Collections : [Rare Book & Manuscript Library]

Letters and manuscripts of MacDowell. One group was written to Arthur P. Schmidt, his publisher during MacDowell's years as professor of music at Columbia University. These letters concern the publication and distribution of his compositions and his copyright difficulties with other firms, especially Brietkopf & Härtel. There are eight letters from MacDowell to the American pianist, composer, and pedagogue William Mason. This personal correspondence deals with such things as musical pieces dedicated by each man to the other. A diary and letter book belonging to Marian N. MacDowell (Mrs. Edward) contains draft copies of letters to Nicholas M. Butler and others relating to his controversial career at Columbia University. Also, photocopies of eight letters from the Mary Flagler Cary Music Collection at the Morgan Library. Among the numerous musical scores and sketches are his INDIAN SUITE and the SONATA TRAGICA. Also, two original drawings of MacDowell by Orlando Rowland; and correspondence, manuscripts, catalogs, and other materials relating to the MacDowell Exhibition at Columbia University in 1938.

Autograph letters with some typed copies, manuscripts and documents of the Goldmark family in Europe and America. These are primarily family letters, often descriptive of places visited and of current events. The bulk of the material concerns Joseph Goldmark. Also included are a few letters from his brother Carl, manuscripts of some of Pauline's horticultural works, and genealogical material about the Goldmark family.

The collection includes typescript libretti of Obkircher's operas and plays including KURT UND MARIANNE; OPFER; UNSCHULDIG; WAHL; and WILHELM KÜHNER, and of his collected poems. These are bound in eight volumes and are all in German. Most of these are signed by Obkircher. There are also two letters from Obkircher.

Correspondence and manuscripts of Bowles. Most of the letters in the collection are from Bowles to his friend, Ira Cohen, and pertain to Bowles' life in Morocco and his interest in the music of Morocco and Thailand. Bowles was particularly interested in Moroccan hypnotic music and made a commercial recording of it. His notes for an insert booklet to be included with the record are in this collection. There are also eight letters from Bowles to Frank Roberts, his friend and collaborator on the screenplay adapted from Bowles' novel, LOVE WITH A FEW HAIRS. There are also 4 letters from Bowles to Irving Stettner and 1 letter from Mohammed Mrabet to Stettner. The Bowles manuscripts also include three short stories, some poems, an interview with Bowles by Ira Cohen, and several pages (thermofax copies) from a notebook. In addition, a reel of tape with one of Bowles' compositions"Wet and Dry" and a short story by Mohammed Mrabet are in the collection.

Manuscripts of musical scores, memorabilia and photograph. Folder 1 of the collection includes a general index (d. March 1945), photograph, awards, 5 citations, and a biographical sketch. His musical compositions (folders 2-26) are divided in three major categories: sacred and non-sacred vocal music, and musical compositions for instruments. His sacred choruses for mixed voices has been highly praised. His non-sacred vocal music seems to deal with children, nature, and poetic topics; also included are arrangements of Stephen Foster's songs for choruses. Among his musical compositions for instruments are some with Caribbean or West Indian themes

The collection consists of three manuscripts by Bela Bartok, 1940-1943. These manuscripts totalling approximately 2,170 pages are as follows: 1) Romanian Folk Music - Vol. 1 Instrumental Melodies, Vol. 2 Vocal Melodies, Vol. 3 Texts; 2) Turkish Folk Music; and 3) Serbo-Croatian Table of Materials. Also, a small group of letters by Bartók and other concerning his association with Columbia University.

Five volumes of typescript poems by contemporary poets including four volumes of poems by Donald Bain of Buffalo, N.Y., and one volume of miscellaneous poems in typescript which were submitted for sale or for use on radio programs. Also, seven music manuscripts, songs by Bernice Ward Stockland of St. Albans, N.Y.

Prose manuscripts, related correspondence, notes, printed material, and audio tapes of Thomson. Included are notes and drafts of many of Thomson's early articles, written while he was a student at Harvard University and in Paris, and numerous manuscripts of columns published in the HERALD TRIBUNE in the 1940s. Thomson's special interests reflected in these writings are modern music, American hymns, and the performance of music in Europe. Also, manuscripts and related material for six of Thomson's books and for Gertrude Stein's BEE TIME VINE, which was published after her death and for which he wrote the preface; and 125 reels of tapes of Thomson's program on radio station WNCN (New York), 1969-1970. Cataloged correspondents include Chalmers Clifton, Lincoln Kirstein, Alfred A. Knopf, and Man Ray.