Beethoven And His Forerunners, by Daniel Gregory Mason, (RARE, First Edition, Illustrated), 1904 🎶🎻🏛️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a First Edition of Beethoven And His Forerunners by the esteemed American composer, music critic, and educator Daniel Gregory Mason.

Published by The MacMillan Company in New York in 1904, this insightful volume meticulously traces the evolution of musical composition leading up to the monumental figure of Ludwig van Beethoven. This book is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of fine and historically significant first editions.

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2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Mason's work delves into the development of musical forms and styles, examining the contributions of earlier masters like Palestrina, Bach, and Haydn. The book explores the gradual shift from the polyphonic complexity of earlier eras to the more expressive compositions of the Classical period, culminating in an analysis of Beethoven's lasting impact on the trajectory of Western music.

It serves as a valuable historical and analytical exploration, revealing the lineage of musical ideas and the transformative power of genius. The book is enhanced with a list of illustrations and plates, including portraits of Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Daniel Gregory Mason (1873-1953) was a prominent American composer, music critic, and educator.

He taught at Columbia University and played a significant role in shaping the understanding and appreciation of classical music in the United States. His work, as exemplified in this book, advocated for both American and European traditions and offered a deep analytical perspective on musical history.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The year 1904 places this book in the early 20th century, a period of growing musical scholarship and an expanding appreciation for classical music in America. Mason's book, published by The Macmillan Company, a major American publisher, reflects this cultural trend.

The book's provenance, with an inscription dated 1907, provides a personal touch, placing the book in the hands of a music lover just a few years after its publication. The book's publication reflects a time when classical music was becoming more accessible to the American public and scholars were seeking to document its history in a comprehensive way.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This 1904 First Edition of Beethoven And His Forerunners is a core acquisition for a collector building a focused library on early 20th-century American music scholarship and classical music history.

It is a perfect fit for a literary historian who appreciates the intersection of a scholarly work with the aesthetic and literary appeal of early 20th-century bookmaking.

The personal inscription, "Ethel Adile Denny. May 15, 1907," makes it a singular artifact for a buyer who values a book's unique story. 

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1904 First Edition of Beethoven And His Forerunners is a genuinely scarce asset.

The book is 121 years old, having survived over a century of history. Its value is overwhelmingly driven by its market scarcity, its historical importance, and its status as a true first edition. This is a premium asset for a discerning collector.

The book's decorative binding in deep blue cloth with elaborate gilt stamping, featuring musical motifs and a lyre, is a beautiful example of early 20th-century decorative book art, making it a highly attractive display piece. This non-replicable asset holds value that far exceeds a standard reprint.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This copy is a genuine and handsome survivor, showing the authentic wear of a cherished book from the early 20th century.

• Binding: The binding shows visible wear, including rubbing, scuffing, and some loss of the original finish, particularly on the spine and edges. The gilt stamping shows some fading but remains largely discernible.

• Pages: The pages show foxing and some discoloration consistent with age, but the text and illustrations are clear.

• Structural Integrity: The binding is tight and sound, ensuring the book's structural integrity.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Daniel Gregory Mason was the nephew of composer William Mason and the grandson of music educator Lowell Mason, making him a member of a prominent American musical family.

• The book's decorative binding features musical motifs and a lyre, a classical instrument often associated with poetry and music.

• The prior ownership inscription, "Ethel Adile Denny. May 15, 1907," adds a charming layer of personal provenance, indicating its past as a cherished possession.

• The book is a fascinating example of how publishers used decorative art to make scholarly works more appealing to a broader readership.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Beethoven And His Forerunners

• Author/Maker: Daniel Gregory Mason

• Year: 1904

• Publisher/Foundry: The MacMillan Company

• Place of Origin: New York, USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, with a decorative cloth binding

• Edition: First Edition

• Rarity: Rare

• Transcription: The handwritten inscription reads: “Ethel Adile Denny. May 15, 1907.”