MILHAUD (Darius). - Lot 174

MILHAUD (Darius). Chansons de négresse. Paris: R. Deiss Editeur, [1937]. — Folio-sized booklet, 350 x 269: 11 pp., printed cover. Loose sheets. First edition of the sheet music for the three “Chansons de négresse,” with lyrics by Jules Supervielle, titled: Mon histoire (RD 7539) – Abandonnée (RD 7540) – Sans feu ni lieu (RD 7541). These are scores for voice and piano, composed in 1935–36 by Darius Milhaud. These songs were premiered on June 17, 1937, in Paris by the soprano Madeleine Grey. A very well-preserved copy from the library of the opera singer (soprano) Suzanne Peignot (1895–1993). She was the preferred performer for the Groupe des Six, also known as Les Six, a group of composers that included, between 1916 and 1923: Georges Auric (1899–1983), Louis Durey (1888–1979), Arthur Honegger (1892–1955), Darius Milhaud (1892–1974), Francis Poulenc (1899–1963), and Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983). Provenance: Suzanne Peignot, with her signature on the cover. Included: PETIOT (André). Congolese Suite based on authentic themes from indigenous folklore collected by Léon Poirier. Performed at the Théâtre de l’Opéra de Paris and the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels during the gala performances of *La Croisière Noire*. Paris: Éditions Musicales Buffet-Crampon & Cie, [1926]. In-4, 305235: 23 pp., printed cover. Stapled. First edition of this transcription for solo piano, reduced orchestra, and choir by Joseph-Eugène Szyfer (1887–1947). Very well-preserved copy.