Composers' Manuscripts Head for Juilliard

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Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor"), an autographed manuscript of additions and corrections

Courtesy of Juilliard

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor"), an autographed manuscript of additions and corrections

Courtesy of Juilliard

Opening Excerpt

• Playlist

 

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Johannes Brahms: Double Concerto, copyist's manuscript with extensive revisions by Brahms

Courtesy of Juilliard

Johannes Brahms: Double Concerto, copyist's manuscript with extensive revisions by Brahms

Courtesy of Juilliard

Opening Excerpt

• Playlist

 

A treasure trove of composers' manuscripts has been donated to Juilliard. The music school's collection of 139 priceless documents includes works by Beethoven, Brahms and Handel.

The donor of the manuscripts was the school's board chairman, Bruce Kovner. Kovner collected them with an eye toward insight into composers' creative processes. The school plans to build a new climate-controlled and secure reading room for the collection, scheduled to open in September 2009.

Renee Montagne talks with Miles Hoffman about the collection's significance.