{"value"=>"<p>This series documents the careers of the Ajemian sisters, both as a duo and as solo artists. It holds annotated scores of works performed or recorded by the Ajemians or the Composers String Quartet; letters to the sisters and the Avakian family from Alan Hovhaness, Ernst Krenek, Lou Harrison, John Cage, and Edgard Varèse; scrapbooks; performance-related files; and other topical files.</p> <p>The scores hold pieces that in many cases were premiered or recorded by the Ajemians, and often contain performance notes. Consisting of both published editions and manuscript copies, they include works by Elliott Carter, Henry Cowell, Mario Davidovsky, David Del Tredici, George Edwards, Gene Gutchë, Lou Harrison, Alan Hovhaness, Ben Johnston, Toshiro Mayuzumi, Mel Powell, Wallingford Reigger, Ottorino Respighi, Dane Rudhyar, Gunther Schuller, Seymour Shifrin, Carlos Surinach, Ben Weber, Anton Webern, Henry Weinberg, and Charles Whittenberg.. They are arranged alphabetically by composer. The music by Hovhaness includes <span class=\"title\">Suite for Violin, Piano, and Percussion</span>; <span class=\"title\">Three Visions of Saint Mesrop</span>; <span class=\"title\">Shatakh</span>; <span class=\"title\">Arshalouis</span>; and<span class=\"title\"> Concerto No. 2 for Violin and String Orchestra</span> (violin part only). The score for Reigger's <span class=\"title\">Sonatina for Violin and Piano</span> was used for the Ajemians' recording of the piece, and is autographed by Riegger. The score for Rudhyar's <span class=\"title\">Three Poems</span> contains 1993 correspondence between Anahid Ajemian and Maureen Nevins discussing the piece. Scores performed by the Composers String Quartet includes four of Carter's string quartets, and quartets by Mayazumi, Powell, Respighi, Weinberg, and Whittenberg.</p> <p>Letters from Alan Hovhaness, Lou Harrison, and Ernst Krenek are filed under their names. All other letters, including those from John Cage and Edgard Varèse, are filed separately under letters. The letters from Alan Hovhaness to Maro Ajemian are substantial, dating from 1940 to 1950. They also contain 1991 letters from George Avakian describing the pivotal roles played by the Ajemian sisters and Dr. Elizabeth Gregory in the early stages of Hovhaness's career.</p> <p>The performance-related files hold programs, contracts, clippings, photographs and publicity flyers regarding concert appearances by both Ajemians dating from 1944 to 1983.</p> <p>Files for the Composers String Quartet document its history through clippings, programs, press releases, and correspondence. Also present are files on the quartet's recordings of music by Elliott Carter and Henry Cowell, and files regarding international tours by the quartet. Files for tours sponsored by the State Department contain final reports submitted to the government.</p> <p>Other files in this series hold biographies of the Ajemians and the Composers String Quartet; clippings; programs; handbills; publicity material; and a scrapbook of clippings and programs regarding Maro Ajemian's early performances. They also evidence George Avakian's efforts to persuade the U.S. State Department to arrange a 1960 performance by Maro Ajemian in Moscow featuring the music of Aram Khachaturian (filed under Khachaturian); recordings by both Ajemians for CBS and RCA Records (filed under the respective companies); performances and tours of the Composers String Quartet from 1972 to 1983; the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America's honoring of Anahid Ajemian; remembrances of Maro Ajemian; and the scholarship established in her name at the Juilliard School.</p> <p>See also Alan Hovhaness, Lou Harrison, John Cage, and William Masselos in subseries I.A. Series III, Photographs, contains many images of the Ajemians and the Composers String Quartet.</p>"}