Henry Cowell collection of noncommercial recordings [sound recording]

id
2651
origination
Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965
date statement
1940-1953
key date
1940
identifier (local_mss)
20469
org unit
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
call number
*L (Special) 88-33
b-number
b14388192
total components
326
total series
4
max depth
2
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:04:32 UTC
updated
2026-08-15 02:24:00 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"*L (Special) 88-33", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20469", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Henry Cowell collection of noncommercial recordings [sound recording]"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"315 items."}
repository
{"value"=>"Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498</span></div>"}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Henry Cowell Collection, *L (Special) 88.33, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Henry Cowell (3/11/1897 - 12/10/1965) was an American composer of symphonic and chamber music. He studied violin with Henry Holmes, and composition with E.G. Strickland and Wallace Sabin at the University of California in Berkeley. He also studied with Walter Damrosch at the Institute of Musical Art in New York, and with Charles Seeger.</p> <p>Cowell became the first American composer to visit Russia in 1928, after which, he studied ethnomusicology with Erich von Hornbostel in Berlin as a Guggenheim fellow. These persuits led him toward extensive study of ethnic musical materials.</p> <p>Cowell made great use of tone clusters. He systematized the clusters as harmonic amplifications of tonal chords, and devised logical notation for them. He ultimately applied tone clusters to compositions for instrumental works (in addition to piano works), and also used them in many of his symphonic works.</p>"}
custodhist
{"value"=>"<p>The collection was donated by Sidney Cowell.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The collection consists of noncommercial recordings collected by Henry Cowell reflecting varied interests. It includes the works of Cowell, as well as that of other composers such as John J. Becker, Paul Hindemith, and Igor Stravinsky, and folk and world music from such places as Africa, India, Morocco, and Turkey.</p> <p>Also included are lectures, interviews and demonstrations by/with Cowell.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Henry Cowell collection of noncommercial recordings [sound recording] is arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20469#c659977'>Series I: Field recordings</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series contains examples of world music from various locations.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20469#c660128'>Series II: Henry Cowell compositions</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1939-1986</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series contains recordings of various Cowell compositions. If a recording includes works by Cowell as well as the works of other composers, it will be found in this series. Therefore, it is possible to find works by composers other than Cowell in this series.</p> <p>Many items in this series are not attributed to any date. However, amongst those which are dated, the date span is 1939-1986.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20469#c660246'>Series III: Other Cowell material</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1948-1964</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series contains discussions, interviews and lectures (some of which include musical performances) involving Henry Cowell.</p> <p>Many items in this series are not attributed to any specific date. However, amongst those items which are dated, the date span is 1948-1964.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20469#c660285'>Series IV: Works by others</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1941-1964</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series includes recordings of works by composers other than Henry Cowell. For additional recordings of works of other composers, see Series II, Henry Cowell Recordings.</p> <p>Many items in this series are not attributed to any specific date. However, amongst those items which are dated, the date span of the series is 1941-1964.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged into four series:</p> <ul> <li>Series I. Field recordings of world music</li> <li>Series II. Henry Cowell compositions</li> <li>Series III. Other Cowell material</li> <li>Series IV. Works by other composers</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
accessrestrict
{"value"=>"<p>Access to acetate discs restricted.</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.</p>"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1940-1953", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1940/1953"}
date_inclusive_start
1940
date_inclusive_end
1953
acqinfo
{"accession_number"=>"RHA"}
{"date"=>"1968", "source"=>"Cowell, Mrs. Sidney", "method"=>"Gift", "value"=>"Gift, Cowell, Mrs. Sidney, 1968"}
abstract
{"value"=>"These noncommercial music and spoken word recordings were collected by Henry Cowell and primarily consist of his own compositions and lectures, as well as numerous field recordings of folk and ethnic music. Additional recordings contain music by modern Western composers, including unique recordings of works by John J. Becker."}
keydate
1940
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by David Thomas and Peggy Schein.</p>"}
date_start
1940
date_end
1953

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid

No PDF finding aid attached.

File attachments

No files attached.

Repository Assets

b8091fb0-2c6c-0136-5f01-67726065acc2  (1) f140bfe0-2c6d-0136-ae0e-41a08f75eb1c  (2) 959abd60-2c6e-0136-279e-7fe0d3e695ab  (2) 8a36b540-2c6f-0136-4432-4b675762b23e  (2) aeb72460-2c70-0136-f59f-73ea9cabc59d  (2) d9d570b0-2c71-0136-7a7d-08de72bc3760  (2) a8a0c890-2c72-0136-a045-027eded87374  (2) ed01d3a0-b957-0133-d9c8-3c07547a230f  (5) 88a809b0-b958-0133-26bd-3c07547a230f  (3)

Living at NYPL Archives

Sign in to add or edit a living at feature for this collection.

Export Collection to ArchivesSpace