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Posted

The Jazz Auction.

There was a big, first ever Jazz auction last week, which sold off, to the highest bidders, one of Charlie Parker's saxophones, letters and music written by John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, one of Dizzy's trumpets, and lots more. The proceeds will go to musician's families, foundations set up by musicians and some, no doubt to Jazz at Lincoln Center, who hosted the event. (What about the Jazz Foundation of America. I hope they're getting some money for the invaluable work they do.)

I'm happy musician's families and foundations were able to get some funding from these items, but, I still find myself wondering why we're selling off these important cultural artifacts to the highest bidder.

Interestingly, the winner's names were not disclosed. And although someone suggested they should “donate” these artifacts to the Smithsonian, they are under no obligation to do so. The Smithsonian doesn't have the funding to actually purchase these items. It seems there are few Jazz benefactors.

John Coltrane's original score and notes for A Love Supreme is a national treasure, the equivalent of the Declaration of Independence. Instead of being displayed at the Smithsonian, or on a travelling exhibit, it's going to be hanging in someone's living room. That just doesn't add up for me no matter how I try and justify it.

I came across this article which contained some information about a recent jazz sale, and it got me thinking about one or two things, which may or may not be a dangerous thing ;)

Anyway is enough being done to preserve jazz history, the same way we seem to preserve the legacy and history of some other types of music? For me much of jazz history should be preserved for future generations to see and learn from.

Any thoughts?

Che.

Posted

John Coltrane's original score and notes for A Love Supreme is a national treasure, the equivalent of the Declaration of Independence.

:wacko: ...while an important piece of jazz history........I don't think they compare!

Posted

Bits and Pieces

Posted: 2005-02-25

By Bret Primack

The article was posted on the AAJ Board.

Che.

Posted (edited)

I don't care one way or another about the jackets, instruments, and various other relics.

The sheet music is another story. I wish everything had just been sent to me to add to the other lead sheets at the Library of Congress.

Bertrand.

Edited by bertrand
Posted (edited)

IIRC, Guernsey's (the auction house in question) has promised to make digital reproductions of all of the sheet music, manuscripts, letters, etc. available to scholars (and, one presumes, institutions) on a request basis. They did, after all, make an extensive photographic record of this collection for the purposes of posting items on Ebay and assembling their catalog (still available for purchase).

I believe I heard this information in the NPR reports on this event.

Promises made and promises fulfilled, of course, are very different. And a digital object is not quite the same thing as an object you can hold. But the information has been preserved.

Finally, in retrospect I find this to be an embarrassing piece, but you all are, if so inlcined, welcome to peruse it for further information:

http://www.bagatellen.com/archives/frontpage/000778.html

Edited by Joe
Posted (edited)

Is there a fee for requesting this music? (I can't check the sites right now). If not, I'll get them right away before they are told they can no longer give them out.

Bertrand.

Edited by bertrand
Posted

Is there a fee for requesting this music? (I can't check the sites right now). If not, I'll get them right away before they are told they can no longer give them out.

Bertrand.

I'm afraid I don't know, Bertrand.

Come to think of it, I may have heard that information in BBC reports on the auction. But I know I heard it.

Posted

Che.

Once again, I would like to ask that you attempt the "search" function prior to posting, so you can add to existing discussions, instead of spreading them out.

Thread on Jazz Auction

Another Thread on same Jazz Auction

Erik.

Yeah, but he has a different question about, not really the auction, but about jazz history being, "sold or preserved."

Thanks that is what I thought and it is still confusing to me ;)

Anyway I wonder if Jazz is different from other forms of music? For example classical music seems to be more preserved by the state, as well as in private collections. Mozart's piano's are preserved for all to see.

Is this an example how how Jazz is considered by some people, to merit less preservation than other forms of music?

Just some thoughts

Che.

Posted

I know, I guess the people here are just don't want redundant threads about the same topic. My answer to your question? I dont really know. I guess preserved, but even then it's getting, "sold."

Hi again.

Well for me it is a wider issue.

Classical music and all that this is about seems to be respected and valued by wider society and I wonder if jazz considered in the same vain? Would a piece of music by Mozart be sold to a private bidder and not the the State?

Just curious.

Che.

Posted

It's kind of a moot point.

People own things and have the right to sell them. An interested organaztion or individual can purchase them for either altruistic or selfish reasons.

That's reality and anything else would be stepping on somebody's toes.

Posted

Famous paintings are sold by auction houses and are sometimes bought not just by individuals but by companies who might display them at their company headquarters. Don't they belong to a museum?

Museums have endowments and they bid at auctions along with everyone else. If a museum wants Coltrane's sheet music, they can bid on it along with everyone else.

I am bowing out of the issue as to whether any of this stuff should be sold to the public. I don't know the answer but am openminded to the discussions pro and con.

Posted

A piece of sheet music by Mozart would obviously be worth more than one by Coltrane.

Well I think more reverance and respect is given to classical music, and countries like Germany, Austria etc see do more to preserve their musical heritage, at least with classical music they seem to do.

Che.

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