Chase, Gilbert, 1906-1992

American music historian and critic.

From the description of Typewritten letter signed, dated : New Orleans, 13 January 1961, to Mr. [James] Fuld, 1961 Jan. 13. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270874445

Gilbert Chase (1906-1992) was an author, critic, teacher, and musicologist.

Born in Havana, Cuba on September 4,1906, Chase was raised in the United States where he attended public and private schools. He later studied piano with Max Drittler in New York and music theory with Max Waldon in Paris. In 1928 Chase left his undergraduate studies at Columbia University and moved to Paris. With the help of his cousin, Anaïs Nin, and her husband, Ian Hugo, he obtained a position as music critic for the Continental Daily Mail, an English newspaper published in Paris with a wide circulation. He also became the Paris correspondent for Musical America of New York and The Musical Times of London. During this period he formed a close connection with many important Spanish composers, especially Manuel de Falla.

Chase, who had married Kathleen Barentzen in 1929, returned with his family to the United States in the fall of 1935. He settled in the New York City area and found work as Associate Editor of the International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians and Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. From 1940 to 1943 Chase was Latin American music specialist at the Library of Congress and music editor of Handbook of Latin American Studies. From 1943 to 1947 he was Educational Supervisor at NBC, presenting the series, Music of the New World. He also lectured at Columbia University and edited Music in Radio Broadcasting. From 1947 to 1949 he was the Head of the Education Department, for the RCA-Victor company, located in Camden, N.J. During the 1950s, Chase furthered his studies of Latin American music, when a series of government appointments sent him to Lima, Peru (1951-1953) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (1953-1955), among other countries. Chase held numerous academic positions during his career, including Professor of American Musical History and of Latin American Studies at Tulane University (1960-1966). While at Tulane, he also founded and directed the Inter-American Institute for Musical Research. As a freelance writer, editor, and lecturer, Chase completed many articles and books, including, America's Music: From Pilgrims to Present, which went through several revisions. Chase died on February 22, 1992.

From the description of Gilbert Chase papers, 1920-1992, 1945-1989 (bulk) (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 82125375

Gilbert Chase was born in Havana, Cuba on September 4,1906. His father was an American naval officer who had taken part in the Spanish American War. His mother was a daughter of the Danish Consul in Havana. Raised and educated in the United States at public and private schools, he also studied piano with Max Drittler in New York and music theory with Max Waldon Paris. In 1928, after giving up his undergraduate studies at Columbia University in New York, Chase moved to Paris, with the help of his cousin Anaïs Nin and her husband, Ian Hugo.

Through them he obtained a position as music critic for the Continental Daily Mail, an English newspaper published in Paris with a wide circulation. He also became the Paris correspondent for Musical America of New York and The Musical Times of London. At the same time he also formed a close connection with many important Spanish composers, especially Manual de Falla.

In the fall of 1935 he returned with his family to the United States and settled in the New York City area, working as Associate Editor of the International Cyclopedia of Music and Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians . From 1940 to 1943 he was Latin American music specialist at the Library of Congress and music editor of Handbook of Latin American Studies .

From 1943 to 1947 he was Educational Supervisor at NBC, presenting the series, Music of the New World, and lecturing at Columbia University, and editing Music in Radio Broadcasting. From 1947 to 1949 he was the Head of the Education Department, for the RCA-Victor company located in Camden, N.J.

In 1951 he was selected to be a Cultural Affairs Officer for the United States and sent to the American Embassy in Lima, Peru (1951-1953). He was then sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina (1953-1955). His next assignment was Brussels (1958-1960). During these assignments, he became well acquainted with musicians of these nations and presented many of them in the United States.

Chase held various academic positions during his career, including Professor of Music History at the University of Oklahoma (1955-1957), where he was also Acting Dean in College of Fine Arts. He then became Professor of American Musical History and of Latin American Studies at Tulane University (1960-1966). He also founded and directed the Inter-American Institute for Musical Research, and edited the Institute's Yearbook, which first came out in 1965 and was later published by the University of Texas at Austin from 1970 to 1976.

From 1975 to 1979 Chase was Visiting Professor in General and Comparative Studies at the University of Texas, teaching a course on "Music in American Life," sponsored by the Departments of Music and History and American Studies Program. Chase also directed a Graduate Seminar and Dissertations on American Music there.

As a freelance writer, editor, and lecturer, he was Visiting Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, during the summer session of 1968. In 1969 he participated in the inaugural lectures for the Doctoral Program in Music of The City University of New York, and then was a Visiting Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Studies in American Music, at Brooklyn College CUNY (1972-1973). He spent the better part of the late 70s and early 80s revising his work, America's Music: From Pilgrims to Present .

Chase married Kathleen Barentzen on December 27, 1929, and they had three sons. Gilbert Chase died of pneumonia on February 22, 1992.

From the guide to the Gilbert Chase papers, 1920-1992, 1945-1989, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)