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Handwritten sheet music by record producer, composer and musician George Martin for the Beatles song "When I'm Sixty-Four". Martin was extensively involved with recording each album and was instrumental in helping them achieve their highly acclaimed musical catalogue. This lot is an incredible piece of Beatles history, handwritten by the man dubbed the "fifth Beatle".
"When I'm Sixty-Four" was one of the first songs Paul McCartney wrote, when he was around 14 years old, and it was eventually released on the Beatles' lauded eighth album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. To this day the album remains one of the best-selling records of all time. "When I'm Sixty-Four" was recorded in Studio Two of EMI Recording Studios (now known as Abbey Road Studios) in December 1966.
This sheet music was originally donated by Martin to the music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, and it was sold at a charity dinner event during the early 1990s. The consignor's partner purchased the music sheet as a gift, as they were learning piano at the time.
The two sheets of paper are double-sided and feature handwritten annotations and musical notes in pencil. The music consists of melody parts for two clarinets and a bass clarinet. (McCartney had requested that the song feature a trio of clarinets, and they were played by session musicians Robert Burns, Henry MacKenzie and Frank Reidy.) Along the top of one sheet are handwritten annotations reading "Beatles Session, 3.30 pm, Thursday 15th December 1966, EMI No 2". The paper displays smudge marks and some creasing, notably along the top edge of one sheet. The lot is accompanied by a Roger Epperson Authentication Ltd. certificate of authenticity. Dimensions (each sheet): 37 cm x 25.5 cm (14.5" x 10")
The handwriting in this lot has been professionally authenticated by expert Garry King; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Estimate: £10,000 - 20,000 M
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