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Cecil B. Oldman

born London, April 2, 1894; died London, October 7, 1969

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English librarian and bibliographer.

Oldman worked at the British Museum in London from 1920 to 1957, first as an assistant keeper and later as principal keeper in the Department of Printed Books, with a special interest in music books. His expertise in the bibliography of Haydn, Beethoven, and particularly of Mozart was internationally recognized. With Otto Erich Deutsch in 1931‒32 he published a "bibliographical extension to Köchel's list of [Mozart's] works," a copy of which Deutsch seems to have sent Schenker on June 4, 1932 (Schenker's diary, June 4 and 5).

Anthony van Hoboken wrote to Schenker on July 31, 1934 that Deutsch wanted to publish works on first and early editions in a series that Oldman was planning, which had indirectly created conflict between Deutsch and Hoboken (OJ 89/7, [12]).

Contributor

  • Ian Bent

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Correspondence

  • OJ 10/3, [150] Handwritten picture postcard from Deutsch to Schenker, dated July 1, 1931

    Deutsch expresses concern that his last letter may have been misunderstood. The question of textual corruption of musical masterworks may be raised at the Department of International Intellectual Collaboration in Geneva. The Mozart letter on which Schenker elaborated was mentioned in the first edition of Jahn but now survives only in poetic and philosophical biographies of the composer.

  • OJ 10/3, [151] Typewritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated July 29, 1931

    Deutsch reports illness in his family over the summer. -- He is glad to see Schenker’s article on the lost Mozart letter in print, and mentions other places in which it was reproduced. He has made some discoveries about Lord Horatio Nelson and Haydn, which have, however, been misrepresented in the press.

  • OJ 10/3, [212] Typewritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated June 13, 1934

    In this long letter Deutsch recounts events and circumstances concerned with Hoboken’s library and the Photogram Archive, including the attempt by Oswald Jonas to place an article on the Archive in English music journals and a Swiss newspaper, and Hoboken’s intemperate behavior at an antiquarian music shop in London. Deutsch, trying to smooth over points of friction, was himself accused both of neglecting his duties to Hoboken and of being too familiar with new dealers in early music prints, who could be of service to the library.

  • OJ 89/7, [12] Typewritten letter (carbon copy) from Hoboken to Schenker, dated July 31, 1934

    Hoboken assures Schenker that he will support him in his work. — He outlines the restrictions that he has placed on Otto Erich Deutsch, and expresses irritation that Deutsch has been offered a course at the Vienna Academy. — He is annoyed at the political views expressed by E. F. Schmid, who has been appointed at the University of Graz.