Scope and arrangement
The Louise Homer collection of vocal scores represents a sampling of the roles the contralto sang on stage. Some of the scores appear to have been used for pedagogical purposes, a role Homer took on after her retirement from the operatic stage in 1929.
The value in these scores lies in the markings and annotations. At the very least, these markings indicate places for the singer to breath and phrase. In some cases (such as the Lohengrin score), Homer has pencilled in alternative notes so as to avoid the high tessiture of Ortrud's part. In several cases such as the French edition of Il Trovatore, Homer takes great pains to indicate movement, sometimes annotating each phrase of the music with descriptions of blocking.
These scores provide an unusual view into the artistry of one of the most noted American contraltos of the early part of the twentieth century.
Arrangement
Scores are arranged alphabetically by composer and title.