2 autograph letters signed ("Levens").
4to. Altogether (2½+2 =) 4½ pages. Each on bifolium with integral address panel. Armorial seal.
€ 7,500.00
1) Levens writes to Monsieur Le Comte de Rochefort, concerning his motets and the questionability of their success as music without symphony by means of subscription, as Levens already has some experience in working with cathedral chapters, that would usually subscribe. Nevertheless he agrees on trying: "Vous croyés Monsieur la voyer des souscription praticable pour la musique sans symphonie, je doute du succés connoissant comme je fais les chapitres de la plupart des cathedrales qui sont ceux qui par preference devroient souscrire: mais enfin on peut tenter". Levens mentions the offer of a Parisian engraver, his idea of using smaller paper and the addition of 14 staves for further possible voices, such as two bass parts and small choirs in the choirs: "J'avois trouvé à Paris un graveur qui m'avoit promis de graver ma musique en symphonie [...]. Je ne say à quel prix on pourroit le faire en petit papier [...]. J'y ay mis 14 portées parce qu'il se trouve quelque fois deux Basses differentes ou des petits choeurs dans les choeurs". Levens ends his letter by recommending his 26-year-old son for the position of a "maitre de Musique" in Avignon, mentions his son's skills in composing and playing the violoncello, and that the chapter of Toulouse hasn't accepted him due to his young age: "Sa musique est de fort bon goût [...] il a d'ailleurs fort bien étudié et joué du violoncello comme il faut, tant pour l'accompagnement que pour des pieces. [...] Les Messieurs du Chapitre de Toulouse le trouvent trop jeune [...]". He gives a list of pieces of music: 12 masses, 24 Magnificat, 6 Dixit, 6 Beatus, etc. (Letter from 23. V. 1746).
2) Levens gives a list of pieces of music without symphony. It is a list of 32 titles of religious music, followed by their numbers. Levens hopes that the count's efforts regarding his music are not in vain and states his concerns in cooperating with the chapters. Levens ends with mentioning his son's employment as "maitre de musique" at Saint-Étienne in Tolouse since August: "Les tems sont très mauvais et les chapitres, avec qui, il faudroit pour ainsi dire, avoir affaire, sont très difficiles [...]" (Letter from 10. X. 1746).
Both letters with traces of old folding, verso with traces of old montage and a small tear on fol. 2 due to breaking seal.
