Downes, Olin

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1886-01-27
Death 1955-08-22
Americans
English

Biographical notes:

American music critic.

From the description of Typewritten letters signed (2), dated : New York, 22 April 1932 and 16 June 1939, to Harry Harkness Flagler, 1932 Apr. 22. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270565951

Olin Downes (1886-1955), American music critic with the Boston Post (1906-1924) and the New York Times (1924-1955).

From the description of Olin Downes manuscripts, [ca. 1926-1957]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476554

From the description of Olin Downes photographs, [ca. 1910-1955]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476560

From the description of Reviews by other writers, 1901-1919. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476557

From the description of Olin Downes correspondence, [ca. 1909-1955]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476548

From the description of Olin Downes scrapbooks and printed materials, 1929-1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476564

From the description of Olin Downes articles, [ca. 1930-1952]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476551

From the description of Olin Downes subject files, [ca. 1920-1955]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476546

From the description of Olin Downes lectures, 1932-1953. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476550

From the description of Olin Downes family papers, 1908-1962. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476558

From the description of Olin Downes papers, [ca. 1900-1964]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476543

From the description of Olin Downes music manuscripts, [ca. 1900-1946]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38476566

Olin Downes, the music critic of the New York Times from 1924 to 1955, also active as lecturer and radio broadcaster, provided the impulse for the creation of the works Railroads on parade and Down in the valley, with music by Kurt Weill.

As music director of the New York World's Fair in 1938-39, he played a role in the commissioning of Weill's music for the pageant Railroads on parade. A more important commission for Weill, however, was that arranged by Downes as head of Frontiers Unlimited, a production company he founded together with the advertising executive Charles McArthur. Their purpose was the commissioning and producing of a series of short radio operas based on folk songs or ballads. In this capacity he was responsible for commissioning Down in the valley in 1945, which though never broadcast in the ill-fated series, became very successful in 1948 in a revised version as a (staged) folk opera. Downes' interest in, and generally favorable response to, Weill's music was much appreciated both by the composer and, after his death, by his widow, Lotte Lenya. Irene Stuart was an apparently well-educated opera fan who wrote to Downes to express her admiration for Down in the valley.

From the description of Correspondence with Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, and Irene Stuart, [1947]-1953. (Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison). WorldCat record id: 122536464

Of the New York Times.

Epithet: music critic

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000472.0x000335

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Subjects:

  • Musicians
  • Authors, American
  • Blues (Music)
  • Composers
  • Conductors
  • Folk music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music critics
  • Music theory
  • Opera
  • Radio broadcasters
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music

Occupations:

  • Collector

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
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  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
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