George Edwards papers, 1963-2012

Collection context

Creator:
Edwards, George, 1943-2011
Abstract:
George Edwards (1943-2011) was an American composer, critic, and teacher. He taught in Columbia University's Music Department from 1977 to 2006 and was named an Edward MacDowell Emeritus Professor of Music by Columbia's Board of Trustees. This collection includes scores, teaching materials, audio recordings, programs, clippings, correspondence, and biographical materials, including medical records and information surrounding Edwards' death from Alzheimer's disease.
Extent:
16 linear feet 20 document boxes 7 flat boxes and 1 CD box
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

George Edwards (1943-2011) was an American composer, critic, and teacher. Edwards' papers include scores, teaching materials, audio recordings, programs, clippings, correspondence, and biographical materials, including medical records and information surrounding Edwards' death from Alzheimer's disease. The papers also include some subject files and written and musical works by other authors.

The strength of the collection is the documentation of Edwards' activities as a composer. Most of Edwards' major works are represented here, in sketches, drafts, and/or published scores. There are a large number of composition notebooks, showing Edwards' compositional process for some of his major works. There are also a significant number of draft fragments and sketches that have not yet been identified. A collection of programs shows that many of Edwards' works received numerous performances throughout his lifetime. Many of Edwards' works are also represented in the audio recordings included in this collection.

Edwards' activities as a teacher and scholar are also well documented. There are drafts of his written works, as well as syllabi, musical analyses, and handouts for Music Humanities and Species Counterpoint classes in Columbia University's Music Department. For the most part, Edwards' administrative activities are not documented in this collection.

A final noteworthy aspect of this collection is the inclusion of Edwards' medical records, which document his decline and death from Alzheimer's disease from 2005 to 2012. This file includes correspondence between Edwards' wife and his doctors that documents the effects and challenges of the illness for Edwards and his family.

Biographical / historical:

George Edwards (1943-2011) was an American composer, critic, and teacher. He attended Oberlin College from 1961-1965, and Princeton University from 1965-1968, where he studied with Milton Babbitt, Edward T. Cone, and Earl Kim, and obtained an Master of Fine Arts (MFA). He taught music theory and composition at the New England Conservatory in Boston from 1969-1976. He was a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome from 1973-1975, and won the Rome Prize in Composition in 1975. In 1977 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Music at Columbia University in New York. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in both 1980 and 1986, and earned tenure at Columbia in 1987, heading the composition program from 1987 to 1995. He also served on the Advisory Committee of the Alice M. Ditson Fund from 1988 to 2005, serving as the Committee's Secretary from 1995-1998. He served as Chair of the Department of Music at Columbia from 1996 to 1999. After his retirement in 2006, he was named Edward MacDowell Emeritus Professor of Music by Columbia's Board of Trustees.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

The medical records in Box 19 are open to researchers.

To use audiovisual materials in Series VIII, please contact the library to discuss access options as most of these materials have not been reformatted and are not readily available for use.

Terms of access:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes, except that permission is required to copy musical scores. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); George Edwards Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu