INSCRIBED BY AARON COPLAND

COPLAND, Aaron. Happy Anniversary. London et al.: Boosey & Hawkes, 1971. Folio, original wrappers, pp. 5. $500.

Early edition full score, inscribed by Aaron Copland on first page, "For Fillip the First: / Happy Anniversary / for a Happy Grouch! / from" with his printed name "Aaron" circled by him.

"Throughout his career, Copland was the guiding light of American music. Very few have served their art so unstintingly. Once, when speaking of Copland's music, Leonard Bernstein exclaimed, 'It's the best we've got, you know!' But Copland was more than 'the best we've got'—he touched greatness in many forms. A healthy amount of his invariably highly finished output will survive, representing his nation, more completely than that of any other composer" (Dubal, Essential Canon of Classical Music, 615). This work is "a well-known tune ['Happy Birthday'] arranged for Symphony Orchestra" in honor of Eugene Ormandy's 70th birthday. The recipient of this copy was Phillip Ramey, a composer and writer who was also one of Copland's closest friends.

Fine condition.