Series I: Compositions

id
114062
level (num)
1
level (text)
series
identifier (local_mss)
430820
max depth
3
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created
2013-04-24 21:26:40 UTC
updated
2025-12-19 21:31:36 UTC

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unitid
{"value"=>"430820", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1944-2006", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1944/2006"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Series I: Compositions"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"33 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"10.08 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>This series contains scores, sketches, sketchbooks, notes and computer code printout for Randall's compositions. Although he wrote for a variety of instrumental settings including chamber groups, brass and woodwind quintets, string quartets, and solo instruments, Randall remains best known for his pioneering work with computer sound synthesis and composition. Works for computer realization (or that have a component of computer realization) date from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. For these pieces, Randall regarded the computer coding (using either the Music IV or Fortran languages) to be more accurate representations of the music than sound recordings made at the time of creation. Folder contents for these compositions can include preliminary written notes and sketches, followed by code printout, but in some cases only code printout exists.</p> <p>The composition with the most documentation is <span class=\"title\">Lyric Variations for Violin and Computer</span> (1965-1968). The piece contains 20 variations, and there are written sketches and final scores for the violin part, preliminary notes and sketches for the computer component, and extensive code printout. Randall made multiple attempts at achieving the sound he wanted, and several different code printouts exist for each variation. Randall's notes in pen on the first page of printout usually designate the variation in question. The first few lines of code also provide clues to identification, as they list Randall as author and have a field for title. Randall also wrote titles in ink along the stacked sides of the printout.</p> <p>Another piece for computer with extensive code printout is <span class=\"title\">Eakins</span> (1965), which was composed for a film about the artist Thomas Eakins. Other works for computer include <span class=\"title\">Bell</span> (1966), <span class=\"title\">Bessel3</span> (1973), <span class=\"title\">Chanrev1</span> (1968), <span class=\"title\">Connect</span> (1965), <span class=\"title\">Horsehigh</span> (1971), <span class=\"title\">Oddrev1</span> (1968), and <span class=\"title\">Prelude 1A</span> and <span class=\"title\">2A</span> (1965). Many of these have only code printout.</p> <p>Five pieces for computer composed in 1965 are labeled as having been recorded on \"Tanglewood tape 7/65.\" The five are <span class=\"title\">Connect</span>, <span class=\"title\">Prelude 1A</span> and <span class=\"title\">2A</span>, <span class=\"title\">Section</span>, and <span class=\"title\">Toronto1</span>.</p> <p>Randall's works for acoustic instruments and/or voice date from his student days to the early 2000s. Earlier pieces include <span class=\"title\">Piano Sonata</span> (1944-1946), <span class=\"title\">Suite for Piano</span> (1953), <span class=\"title\">Rodeo for Solo Violin</span> (1951), <span class=\"title\">Dance for Woodwind Quintet</span> (1953), <span class=\"title\">Quartet</span> (for woodwinds, 1953), <span class=\"title\">Choral Pieces</span> (1955-1956), <span class=\"title\">Fugues</span> (1955-1956), and <span class=\"title\">Five Monologues for Cello</span> (1955).</p> <p>After his computer work of the early 1970s, Randall spent several years on the Troubador Project (1977-1980). These are collections of traditional European songs, but they also contain his adaptations of them for voice. His piano/keyboard works include <span class=\"title\">…such words as it were vain to close…</span> (1977); the <span class=\"title\">GAP</span> series (1993-2002), a set of eight pieces, published separately or in small collections; and <span class=\"title\">9 Salon Pieces for Yamaha DX-100</span> (1996). His later compositions used unusual instrumental combinations: <span class=\"title\">Svejk</span> (1995-1996) is for violin and marimba; and <span class=\"title\">Shouldn't We Talk</span> (2002-2003) is for baritone saxophone, drums and percussion.</p> <p>Randall's sketchbooks span his career from the late 1950s to 2006 (there are no books from the 1980s). They appear at the end of the series and often contain preliminary work on compositions found elsewhere in the series. They were stored in binders and some have dividers with titles. Three untitled/unidentified pieces also appear at the end of the series.</p> <p>There is one piece in the series not composed by Randall. This is <span class=\"title\">Genwot Spectray</span> by Hubert S. Howe (1965), written for computer.</p>"}
date_start
1944
keydate
1944
date_end
2006
date_inclusive_start
1944
date_inclusive_end
2006
extent_statement
10.08 linear feet (33 boxes)

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  1. 3 for Piano
  2. 9 Salon Pieces for Yamaha DX-100
  3. 16.17
  4. V
  5. VI
  6. VII. Quartets in Pairs [3/1]
  7. AA
  8. Academic Fugue
  9. Ars Antiqua
  10. At the Still Point of the Turning World
  11. Bell
  12. Benfest
  13. Bessel3
  14. Cartoon
  15. Chanrev1
  16. Choral Pieces
  17. Connect
  18. Dance for Woodwind Quintet
  19. Eakins [3/1]
  20. Fancy Instr
  21. From My Diary: A Meditation on Rossignol
  22. Fugues
  23. Five Monologues
  24. GAP [11/2]
  25. Genwot Spectra by Hubert S. Howe
  26. Ghost Trio
  27. Godfrey's Fortran for 360
  28. Greek Nickel
  29. Horsehigh
  30. Improvisation on a Poem by E.E. Cummings [2/2]
  31. Lyric Piece for Violin and Piano
  32. Lyric Variations for Violin and Computer [5/2]
  33. Mono 20,000
  34. Mudgett: Monologues by a Mass Murderer [3/1]
  35. Music for Brass Sextet
  36. Oddrev1
  37. Old Song
  38. Piano Sonata
  39. Pitch-Derived Rhythm: Five Demonstrations [2/1]
  40. Prelude 1A
  41. Prelude 2A
  42. QBlock VS
  43. Quartersines
  44. Quartet
  45. Revelstoke
  46. Rand-Reson
  47. Rodeo for Solo Violin
  48. Section
  49. Shorglis
  50. Shouldn't We Talk [6/1]
  51. Showcase
  52. Six Duets
  53. Slow Movement for Piano
  54. Solo Cello
  55. Soundscroll
  56. Speculations
  57. Square1
  58. Square2
  59. String Trio
  60. …such words as it were vain to close… [2/1]
  61. Suite for Piano and Piano Sonata
  62. Suite for Piano
  63. Svejk [5/1]
  64. SYSA
  65. Theme and Variations
  66. Three Songs
  67. To You
  68. Tonvib
  69. Toronto1
  70. Toronto2
  71. Trev
  72. Troubador Project [2/1]
  73. Variations for Cello and Piano
  74. Vercoe Instr.
  75. Violin Sonata
  76. Violin and Viola
  77. A Wandering Theme with Ten Variations
  78. Woodwind Quintet in Three Movements
  79. Untitled Piece for Piano
  80. Untitled Piece
  81. Unidentified Piece for Computer
  82. Sketchbooks [5/1]