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Creator
Nicholl, H. W. (Horace Wadham), 1848-1922
Call number
JPB 04-22
Physical description
1.2 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language
The Clippings, promotional material and articles series contains some material in German; English
Preferred Citation

The Horace Wadham Nicholl Papers, JPB 04-22. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The British composer, organist and writer Horace Wadham Nicholl, a devotee of Wagner and Liszt, was well known and respected during his lifetime. His papers consist of scrapbooks, press clippings, concert programs, promotional material, articles he wrote, and scores.

Biographical/historical information

Horace Wadham Nicholl (b Tipton, England, 17 March 1848; d New York City, 10 March 1922), an English organist and composer, was taught music by his father and Samuel Prince. He spent his early career (1867 - 1870) as an organist in England before moving to Pittsburgh to be organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. In 1878 he moved to New York, where he worked at various churches in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and where he lived for the rest of his life. Nicholl was an active writer on music as well as a composer, and his articles and letters frequently appeared in American Musician and Musical Courier; he also was an editor at Schuberth and Schirmer and wrote music textbooks. Highly regarded as a composer in his day, Nicholl was a devotee of Wagner and his compositions reflected the influence of Wagner and Liszt. His compositions include works for organ, voice, choirs, piano, chamber groups and orchestras, as well as one of the first cello sonatas known to be composed in the United States

Sources:

Maitland, J.A. Fuller and Christopher Kent. “Nicholl, Horace (Wadham)”, Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 7 Dec. 2004),

Scope and arrangement

The Horace Wadham Nicholl Papers document the career of the composer from 1872 to 1902, mainly through newspaper and magazine clippings, but also through concert programs, some promotional material, and the complete parts to one of his symphonies. This time period encompasses Nicholl’s career in Pittsburgh and his early years in New York, a time when Nicholl was simultaneously establishing himself as an organist, a composer, and an author of analytical and general music articles. Concert programs, press reviews, promotional material and general clippings illustrate his musical activities, while Nicholl’s articles in the music press document his writing career.

The Horace Wadham Nicholl papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Clippings, Promotional Material and Articles
    1872 - 1902, undated
    1 box 11 folders

    This series provides a detailed documentation of Nicholl’s career, mainly through newspaper clippings, but also through concert programs and articles Nicholl authored. The material is in two sub-series: scrapbooks and other material. Nicholl assembled the two scrapbooks; the material in the second sub-series was not found in any order.

  • Series II: Scores, ca.
    1882
    1 box 21 folders

    This series consists of the parts for Nicholl’s Second Symphony for Grand Orchestra in C minor and major, Op. 12.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Mrs. Horace Wadham Nicholl, May 1922.

Processing information

Processed by Matthew Snyder; Machine-readable finding aid created by Matthew Snyder.

Separated material

  • Scores in Music Division
    • Life: Symphonic Poem for organ solo, Op. 50: thematic analysis, ca. 1900

      Call No. JPB 85-37. Signed holograph, in ink and pencil.

    • Musical jottings, motives, etc., undated

      Call No. JPB 98-20. Sketches. 12 pages of music manuscript.

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.