The Eternal City Contract
1. Introduction
This page presents a rare document: the contract signed between Mascagni and New
York editor Liebler & Co in 1902 relative to the incidental music Mascagni
would compose for Hall Caine's play The Eternal City. The contract bears
the signatures of Liebler & Co and Pietro Mascagni, dated Florence, June 23,
1902. For more information about Mascagni's involvement with The Eternal
City, please visit Scenes from The Eternal City.
Click on the image to access higher-resolution versions.
Credits for the document go to: Billy Rose Theater Collection, The New York
Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations - Do not
reproduce without authorization.
2. Italian Text
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| Contract for The Eternal City |
The Italian text reads as follows:
Di comune accordo rimane stabilito quanto segue:
Il Sig. Mº Pietro Mascagni, incaricato dai Sigg. Liebler e Cia di New
York, accetta di comporre la musica orchestrale per il Dramma in cinque atti di Hall
Caine "La Città Eterna", la quale musica deve comprendere un preludio,
quattro interludii e la musica incidentale necessaria, consegnandola ai Sigg.
Liebler e Cº o a persona da loro indicata non più tardi del dì 1º Settembre 1902.
I Sigg. Liebler e Cº si obbligano di pagare al Sig. Mº Mascagni la somma di Lire
25.000 (Venticinquemilla) per detta musica e per il diritto di esecuzione,
pubblicazione, e insomma tutti i diritti di proprietà per tutti i paesi. La suddetta
somma sarà pagata in Lire 10.000 (diecimilla) prima del 1º luglio 1902, e il
rimanente Lire 15.000 (quindicimilla) all'atto della consegna della musica.
In ragione della suddetta somma, il Mº Mascagni s'impegna di consegnare ai Sigg.
Liebler e Cº un lavoro musicale di alto valore artistico degna in ogni modo della
sua fama artistica.
3. English Translation
Of mutual agreement the following is established:
Mr. Maestro Pietro Mascagni, instructed by Messrs. Liebler & Co, accepts to
compose the orchestral music for the drama in five acts by Hall Caine "The
Eternal City", music which shall include a prelude, four interludes and the
necessary incidental music, submitting it to Messrs. Liebler & Co or to a
person designated by them no later than September 1, 1902.
Messrs. Liebler & Co promise to pay to Mr. Maestro Mascagni the sum of
25.000 (twenty-five thousand) lire for said music and for the rights of
execution, publication, and in short all the property rights for all countries.
Of the said sum 10.000 (ten thousand) lire will be paid before July 1, 1902, and
the remaining 15.000 (fifteen thousand) lire at the moment of handing over the
music.
In reason of the said sum, Maestro Mascagni is bound to hand over to Messrs.
Liebler & Co a musical work of high artistic value worthy in every way of
his artistic reputation.
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