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Brahms manuscript sold for $700,000

The manuscript is of two clarinet sonatas (Opus 120, numbers one and two), which were written in the final years of Brahms' life.

Uniquely in Brahms' work it shows alterations he made as he worked out his composition - he destroyed his rough drafts of other works.

The Brahms manuscript of two clarinet sonatas was sold on Saturday for £441,000 ($700,000).

The Sonatas, Opus 120 Numbers One and Two, were written in the final years of Brahms' life and specially composed for the renowned clarinetist, Richard Muhlfeld.

Brahms was so inspired by Muhlfeld's playing that on its completion he signed and dedicated the manuscript to the musician, gave him all the performing right fees and the actual manuscript itself.

The compositions are widely held to be the first important works composed for piano and clarinet and are remarkable for their insight into the composer's mind.

Whereas Brahms was normally highly secretive of his working technique, this manuscript shows extensive revisions on all its 67 pages to both the piano and clarinet scores.

The manuscript was bought by a London dealer, yet so important are its clues into the mind of the composer that the hope is that its eventual owner will make it accessible to music students.

Dr Simon Maguire from auctioneers Sotheby's thinks it would be invaluable to a scholar studying music.

He says: "He'd learn everything about how Brahms set about writing his music, which up to now really scholars haven't been able to tell the full story about.

"And to tell it of not only a sort of composer like Brahms but one of his greatest works, is an unparalleled opportunity for a music scholar working in that field."

The manuscript was the star lot in an auction including manuscripts by Beethoven, Liszt and Gershwin.

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