- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"20.6 linear feet,", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"16 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"JPB 04-29", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20308", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1900-1988", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1900/1988"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1900
- date_inclusive_end
-
1988
- keydate
-
1900
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Louis Gruenberg papers"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. <span class=\"subarea\">Music Division.</span></span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The composer Louis Gruenberg, was a pioneer in forming an American style of classical music. Best known for his opera <span class=\"title\">The Emperor Jones</span>, his Papers consist primarily of scores and sketches, but also include writings, clippings, concert programs, screenplay proposals and teaching materials."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Louis Gruenberg Papers, JPB 04-29. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Gruenberg, Louis, 1884-1964", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Louis Gruenberg (b. near Brest-Litovsk, Russia, 22 July/3 Aug 1884; d. Beverly Hills, CA, 10 June 1964) arrived with his family in the United States in 1885 and received his first music lessons from his father, a violinist. At age 8 he began studying piano with Adele Margulies at the National Conservatory of Music in New York. In his early 20s he studied with Ferruccio Busoni in Berlin, beginning a friendship that lasted until Busoni’s death. Gruenberg was at first interested primarily in performing as a concert pianist; he toured as an accompanist for Enrico Caruso and as a soloist, but Busoni encouraged him to compose as well. His first compostions were the operas <span class=\"title\">The Witch of Brocken</span>, Op. 1 (1912) and <span class=\"title\">The Bride of the Gods</span>, Op. 2 (1913). In 1920 he won the New York Philharmonic’s Flagler Prize for <span class=\"title\">The Hill of Dreams</span>, Op. 10 (1920), which prompted him to concentrate fully on composition.</p> <p>Gruenberg was an advocate for as well as a composer of new music. He conducted the United States premiere of Arnold Schoenberg’s <span class=\"title\">Pierrot Lunaire</span> in 1923, and he helped to organize the American Music Guild and the League of Composers. His own works, such as <span class=\"title\">The Daniel Jazz</span>, Op. 21 for voice and chamber ensemble (1925), <span class=\"title\">Jazzberries</span>, Op. 25 for piano (1925), and <span class=\"title\">Jazzettes</span>, Op. 26 for violin and piano (1926), were inspired by African-American spirituals and jazz, following the suggestion of Anton Dvorák for American composers to look toward music native to their land for sources.</p> <p>Gruenberg also continued to produce operas, notably <span class=\"title\">Jack and the Beanstalk</span>, Op. 35 (1930) and <span class=\"title\">The Emperor Jones</span>, Op. 36 (1931), which was performed at the Met over two seasons and featured on the cover of <span class=\"title\">Time</span> magazine; it also won the Bispham Memorial Medal and was the greatest popular success of the Gruenberg’s career. Other notable compositions were his <span class=\"title\">Concerto for Violin and Orchestra</span>, Op. 47 (1944), which was commissioned and premiered by Jascha Heifetz with Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Orchestra; <span class=\"title\">Americana Suite,</span> Op. 48 (1945) and <span class=\"title\">Harlem Rhapsody</span>, Op. 62 (1953).</p> <p> Gruenberg led the composition department at the Chicago Musical College from 1933 to 1936, after which he moved to California and began writing for film. Three of his scores (<span class=\"title\">The Fight For Life</span> (1940), <span class=\"title\">So Ends Our Night</span> (1941) and <span class=\"title\">Commandos Strike At Dawn</span> (1942)) were nominated for Academy Awards. He also wrote operas intended for television. In 1947 he was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and in 1950 he left the film industry to concentrate again on his own work. Among his later compositions were two more operas; the oratorio <span class=\"title\">A Song of Faith</span>, Op. 59 (1959 - 1962), which he considered among his best compositions; and several works for voice and piano, including his last, <span class=\"title\">Pages from Rabelais</span>, Op. 78 (1963).</p> <p>Though unfortunately forgotten by mass audiences, Gruenberg is notable for having forged a vigorous, original style of music out of American elements.</p> <p>Sources:</p> <p>Botstein, Leon. “Gruenberg, Harlem Rhapsody\", <span class=\"title\">American Symphony Orchestra</span> (Accessed 5 Jan. 2005), <http://www.americansymphony.org></p> <p>“Louis Gruenberg”, <span class=\"title\">G. Schirmer, Inc. and Associated Music Publishers</span> (Accessed 5 Jan. 2005), <http://www.schirmer.com/composers/gruenberg/></p> <p>Nisbett, Robert Franklin. “Gruenberg, Louis [Edwards, George]”, <span class=\"title\">Grove Music Online</span> ed. L. Macy (Accessed 5 Jan. 2005), <http://www.grovemusic.com></p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Louis Gruenberg Papers consist of 20.6 linear feet of material dating from 1900 to 1988, with the bulk dating from ca. 1910 - 1963. Most of the Papers consist of published and unpublished scores, parts and sketches by Gruenberg (including <span class=\"title\">The Emperor Jones</span>, Op. 36 (1931), <span class=\"title\">A Song of Faith</span>, Op. 59 (1959 - 1962), and <span class=\"title\">Pages from Rabelais</span>, Op. 78 (1963)), and published scores by other composers. Many scores are also accompanied by written material such as lyrics, editing information and other notes, and articles or poetry that inspired the composition. Other materials in the Papers consist of a small amount of correspondence, teaching notes and lesson plans, a set of screenplay proposals, newspaper clippings, concert programs and books. Many of the published scores by other composers and books are autographed to Gruenberg by their composers or authors. Materials in the Papers that date from after Gruenberg’s death were collected by his widow, Irma Gruenberg.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Louis Gruenberg papers are arranged in five series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20308#c560593'>Series I: Scores and Sketches</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1900 - 1965 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>11 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is a combination of published and unpublished work by Gruenberg and other composers. Gruenberg’s scores and sketches span most of his career. The scores by others are mainly piano works Gruenberg performed as a soloist. Sometimes the sketches are associated with particular pieces, but there are also many that did not seem to result in any finished or published compositions.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20308#c560742'>Series II: Writings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1924 - 1967 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.5 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series has two sub-series. The first contains written materials originally located with the scores in series I, and the folders bear titles identical to those scores. The second sub-series contains correspondence, screenplay proposals and teaching materials.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20308#c560778'>Series III: Clippings and Concert Programs</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1909 - 1988 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>5 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Both Gruenberg and his widow, Irma Gruenberg, collected the materials in this series.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20308#c560786'>Series IV: Books</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1907 - 1953</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>All the books in this series were either signed and dated by Gruenberg or autographed by their authors. Gruenberg set the sermons in the James Weldon Johnson book <span class=\"title\">God’s Trombones</span> (autographed by Johnson) to music in <span class=\"title\">The Creation</span>, Op. 23 (1926).</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20308#c560795'>Series V: Oversized Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1929 - 1946 and undated</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 boxes 5 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains clippings and scores. The clippings are reviews of the film <span class=\"title\">The Fight for Life</span>, which Gruenberg scored. The scores include a copy of Schoenberg’s <span class=\"title\">Prelude</span>, Op. 44 (1945), signed by the composer, and edits of <span class=\"title\">The Emperor Jones</span> recorded by the United States Information Agency, presumably for overseas broadcast, as well as a bound copy of the complete score in two volumes, with markings throughout.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Louis Gruenberg Papers are organized in the following series and sub-series:</p> <p> <ul> <li>Series I: Scores and Sketches, 1900 - 1965 and undated <ul> <li>Sub-series 1: Scores, 1900 - 1965 and undated</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Sketches, 1905 - 1963 and undated</li></ul></li> <li>Series II: Writings, 1924 - 1967 and undated <ul> <li>Sub-series 1: Writings related to scores, 1924 - 1963 and undated</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Other writings, 1933 - 1967 and undated</li></ul></li> <li>Series III: Clippings and Concert Programs, 1909 - 1988 and undated <ul> <li>Sub-series 1: Clippings, 1909 - 1988 and undated</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Concert programs, 1928 - 1984</li></ul></li> <li>Series IV: Books, 1907 - 1953</li> <li>Series V: Oversized Materials, 1929 - 1946 and undated</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Joan Cominos Gruenberg, 1991 - 1999.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<ul> <li>Books and periodicals sent to Music Division <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Addresses on the Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield Foundation of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Volume Two.</span> New York: American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1951.</li> <li>Berlioz, Hector.<span class=\"title\"> Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17</span>. Leipzig: Ernst Eulenberug, 1900.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Batter Der Staatsoper</span>. 13 May 1921.</li> <li>Busoni, Ferruccio. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Arlecchino, Oder Die Fenster: Ein Theatralisches Capriccio</span>. Leipzig: Breitkopf and Härtel, 1900s.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Rondo Arlecchinesco for orchestra, Op. 46.</span> Leipzig, Breitkopf and Härtel, 1912.</li></ul></li> <li>d'Indy, Vincent.<span class=\"title\">Deuxième Symphonie, Op. 57</span>. Paris: Durand, 1904.</li> <li>National Institute of Arts and Letters. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">1950 American Academy of Arts and Letters</span>. New York: National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1950.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">1952 American Academy of Arts and Letters</span>. New York: National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1952.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">1963 American Academy of Arts and Letters</span>. New York: National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1963.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">1964 American Academy of Arts and Letters</span>. New York: National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1964.</li></ul></li> <li>Rolland, Romain. <span class=\"title\">Musiker von Ehedem.</span> Munich: Georg Müller, 1926.</li> <li>Werfel, Franz.<span class=\"title\">Giuseppe Verdi Briefe</span>. Berlin: Paul Zsolnay, 1926.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>Scores sent to Music Division <ul> <li>Bach, Johann Sebastian. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Orgel - Compositionen für Piano</span>. Edited by Franz Liszt.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Orgeltoccate D moll</span>. Edited by Ferruccio Busoni.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Sechs Tonstücke Klavier - übertragung</span>. Edited by Ferruccio Busoni.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">The Well - Tempered Clavichord</span>. Edited and annotated by Ferruccio Busoni.</li></ul></li> <li>Busoni, Ferruccio. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Concerto for Two Pianos.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Fantasie über Motive aus Der Barbier von Bagdad</span>.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Preludietto, Fughetta and Esercizio</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Preludio, Fuga and Fuga Figurata</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Sonatina.</span></li></ul></li> <li>Debussy, Claude. <span class=\"title\">Gigues.</span></li> <li>d'Indy, Vincent.<span class=\"title\">Istar,</span>Op. 42.</li> <li>Fried, Oskar. <span class=\"title\">Die Auswanderer.</span></li> <li>Gilbert, Henry. <span class=\"title\">Salammbo's Invocation to Tänith.</span></li> <li>Granados, E. <span class=\"title\">Goyescas.</span></li> <li>Joseffy, Rafael. <span class=\"title\">School of Advanced Piano Playing.</span></li> <li>Liszt, Franz. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">3 Caprices - Valses pour le piano.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">4 Fantaisies pour le piano.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Concerto in A major for Piano and orchestra</span>. Piano part.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Episode aus Lenau's Faust Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke</span>. Edited by Ferruccio Busoni.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Impromptu Brilliant,</span>Op. 3.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Polonaise No. 2 E Dur</span>. Edited by Ferruccio Busoni.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Marche Solennelle ver le Saint Graal.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Six Amusements pour le piano.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Valse a Capriccio</span>.</li></ul></li> <li>Moussorgsky, Modest. <span class=\"title\">Chanson de Mephistopheles.</span></li> <li>Rubinstein, Antoine. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Album De Danses Populaires des Different Nations pour le piano,</span>Op. 82.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Valse (Allemagne),</span>Op. 82, No. 5.</li></ul></li> <li>Saint - Saëns, Camille.<span class=\"title\">Concerto No. 5 for Piano and Orchestra,</span>Op. 103.</li> <li>Schoenberg, Arnold. <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">Herzgewächse,</span>Op. 20.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Klavierstück,</span>Op. 11, No. 2, edited by Ferruccio Busoni.</li></ul></li> <li>Schulz - Evler.<span class=\"title\">Arabesques sur des themes de J. Strauss</span>.</li> <li>Smetana, Bedrich. <span class=\"title\">Wedding Scenes.</span></li> <li>Straus, Richard.<span class=\"title\">Eine Alpensinfonie,</span>Op. 64.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>Sound Recordings sent to Rodgers and Hammerstein Recorded Sound Division <ul> <li>Gruenberg, Louis <ul> <li> <span class=\"title\">A Song of Faith</span>. Cassette tape. Tape notated \"Premiere performance: 1 November 1981.\" Audience recording of The Los Angeles Master Chorale and Sinfonia Orchestra. See also concert program in Series III, Sub - series 2, Box 13, Folder 10 for personnel.</li> <li> <span class=\"title\">Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano,</span>Op. 52. Cassette tape. Copy of unknown vinyl recording.</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- langmaterial_code
-
ger
eng
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"The Clippings and concert programs series contains some material in German"}
{"value"=>"English"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Matthew Snyder; Machine-readable finding aid created by Matthew Snyder.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
20.6 linear feet (16 boxes)
- date_start
-
1900
- date_end
-
1988