Letters from Henry Cowell to Lilly Popper 1936 Sept. 12-1937 Sept 12

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Letters from Henry Cowell to Lilly Popper 1936 Sept. 12-1937 Sept 12

Henry Cowell was a noted American composer, pianist, music educator, and founder of the publication New Music and the New Music Society of California. Lilly (or Lily) Popper was Henry Cowell's colleague in a school of music. 13 TLS written from San Quentin Prison where Henry Cowell was serving a sentence for a morals charge, later pardoned. He discusses prison life, work in the jute mill, difficulties of continuing music composition in a restricted setting, authorship of a book on melody, concerts for the other prisoners, teaching in the prison's education department, study of Spanish and Japanese languages, letters he has received from other composers and friends, concern for the school in his absence and recommendations for studies and administrative matters there, and his gratitude for efforts made on his behalf. In the final letter he has learned that his sentence will be 15 years, of which he must serve at least 4.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6316372

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Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p37pnh (person)

Composed 1916-18. The original ms. had a pencilled-in note saying: "This is the only copy anywhere." See note from Mrs. Cowell 19 Nov. 1959: "The first symphony is a student work, and I hope earnestly for it not to be performed." This is a facsimile of the composer's holograph score, according to Bill Lichtenwanger.--Cf. Fleisher Collection. From the description of Symphony in B minor / Henry Cowell. 1918. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 45207014 Compo...

Popper, Lilly

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6458m3m (person)

American Music Collection

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California State Prison at San Quentin

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69d13c9 (corporateBody)