Archive Item of the Month – Oct 2021

Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (Żelazowa Wola, nr Warsaw, 1 March, 1810 – Paris, 17 October, 1849) 

The RSM holds an album of autograph letters by famous composers which was donated by Thyra Christiane Lange (1868-1934, Member 00266). 
 
Included within the album is a short letter from the Polish pianist and composer Fryderyk Chopin to the pianist, composer and arranger Henri Louis Stanislaus Mortier de Fontaine (1816-1883), written in Polish and French.  The letter shows a close connection with his Polish colleague by revealing that Chopin had lent him some money. 

Transcription:

Fryderyk Chopin to Mortier de Fontaine 
Cher Compatriote – Renvoyez moi, si toute fois cela ne vous gène pas – małą ową sumkę, którą ci z przyjemnością przed wyjazdem do Kopenhagi pożyczyłem – (jeżeli sobie przypominasz). – Zastać mnie trudno w domu, ale możesz zostawić bezpiecznie mojemu służącemu albo odźwiernemu. 
Chopin 
Le 28 Av. 1840 
 
Monsieur 
Monsieur Mortier de Fontaine 
Paris 
33, Rue de L’Arcade 

Translation: 
Dear Compatriot, 
Please send me, if this does not inconvenience you – that small amount which I lent to you with pleasure before your departure for Copenhagen (if you remember this). It is difficult to find me at home, but you may leave [the money] safely with my servant or with the doorman. 
Chopin 

Mortier de Fontaine was also Polish and worked extensively in France.  Amongst many arrangements he made for the piano is one of the organ concerto Op.4 no.4 by Handel of which the title continues “’Exécuté par M. Mortier de Fontaine dans ses Concerts à Paris, Berlin, etc.” indicating that he was an established performer on the international concert-giving circuit during the nineteenth century; the letter also shows that he travelled to Denmark.  Another published work by Handel has the title-page noting that the edition was made by Mortier de Fontaine from a manuscript which he owned (“L’unique manuscrit authentique existent est la propriété exclusive de Mortier de Fontaine”) – this particular publication was subject of an article in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung (Leipzig), No.38 of 16 September, 1863. 

Painted plaster bust of Chopin; ca 1900. 
Donated by Nessa Glen (Member) in July, 2015.  Previously owned by Leah Haywood Haynes (d.1967).