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Creator
Kupferman, Meyer, 1926-2003
Call number
JPB 03-01
Physical description
23.25 linear feet (85 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Meyer Kupferman papers, JPB 03-01. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Meyer Kupferman was a composer and professor of music. He was a prolific writer, penning several concertos, chamber and solo pieces, operas, ballets, symphonies. He taught at Sarah Lawrence College for over 40 years and was known as a composer of both jazz and 12-tone techniques.

Biographical/historical information

Meyer Kupferman was a composer and professor of music. He was a prolific writer of concertos, chamber and solo pieces, operas, ballets, and symphonies. He taught for over 40 years at Sarah Lawrence College. Stylistically his music included both jazz and 12-tone techniques.

Kupferman was born in New York City, on July 3rd, 1926, the first child of Elias and Fanny Kupferman. The family moved around frequently when he was young. At age five he began violin lessons, but did not show any musical inclination. However, by age ten he as exposed to the clarinet, an instrument that opened the world of music to him. He took lessons, taught himself to compose and play the piano and started to compose pieces and arrangements for friends. Kupferman was primarily self-taught, although he did take classes in theory and composition at the High School of Music and Art and Queens College.

In order to provide an avenue through which to perform his compositions, Kupferman founded the Composers Workshop. Several individuals who played with him in these early years, moved on to become composers in their own right.

In 1951, Meyer Kupferman was offered a professorship in both composition and chamber music at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. He taught there for 43 years and retired in 1993. During his time at the College, Kupferman conducted the orchestra and chorus, taught classes in music theory, and founded the Sarah Lawrence Improvisation Ensemble.

Kupferman received grants from the Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ford Foundation. He also received composition awards from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and ASCAP.

He married Pei Fen in 1973 (2nd marriage). They have one daughter, Lisa Pitt. He was also father to three stepsons: Fung Chin, Sung Chin and Yun Chin.

Meyer Kupferman died on November 26, 2003, in Rhinebeck, New York.

Sources:

Fabian, Valentine, Meyer Kupferman biography

Anderson, Martin, Obituary, financial Times Information, 2004

Kozinn, Allan, Meyer Kupferman, Composer In Many Forms, Is Dead at 77, New York Times, 2003 Dec 3

Scope and arrangement

The Meyer Kupferman Papers contain his professional papers and scores. The professional papers include awards, biographies and obituaries, clippings, correspondence, contracts, date books, financial material, grants, photographs, programs, resumes, royalty statements, lecture notes from courses taught at Sarah Lawrence College, and drafts of writings. They are arranged alphabetically. The scores are arranged in chronological order. They include almost all of his work beginning in 1946 and continuing through until 2002. Many are pencil sketches, although the majority are printed and published works. Some have accompanying notes.

The Meyer Kupferman papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Professional Papers
    1949-2003

    Series I consists of awards, biographies and obituaries, clippings, correspondence, contracts, date books, financial material, grants, photographs, programs, resumes, royalty statements, lecture notes from courses taught at Sarah Lawrence College, and drafts of writings by Kupferman.

    The material is arranged alphabetically. The contracts are concerned with recordings, concert performances (both as a performer and conductor), teaching and new commissions. The correspondence is related to professional performances and classes at Sarah Lawrence. Photographs are of Kupferman performing, conducting and teaching. His writings consist of articles for journals and scripts for his operas. The programs are of his performances, award ceremonies and concerts where his work was performed.

  • Series II: Scores
    1946-2002

    The scores are an almost complete run of his compositions beginning in 1946 and continuing through until 2002. Many are pencil sketches, although most are printed and published works. Some scores have accompanying notes. Of interest is a series of full-length concert works evolving from the same 12-tone row begun in 1962. These works are jazz-based compositions, and comprise a part of his Cycle of Infinities series. During the 1960s, Kupferman composed several film scores, that are also included here. The scores are arranged in chronological order.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Meyer Kupferman, 2000

Processing information

Compiled by L. Reyman.

Professional papers are arranged alphabetically. Scores are arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Meyer Kupferman Faculty File. Sarah Lawrence College Archives.

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts