Letters to Claire Reis 1926-1961

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Letters to Claire Reis 1926-1961

http://archives.nypl.org/the/21646

Claire Raphael Reis (1888-1978) was a music promoter, teacher, and author of works on American composers. Born in Brownsville, Texas, on August 4, 1888, Claire Raphael was educated in New York, France, and Germany. She married Arthur Reis in 1915. From 1912 to 1922 Claire Reis was involved with the People's Music League of the People's Institute of New York, an organization which provided free concerts for immigrants and public school students. In 1914 Reis helped establish the Walden School. She became a kindergarten music teacher, and adapted Montessori teaching methods to music. Working with several composers she helped establish the League of Composers in 1923, and served as executive director for twenty-five years. Claire Reis wrote AMERICAN COMPOSERS OF TODAY in 1947, and revised the book under the title COMPOSERS IN AMERICA: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES in 1977. She also published COMPOSERS, CONDUCTORS, AND CRITICS in 1955, and a number of articles. Reis was secretary of the board of directors of the New York City Center of Music and Drama, and was also a founder of the City Center. Claire Raphael Reis died in New York on April 11, 1978, at the age of 89. Letters to Claire R. Reis consists primarily of notes from scenic designer Robert Edmond Jones (1887-1954). Jones' notes touch on contemporary music and theater, as in one undated letter written during European travel in which he speaks of seeing Max Reinhardt's Shakespeare productions, Giacomo Puccini conducting his own work, etc. There are also brief notes from Helen Hayes, director Rouben Mamoulian, and puppeteer Remo Bufano.

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The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6317897

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Hayes, Helen, 1900-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f58g3r (person)

Helen Hayes Brown was born in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 1900. Her parents were Frank and Catherine “Essie” Brown. With her mother’s encouragement, Hayes made her stage debut at the age of five and began performing both in amateur productions as well as the stock company, The Columbia Players. While performing in a recital for Miss Minnie Hawke’s School of Dance, Hayes was spotted by Lew Fields. Fields, half of the Weber and Fields comedy team, as well as a producer, recognized Hayes’s tale...

Bufano, Remo

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6t1716c (person)

Puppeteer and performer. From the description of Drawing for Seringhaus Dramatic Club, 1911? (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 704940973 ...

Jones, Robert Edmund

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69318w0 (person)

Robert Edmond Jones was born in 1887, and spent his career as a theater set designer. He also worked on the production of early Technicolor films as a color consultant. As a stage designer, Jones is best known for his simplified sets that complemented the action of a production and his dramatic use of color in costuming and lighting. From the description of Robert Edmond Jones papers, 1916 - 1963. (Wesleyan University). WorldCat record id: 299159602 Jones graduated from Harv...

Reis, Claire R. (Claire Raphael)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6md1233 (person)

Co-founder of the Walden School and later president of the League of Composers. From the description of Correspondence with Margaret Naumburg, n.d. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 63585614 Claire Raphael Reis (1888-1978) was a music promoter, teacher, and author of works on American composers. Born in Brownsville, Texas, on August 4, 1888, Claire Raphael was educated in New York, France, and Germany. She married Arthur Reis in 1915. From 1912 to 192...