What is it about music that gives it such universal appeal? Just as a flickering flame has captivated humans and other animals since our beginnings, music draws our attention and charms us. Both fire and music seem to bear the stamp of divinity, pointing to something beyond the mundane circle of life. Philosophers, poets, artists, musicians and others have considered the nature of music, and some of their reflections can be found in letters being offered in our November 26 auction.
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| A detail of Rockwell Kent's 1933 response to Koons's query. |
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| Aldous Huxley's three-page response includes: "I love music because I find in it the most perfect expression of the nobles thoughts, feelings, states of mind. . ." |
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| Detail of Edward Elgar's brief response to Koons's question |
Just as fire resists being touched, so, it seems, does music resist demystification.
Thanks to Swann's autographs specialist Marco Tomaschett for this illuminating post. The collection of letters to Walter Koons are being offered in Swann's November 26 auction. The sale also includes a large selection of traditional musical autographs by major artists including Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and more.