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
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.