Autographs

I am not a collector of autographs. The other day, however, I was reminded that I have accumulated a few over the years.

I was listening to an LP of Bach preludes and fugues yesterday. The organist was Marie-Claire Alain on a two-disc album. (I own recordings of all the Bach organ works played by Alain.) As I removed the first disc to play it, a program from a concert I attended nearly half a century ago fell out. Owning so many recordings by Alain, I was delighted to hear her play in person, and I had her sign my program, which I had saved in the album I was playing. (See the program at the left.)

I have never gotten an autograph from a politician or any other non-musician, but I have two other signatures from musicians. 

I have heard Judy Collins in concert two or three times. Before one of these, I bought one of her LPs at a record store—are you old enough, dear reader, to know about record stores?—where she was autographing purchases. She signed and personalized my album.

I have only one other musician’s autograph, that of Vladimir Ashkenazy. I had become a passionate fan of Sergei Prokofiev’s music after borrowing from the New Orleans Public Library a recording of his Second Piano Concerto, played by Malcolm Frager. While attending the University of Chicago, a friend who knew of my Prokofiev passion told me that Ashkenazy was playing the concerto at Orchestra Hall. I managed to obtain a seat at the concert in the nosebleed section. It was the most exciting concert I have ever attended; I was on the edge of my seat—quite literally—throughout the entire concerto. I was actually a bit tired from the tension when it was all over! Several years later, I got to hear Askenazy in Honolulu. I obtained his autograph, but I really wanted to see him to tell him how exciting I found that Chicago concert and to thank him for the experience.

I have since heard other pianists play the Prokofiev Second Piano Concerto. The piece is always exciting, but no performance has had the emotional power of that Chicago performance by Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Do you, dear reader, collect autographs? Whose signature has been most meaningful to you? Do you have autographs from people who are not musicians?