Colorado & American West
The AMRC's collecting efforts pay particular attention to the American West, and especially the music of Colorado. The Center's holdings include important manuscripts from many of CU's most distinguished faculty and alumni, as well as from around the Rocky Mountains. Our collections, though just a small snap shot, form a testament to the rich and varied musical contributions that our region has contributed to the musical life of the country.
Records of the American Music Research Center, founded by Sister Mary Dominic Ray (1913 —1994) at Dominican College (1969), acquired by the University of Colorado at Boulder (1989), including catalogues, publicity materials, research records, correspondence, business and transaction records, finding aids, photographs, scrapbooks, board records and event documentation. Includes materials from Dominican College and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Papers of Jean Berger (1909-2002), born Artur Schlossberg, professor of Music (1961-1968), including manuscript and published scores and parts; scrapbooks; drafts of memoirs and related correspondence; diaries (1948-2002); personal correspondence, especially with
Henry Pleasants, Rita Berger and Jon Berger; genealogical records; business papers and correspondence concerning copyright, the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), publishers and publications, and travel; contracts; records of royalties; dissertations concerning the music of Jean Berger; audio and video recordings of the works of Jean Berger.
Personal papers of Charles L. Bestor (b. 1924), Composer and music educator, professor of composition, emeritus, University of Massachusetts; previously on the faculty of Willamette University (dean, college of music), Julliard School of Music, University of Utah, University of Alabama, and the University of Colorado; National Endowment of the Arts fellow, International Electro-Acoustic Music Competition winner, Macdowell Colony fellow. Works of the 12 tone technique, electronic media, and integrated jazz.
Papers of Dean Boal (b. 1931), arts administrator, music educator, broadcaster, and concert pianist; DMA, University of Colorado at Boulder (1959); Associate Professor and head
of piano department, Bradley University (1960-1966); Dean, Peabody Conservatory of
Music (1966-1970); President, St. Louis Conservatory and Community Schools for the Arts (1973-1976); Vice President and General Manager for Radio, WETA (1978-1983); Vice President of Cultural Programming and Program Services, National Public Radio (1982-1989); President, Interlochen Center for the Arts (1989-1995); including, correspondence, press and publicity materials, concert programs, photographs and recordings. Of particular interest are papers relating to Boal's role in the development of National Public Radio's popular program "Performance Today," and his research into the history of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Included are Boal's own accounts of his relationships with numerous prominent musicians and administrators, written in 2010. Also includes papers and recordings of Ellen TeSelle Boal (b. 1935), cellist, gambaist, and music educator; B.Mus, University of Colorado at Boulder (1953); M.Mus. and PhD. Washington University, St. Louis.
Proceedings of the Fourth Triennial Susan Porter Memorial Symposium, "Nadia Boulanger and American Music." Collection includs planning records, video and photographic documentation of the event, and donations by former students of Boulanger, including AMRC board member Don G. Campbell.
Performances and interviews with performers collected by David A. Brose, formerly Colorado State Folklorist, approximately 1970-1979. Tapes 1-112 originally recorded on Sony L-500 HG Beta format with Sony PCM Digital Processor F-1 for sound (no picture); Tapes 113-128 recorded on a portable cassette recorder. Collection contains duplicate copies made by Harry Tuft; the originals are housed at the Library of Congress.
The collection of Storm Bull is composed of three principal series: Musical Compositions, Oversized, Personal Papers.
Series I: Musical Compositions represents the largest single component of the Storm Bull Collection, consisting of more than 80 separate items. The series is subdivided into three sections: music manuscripts produced by the Bull family; music manuscripts produced by other composers; and published works. The first sub-section includes original compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions by Storm Bull, Edvard Hagerup Bull (his grandfather), Edvard Hagerup Bull (his cousin), Eyvind Hagerup Bull (his father), and Sverre Hagerup Bull (also Finn Helle)(his uncle). The second sub-section consists of music manuscripts by two unrelated composers, George Crumb and Dennis Riley. The third sub-section includes published works (with inscriptions) by Béla Bartók, Frédéric Chopin, Carl Czerny, Richard Czerwonky, Gabriel Fauré, Rudolf Kvelve, Sisgne Lund, Modeste Moussorgsky, Mauric Ravel, and Julie Rivé-King. All annotations in red are by Fredrick Stock, conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Series II: Oversized consists of two manuscript scores composed by Storm Bull, one photograph of Edvard Hagerup Bull (Storm Bull’s cousin), one photograph of Percy Grainger, and two photographs of Grainger’s master piano classes at the Chicago Musical College in which Storm Bull participated.
Series III: Personal Papers are arranged in two sections. The first section is composed of papers associated with the Bull family. The major component of this section is a series of questionnaires compiled in the 1950s and ‘60s which were submitted by contemporary composers of the time, and which contain information and insights regarding their works and creative approaches. This section also includes correspondence, composition books, clippings, articles, and photographs associated with the Bull family. The second section comprises letters, photographs, and other items associated with individuals outside of Bull’s immediate family, including Béla Bartók, Percy Grainger, Dennis Riley, and members of the Grieg family.
Library and personal papers of Alan C. Buechner, Professor of Music, Copland School of Music, City University of New York, Queens College; previously on faculty of Harvard University, University of Texas, University of Hartford; founder and officer of the Sonneck Society for American Music; Recipient of the Soneck Society Distinguished Service Citation. Includes 132 tune books and hymnals, correspondence, and research and teaching materials on American music, folklore, and psalmody.
Recordings and supporting materials of John Carter (1929-1991), composer, jazz clarinetist, band leader; M. Mus, University of Colorado (1956); Down Beat Magazine Jazz Hall of Fame.
Swing era and big band materials collected by C. F. Alan Cass (1941-2018); BA, University of Colorado (1963); L.H.D honoris causa, University of Colorado (1999); Director, Macky Auditorium (1967-1979); Assistant director, University Memorial Center (1979-1984); Director, Coors Events Center (1984-1998); Curator, Glenn Miller Archives (1969-2016). Contains artifacts, photos, memorabilia, recordings, and papers related to the life and career of Major Alton Glenn Miller, acquired for the Glenn Miller Archives from multiple sources and unnamed donors over nearly 50 years.
The Berton Coffin Papers contain professional materials on Dr. Coffin’s work as a Vocal Pedagogue from 1956 to his death in 1987. The collection contains writings and publications, including first editions of his books along with drafts and research material used and developed by him; press releases and copyright certificates for his publications; audio cassettes; and projector slides from his classes. Includes materials related to his students and collaborators; as well as posthumous memorials and celebrations of his work
Consists of analog and digital sound recordings of oral history interviews dating from 1966
to 2006, conducted by University of Colorado students, volunteers, and faculty and staff. Interviewees include Nick Perito, Perry Como's arranger; Mickey Glass, Como's long-time manager; former College of Music faculty such as George Crumb, Cecil Effinger, Warner Imig and Storm Bull; and other area musicians and scholars. Includes interview transcript excerpts and summaries, interview question lists, clippings, biographical notes, and curriculum vitae for some interviewees. Interview topics include the history of the University of Colorado's College of Music, biography of the interviewees, Perry Como, music pedagogy, and the history of music in Boulder and Colorado.
Contains Ms. Collins' published compositions, certificates, awards, clippings, and programs, 1970's-1990's
Song lists and notebooks from Carrie M. Cramer and Grace Cramer Small, pioneers, folk singers, folk song collectors. Includes tape recorded interview.
Photocopied scores of Brent Michael Davids, composer.
The Gordon Dooley Dance Orchestra Music includes the complete scores and parts for the arrangements used by The Gordon Dooley Orchestra. The parts, stored by arrangement in book order, include 182 titles, primarily from the swing/big band era and constitute Dooley's complete society band arrangements for varying instrumentation, from nine to sixteen parts comprised of 4-5 saxophones, 1-4 trumpets, 1-4 trombones and 2-4 rhythm section players. Also included are some ephemera and published documents related to Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, as well as photos and other memorabilia collected by Dooley throughout his career.
Research materials related to the dissertation (University of Colorado, 1997) of Ariel Arden Downing, musician and music educator.
Manuscript compositions and papers of Charles Eakin (b. 1927), Composer and bass
player; Professor of Music, University of Colorado (1950-?); Bass player, Houston and
New Orleans Symphonies; Faculty member, University of Minnesota and Baylor University, including published and unpublished music, photographs, publicity materials, recordings, and correspondence.
Papers of Cecil Effinger (1914-1990), composer, inventor, professor of Music at Colorado College (1936-41, 1946-48) and the University of Colorado (1948-1981), Denver Post music editor (1946-1948), Denver Symphony principal oboist (1938-1941), director of 506th Army Band (1941-1945), including manuscript and published scores and parts; unpublished works, especially three operas; music sketchbooks; photographs; programs; correspondence; financial and army records; publications; two MusicWriters; and audio recordings of the works of Cecil Effinger. Includes papers and compositions of Effinger's father, Stanley S. Effinger.
Manuscript scores of Dave Grusin (b. 1934), composer, graduate of the University of Colorado (B.Mus., 1956), including manuscript scores and parts for film and television compositions, as well as sketches and published arrangements. Notable in the collection are manuscript and sketches of several award-winning and award-nominated film scores, including "The Milagro Beanfield War," "On Golden Pond," and "The Fabulous Baker Boys"
Scrapbooks compiled by Warner Imig (1913-2005), Professor of Music (1937-1978) and Dean (1951-1978), °µÍø½ûÇø College of Music; DMA honoris causa, University of Colorado, 1978.
Materials related to Tolbert Riley Ingram (1876-1960), newspaper editor, composer, music publisher; founder, Tolbert R. Ingram Music Co., Denver, Colorado; including articles on Tolbert R. Ingram and the Music Company, photos and slides of sheet music published by the Ingrim Music Company, and original and copies of the majority of sheet music published by the Ingrim Music Company.
Manuscripts of Daniel Jones (1888-1932), American composer and pianist. Includes compositions of Jones' spouse, Edith Howell Jones.
Papers of Karl Kroeger (b. 1932), composer, musicologist, librarian; B.Mus., B.Mus.Ed., M.Mus, University of Louisville, M.S. University of Illinois, Ph.D., Brown University; Head, University
of Colorado Music Library (1982-1994); Curator, American music Collection, New York Public Library (1962-1964); Composer-in-residence, Oregon Public School System (1964-1967); Director, Moravian Music Foundation (1972-1980); Visiting Lecturer, University of Keele (1980-1981). Includes composition manuscripts, arrangements and critical editions, concert programs, and research materials related to Kroeger's numerous musicological publications. Also includes recordings and correspondence. Of related interest is the large collection of early American tune books and hymnals, housed in Special Collections, Norlin Library (list of titles available separately and in the collection).
The Normand Lockwood manuscripts have been held by the AMRC at the University of Colorado since about 1988. Initially, the numbering system was not consecutive, having
been divided into five series. The arrangement was revised in 2012 to provide a more logical arrangement; however, since various publications, especially Kay Norton's extensive biography of Lockwood, used the old numbering, the original arrangement is described below. Consult the container list for current series and locations.
Series I: In 1990, a large portion of the collection had been received. Kay Norton was writing her PhD dissertation on Normand Lockwood's music and she organized this first portion of the collection giving it the numbers Box 1 through Box 38 plus Oversize 1 through 12.
Series II: Additional materials continued to come after Ms. Norton completed her dissertation and it was decided not to interfile the new music in the original filing system. Therefore, Series II is composed of New Box (NB) numbering sequence and was established for receipts of materials after 1990. This series also now includes operatic materials that had been donated to the University of Denver, but later transferred to the University of Colorado in 1999. These boxes are numbered NB 1 through NB 47.
Series III: Personal records (PR) make up Series III and includes correspondence, writings, clippings, photos, testimonials on Lockwood's 65th and 90th birthdays, programs and texts of many compositions. These boxes are numbered PR 1 through PR 12.
Series IV: This series is made of all the Audio (AU) materials received with the Normand Lockwood Collection. This series includes reel-to-reel and cassette tapes, 78rpm and 33 1/3rpm recordings and CD's. These boxes are numbered AU 1 through AU 7
Series V: This series is composed of large, oversized (OV) musical compositions and scrapbooks. These boxes are numbered OV 1 through OV 15.
Papers and field recordings of Ben Gray Lumpkin (1901-1982), folklorist, professor of English (1946-1969). Papers and recordings relate specifically to Lumpkin's work in collecting the folk songs of Colorado, especially in hillbilly songs; papers related to his career in the University of Colorado Department of English are housed separately in the University Archives. Includes documentation and biographical information on informants, correspondence, index files, and teaching and writing resources.
Scores of George Lynn (1915-1989), composer, choral conductor, organist; student of Roy Harris, Randall Thomson and John Finley Williamson; Assistant professor of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder (1950-52); Music Director, Westminster Choir College (1964-69); Visiting Composer-in-residence, University of New Mexico (1971); Choral conductor, Colorado School of Mines and Lorettor Heights College (1971-86); Visiting professor of choral music, Rice University (1986-87), including published and manuscript scores.
Collection contains clippings and photographs related to Hugh McAmis, organist and composer in Texas, early twentieth century
Manuscripts and papers of Nicholas "Nick" Perito (1924-2005), pianist, composer, arranger, conductor; Bachelor of Music, Juilliard School of Music (1949); including manuscript compositions, scripts, correspondence, photographs, and papers documenting Perito.
Records for the Denver chapter of the Raging Grannies, 2002-present. Included are membership lists, newspaper clippings, online news articles, internal and external correspondence, publicity materials, typed songs, including original and proposed versions, are also in the collection. Three CD recordings, which include one holiday album, comprise the studio recordings of the collection. Two VHS tapes document 11 live performances in Denver and Colorado from 2002-2003. Also included are photographs of the Denver Grannies' performances and seven thank-you notes written to the Grannies.
Manuscripts and personal papers of Francis Wayne Scott (1923-2016), arranger, composer, pianist; professor of music, University of Colorado; MBA and J.D. Creighton University; initiator of CU's Jazz History and American Popular Music curricula, founder of CU Jazz band; member, Dean Bushnell Orchestra, Denver; winner of 1989 Robert Sterns Award; including original compositions and arrangements, photographs, and personal and professional papers. Documents the controversial effort to merge the College of Music into another College, and the successful effort to preserve the College's independence.
The Richard Toensing manuscripts and papers comprise scores and professional materials encompassing Toensing’s career as a composer and teacher. The centerpiece of the collection is 21 boxes of scores spanning his entire career as a composer, from his 1964 Doxologies I (for Wind, Brass, and Percussion) to his final work Serene and Heavenly Bells (2014). Many of the scores are supplemented with data discs that include the Finale notation software files as well as PDF scans of Toensing’s work. Also included in the collection are concert programs and professional papers, including programs for numerous performances from the University of Colorado-Boulder and other festivals around the world, correspondence, awards, biographical information, concert reviews, photographs, audio recordings, and other papers that document Toensing’s time as professor at CU-Boulder.
Collection consists of awards, articles, clippings of performances 1930-1999, piano pedagogy, sheet music and songbooks, student recital programs 1941-1979, reel-to- reel tapes of performances, and original compositions.