- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"26.37", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"38 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"JPB 04-41", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20322", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1934-1982", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1934/1982"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1934
- date_inclusive_end
-
1982
- keydate
-
1934
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Thomas P. Brown 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"=>"Thomas Philip Brown was a saxophonist with his own orchestra in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He became a music copyist for Broadway musicals, copied music on order for the Samuel French Company, and produced a series of translated opera records under the label <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span> . The collection contains piano conductor scores and parts of musicals, orchestral pieces, sheet music, financial materials, and some correspondence."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Thomas P. Brown Papers, JPB 04-41. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Brown, Thomas P", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Thomas Philip Brown was a saxophonist with his own orchestra in the late 1930s and early 1940s. According to his publicity statement, Tom Brown was a graduate music student at the University of Wisconsin before he moved to San Francisco. In San Francisco he served as a staff artist at radio station KFRC and also as arranger for the Fox Theatre. The Tom Brown Orchestra, a well-received dance band, played several clubs in California including an extended booking at the Bal Tabarin in 1936. This was followed by another extended booking at Seattle’s Club Victor. The Orchestra also performed numerous radio shows. Tom Brown orchestrated much of his orchestra’s music. In 1939 Tom Brown performed at the Golden Gate International Exposition as a member of the Walt Roesner Orchestra.</p> <p>Over the years, Tom Brown composed and arranged his own music as well as that of others. In 1941 his <span class=\"title\">Solvejg Stomp</span> and <span class=\"title\">Swingin’ with Anitra</span>were published. In the same year, his arrangement of Rex Lipton and Meyer Grace’s <span class=\"title\">What I’d Be Without You</span> was published. In 1942 he signed a contract to orchestrate and record Bob Bryan and Frances Lewis’ <span class=\"title\">I’m Sincere</span> and in 1942 his arrangement of Walter P. Murphy’s <span class=\"title\">My Bugle Reverie</span>, was published. In 1949, G. Schirmer, Inc. published his <span class=\"title\">Piece for Four Clarinets</span>.</p> <p>Tom Brown eventually moved east and became a music copyist for Broadway and touring musicals. He worked on musicals ranging from 1960s <span class=\"title\">Mr. President</span> to 1980s <span class=\"title\">42nd Street</span>. With his company, Music Associates, Inc., Brown also orchestrated and copied music on order for the Samuel French Company. Brown also copied music for the recordings of <span class=\"title\">Carousel</span> in 1965; <span class=\"title\">42nd Street</span> in 1981; and <span class=\"title\">My Fair Lady</span> in 1976, as well as for the 1981 television production of <span class=\"title\">Camelot</span> starring Richard Harris.</p> <p>In the 1950s Music Associates, Inc. produced a series of translated opera records under the label <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span> as well as series of opera appreciation texts titled <span class=\"title\">Let’s Understand Opera!</span>.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Tom Brown papers consists of scores and parts of musicals as well as many orchestral pieces. Many of the musical pieces include financial materials and contracts. Several musical and orchestral pieces contain annotated published sheet music and librettos; there is also a separate series of sheet music. This published material provides insight into what music was utilized by Tom Brown’s Orchestra as well as what musicals were worked on by Tom Brown. There is also a small amount of personal materials and correspondence; most relates to specific projects.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Thomas P. Brown papers are arranged in seven series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566246'>Series I: Professional Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1934 - 1980</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series primarily contains materials related to Tom Brown’s professional life. Most of these materials are lists, guides, and catalogues related to his career as arranger and copyist. In addition, this series contains some financial materials that do not relate to other pieces within later series.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566275'>Series II: Musicals</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1954 - 1982</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>22 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains materials related to Broadway, off Broadway, touring, and recorded musical theatre. Materials include piano conductor scores and parts as well as librettos, correspondence and financial materials.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566458'>Series III: Orchestrations</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1941 - 1944</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>4 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains materials related to orchestrations and band music. Materials include scores and parts mostly in manuscript form as well as financial materials and correspondence. Many pieces appear to have been used by the Tom Brown Orchestra.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566574'>Series IV: Sheet Music</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1930 - 1944</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains published sheet music utilized by Tom Brown and Music Associates, Inc. Several pieces were composed by and/or arranged by Tom Brown.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566599'>Series V: Music Associates, Inc.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1955 - 1971</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>By the mid 1950s, Tom Brown had formed Music Associates, Inc. This appears to have been a company of music copyists with Brown as president. The company also produced several opera focused projects including <span class=\"title\">Let’s Understand Opera!</span> and <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span>.</p> <p>Most of this series concerns <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span>, a production of book and records of opera translated into English with the main aria’s left in their original language. This series contains recording scripts and notes from the ca. 1955 production of <span class=\"title\">I Pagliacci</span>. In addition, the series contains materials related to a 1970s attempt to interest the Silver Burdett Company in marketing the <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span> series. Materials include scripts, notes, correspondence, and publicity materials.</p> <p>See also Series VIII: Oversized-Sub-Series 3: Music Associates, Inc. Scrapbook, ca 1953.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566625'>Series VI: Scrapbook, 1936 - 1941; ca.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1953</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains two distinct scrapbooks. The first scrapbook includes materials related to Tom Brown’s early career as a saxophonist and bandleader of the Tom Brown Orchestra. These materials were gathered in a loose scrapbook and have been arranged according to subject. Included are correspondence, contracts, financial materials, sheet music, score manuscripts, photographs, and publicity materials.</p> <p>The second scrapbook contains materials related to Music Associates, Inc.’s marketing of the <span class=\"title\">Opera of the Month</span>. This series was advertised in popular magazines such as <span class=\"title\">Family Circle</span> and <span class=\"title\">Fortnight</span>. Many advertisements offered the series for purchase through Fisher’s Budgeteer Shopping Service while co-advertising it on advertisements for Fischer’s <span class=\"title\">Zoom</span> cereal. Materials include record labels, record slip case images, order forms, and publicity materials.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20322#c566691'>Series VII: Oversized Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1936 - 1976</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>7 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains three sub-series of materials related to Tom Brown’s professional career. The Musicals and Orchestrations sub-series directly correspond to the individual series described above. Materials consist primarily of scores and parts.</p> <p><span class=\"title\">The Fables of Shaesop/The Celestial Bed</span> sub-series contains text and some correspondence related to an unsuccessful ideal for a play.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p> <ul> <li>Series I: Professional Papers, 1934-1980</li> <li>Series II: Musicals, 1954-1982</li> <li>Series III: Orchestrations, 1941-1944</li> <li>Series IV: Sheet Music, 1930-1944</li> <li>Series V: Music Associates, Inc., 1955-1971</li> <li>Series VI: Scrapbooks, 1936-1941</li> <li>Series VII: Oversized Materials, 1936-1976 <ul> <li>Sub-series 1: Musicals, 1936-1976</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Orchestrations, ca. 1944</li> <li>Sub-series 3: <span class=\"title\">Fables of Shaesop/The Celestial Bed</span>, ca. 1965</li></ul></li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Whitney E. Berman; Machine-readable finding aid created by Whitney E. Berman.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
26.37 linear feet (38 boxes)
- date_start
-
1934
- date_end
-
1982