN Yehudi [New York, 1916 - Berlin, 1999], American composer and violinist. Very fine file concerning Yehudi Menuhin and his piano accompanist, Marcel Gazelle. - Photograph signed "Yehudi Menuhin". 14 x 8.8 cm. - GAZELLE Marcel [Ghent, 1907 - id., 1969], Belgian pianist. A pupil of Marcel Ciampi, he was selected by Menuhin to accompany him in 1933, then to create and direct the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music in England. He married violinist Jacqueline Salomon, a childhood friend of Yehudi. Menuhin regarded him as his older brother. Yehudi Menuhin says of Gazelle (p. 125 of his memoirs): "Few men have played as great a part in my history as Marcel". Correspondence of 4 letters from 1933 concerning Marcel Gazelle's engagement as pianist accompanist to Yehudi Menuhin. - Autograph letter signed, addressed to Marcel Ciampi. July 23, 1933; 1 page in-8° with address on verso. He tells him about his day in Ville d'Avray, where the Menuhin family lived (who rented Boris Vian's parents' house, which enabled Yehudi to attend Enesco's lessons in Paris, and Ciampi to come there to give piano lessons to Hephzibah and Yaltah) and his first meeting with Yehudi (who was 17). "We played Beethoven's 7th, Bach's sonata in E major, Mozart's in A major and a Brahms dance. The whole family is going on vacation tomorrow. No decision has been made. Impossible to know whether the impression is good or bad. Y.M. made a wonderful impression on me. What a joy to make music with [...] man, because you can call him that, can't you?" - MENUHIN Moshe [Gomel, 1893 - Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, California, 1983], father of violinist Yehudi Menuhin, pianists Hephzibah Menuhin Hauser and Yaltah Menuhin. Dictated letter, addressed to Marcel Ciampi. [Ville d'Avray, July 24, 1933]; 3 pages in-4°. The letter is written by a woman who has signed it "Germaine M.". The etymological origin of Germain in German is "son of", the same as Moshe in Hebrew. And discretion was the order of the day in the correspondence (Marcel Gazelle is referred to as "Mr. G"). Yehudi's father seeks reassurance about the choice of Marcel Gazelle. "I'm writing you these lines in a hurry, in a hurry and yet anxious to give you some details about your friend G. He spent yesterday afternoon having lunch and a chat, and making some music with Yehudi. But he showed unmistakable signs of being a good musician with a real desire to work, energetic means and an ideal. All this could make him a partner to accompany Yehudi". But he is concerned about Marcel Gazelle's health (which was indeed fragile at the time): "I would even appreciate a report from his doctor, whom you may know, so that we know exactly what we're dealing with before taking him on as our partner and Yehudi's accompanist, if we ever do!" He asks for Ciampi's "honest and conscientious opinion", "as a friend of Yehudi and his family" (Ciampi was piano teacher to Yehudi's two sisters). "Send your prompt reply to Ville d'Avray. It will be returned to us... But they had "almost signed an engagement with a young German from Leipzig when your letter arrived last night". - CIAMPI Marcel [Paris, 1891 - id., 1980], French pianist and teacher. Autograph draft of a letter to Moshe Menuhin. Undated [July 24 or 25, 1933]; 2 pages in-4°. He dissuades Menuhin from taking on Marcel Gazelle, as the latter is due to enter the Luxembourg Conservatoire. "For God's sake, since you are about to sign with this young German, it's because he is artistically suited to Yehudi; you must therefore take him without hesitation, and without thinking about Gazelle". Ciampi had failed to appreciate Yehudi's talent and the importance for Marcel Gazelle of working with him. - GAZELLE Marcel Autograph letter signed, addressed to Ciampi. Ghent, July 28, 1933; 2 pages in-4°. He explains how he was contacted and summoned to Ville d'Avray (probably Ciampi had reproached him for not having warned him), and relies on Ciampi to accept the position of accompanist to Menuhin, addressed to Ciampi, if it is finally offered to him. Gazelle finally got the job, but only just! His collaboration with Menuhin was to last a lifetime. - Autograph letter signed, addressed to Ciampi. [Ghent], April 26, 1938; 2 pages in-4° on his letterhead. About the Amsterdam concert of Y. Menuhin and his sister Hephzibah: "I heard Hephzibah and Yehudi. Audience and success as usual. Hephzibah is improving, especially in palette, and is incredibly supple. If you get the chance, please try