Anka, Paul. Musicians Collection, 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940).
Title:
Musicians Collection, 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940).
Consists of ca. 4900 items which are primarily of a visual nature and portray approximately 1700 musicians and musical groups: classical composers, conductors, soloists, and ensembles; big bands and bandleaders; bandmasters; impresarios; vaudeville artists, minstrel show performers, and other variety acts; twentieth-century American musical theater composers; and post-1940 popular singers and musical groups, including country singers. Photographs comprise about 95% of the collection. Other formats present are engravings, lithographs, clippings, concert programs, brochures, booklets, sheet music, vocal and instrumental scores, drawings, paintings, postcards, correspondence, posters, and ephemera. The bulk of the collection consists of publicity photographs, ca. 1900-1940, of vaudeville and variety acts, popular singers, jazz musicians, and brass band-type ensembles. African-American and female musicians represent a substantial portion of the figures covered by these files, especially from the late nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century. A large number of cabinet cards and cartes-de-visite date from this period. Most of the photographs are gelatin silver prints. Other formats include ca. 500 engravings and lithographs of famous composers and classical musicians, 1727-1887 (bulk ca. 1880-1860). Of these, Irish musicians are prominent. About a dozen drawings in charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor are present, as well as an oil painting of Beethoven. The great majority of the concert programs in the collection are for classical musicians appearing in New York at Mendelssohn Hall, Aeolian Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Town Hall. Many of the programs for the latter date from late March 1941. Letters in the collection, 1780s-1977 (bulk 1820s-1860s) are chiefly written by classical composers. The manuscript and printed music includes works by several American musicians, including autograph lyrics and music for twenty-eight of Paul Anka's songs, probably from the early 1960s. Published music includes arrangements and piano and vocal scores for compositions by Victor Herbert and Pietro Mascagni. Composite portraits are located at the end of the alphabet, followed by Unidentified and Miscellaneous items. A very small number of items pertain to non-musical subjects (painters, actors, etc.).
ArchivalResource:
ca. 4900 items (4000 photographs, 500 prints)
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122625161 View
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