Sample Evaluations

Your Atterberg symphony is a notable historical artifact. Here is some background information:

Kurt Magnus Atterberg (December 12, 1887 – February 15, 1974) was a Swedish composer. He is best known for his symphonies, operas and ballets.

For the Schubert centenary in 1928, the Columbia Gramophone Company sponsored a competition for a symphony completing or inspired by Schubert’s Unfinished, and Atterberg won the first prize of $10,000 with his Symphony No. 6. The symphony was recorded by Sir Thomas Beecham, and Atterberg later recorded it himself.

The Sixth Symphony of 1927-1928 is sometimes nicknamed the “Dollar Symphony” due to the $10,000 prize Atterberg won in an international competition sponsored by the Columbia Gramophone Company of New York (he later used it to buy a car). It was during the occasion commemorating the centenary of Schubert’s death.

The work was adversely affected by a stir created by Olin Downes, an influential American critic who deemed the work as plagiaristic. But the symphony made Atterberg an internationally known figure thanks largely to both the advocacies of Beecham and Toscanini. The symphony possesses a genuine sweep (especially in the first movement).

But the second movement, in the worlds of Nielsen and Arnold in places, is quite a masterpiece. It has a rather strong nationalistic feeling to it mixed in with subdued eloquence and passion (the beginning with muted strings and clarinet solo is especially enticing). The finale, somewhat a rondo, is robust and conveys an innocent sense of gaiety.

My research has not shown any recent sales of this set, though it is well-known to aficionados. Atterberg conducted his own version later in 1928, and a copy of this on German Polydor was auctioned for $228 in 2004. An EMI Sweden CD reissue of the Beecham performance is available.

Given the volatility of the market, it is conceivable the proper placement
of this item could generate considerable interest. But I would recommend judicious inquiries with reputable dealers before making any hasty decisions.

The disappointing aspect is your stated condition of “Fair,” by which I assume this means a combination of dirt, tears, wrinkles, fades, or otherwise an item that is well-used or damaged. Their rarity is a counterbalance to this, however, and if all the printing and images are clear and visible so much the better.