LE MONDE MUSICAL — MANGEOT (Émile) - Lot 184

Lot 184
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LE MONDE MUSICAL — MANGEOT (Émile) - Lot 184
LE MONDE MUSICAL — MANGEOT (Émile) Autograph letter, Paris, January 29, 1909, 2 pp., in-4 format, on *Le Monde Musical* letterhead, addressed to luthier Charles Jacquot in Nancy. An important technical letter regarding the international violin competition organized by *Le Monde Musical* and the procedures for ensuring the anonymity of the instruments submitted to the jury. Émile MANGEOT (1862–1941), founder and director of *Le Monde Musical*, responds in detail to a complaint from the renowned Nancy-based luthier Charles Jacquot regarding the numbering of his violin during the competition. He meticulously explains the dual-numbering system adopted to ensure the jury’s impartiality. The numbers on the cases, covers, and instruments were deliberately changed between the preliminary round and the final round to prevent the luthiers serving on the jury from recognizing their own works. He notes in particular: “The luthiers who, according to the rules, were part of the jury for the preliminary round would have easily recognized their own violins… Under these circumstances, the selection of the six modern violins would no longer have been impartial. ” Mangeot then demonstrates that Jacquot’s violin was not subject to any confusion and explains the difference between numbers 35 and 36, before comparing the characteristics of the varnish on the instruments in question: “The varnish on this violin is very different from yours… your violin is more of a reconstruction of Cremona varnish.” He concludes by suggesting that his correspondent consult his logbook, kept throughout the duration of the competition, which guarantees the complete fairness of the proceedings. A very interesting letter on the inner workings of one of the most important violin-making competitions of the early 20th century, illustrating the precautions taken to ensure the anonymity of the instruments and the impartiality of the jury’s deliberations. A wonderful account of the relationship between Émile Mangeot and the great Nancy-based luthier Charles Jacquot.
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