Unrecorded ​“Degenerate Music”

New York: [self-published?], 1945. 390 by 280mm (15¼ by 11 inches). Music score manuscript facsimile (leporello fold); 21 pp. With lyrics in English. On page 1: ​“St. Paul, Minn. 2.25 and 3.6.1945 (Union Station)”. With a paragraph of notes at end. On verso of last page: ​“Reproduced by Independent Music Publishers… New York.” First and last page merely Good with old water stain and light fading to first page; remaining pages Very Good; paper browned throughout. Ernst Krenek (1900–1991) was an Austrian, later American, composer of Czech origin. He vaulted to fame with his 1926 jazz opera Jonny spielt auf. The image of Jonny, a black jazz musician, was distorted by the Nazis to form the center piece of the infamous 1938 ​“Degenerate Music” exhibition.

EXILE: Krenek was frequently named as a Jewish composer during the Third Reich, although he was not Jewish. His 1933 Opera Karl V was canceled due to pressure from Hitler’s supporters. In dire economic straits, Krenek emigrated to the United States in 1938, where he remained until his death.

This 1st edition unrecorded (with only the 1961 and later editions found). A unicorn with no copies in OCLC and no copies for sale.