Scope and arrangement
The Calvin Hampton papers, dating from 1934 to 2020 (bulk dates 1956-2011), extensively chronicle the career of American organist, composer, and choirmaster of New York City's Calvary Episcopal Church, Calvin Hampton. The collection addresses Hampton's roles as an organist, composer, and performer, while also covering his larger involvement in the city's sacred music scene and membership in his parish. It contains subject files, correspondence, scores and sheet music, programs, news clippings, photographs, and audio and video recordings.
Original folder titles are maintained whenever possible.
The Calvin Hampton papers are arranged in five series:
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1938-2020
Series I contains extensive files related to Hampton's professional activities as an organist, choirmaster, and composer. Dating from 1938 to 2020, this series is arranged alphabetically by subject and largely contains correspondence, Hampton's notes, lists, forms, and writings. Along with Hampton's professional engagements, Series I offers insight into the sacred music scene of the 1960s through the 1980s. Some materials here concern Marcella Pambrun, Hampton's friend and colleague at Calvary Episcopal Church who oversaw his estate after his death.
While most files in the series contain correspondence, a separate, sustained group of correspondence is included as well. This correspondence is arranged first by date then by correspondent last name. Correspondence by date concerns logistics regarding Hampton's performances, commissioned works, and matters related to Calvary Church. Correspondence by last name is for Marcella Pambrun, and addresses both her own professional activities as well as Hampton's estate and legacy.
Elsewhere, the series holds files related to organ companies Hampton worked with and specific organs, including the American Guild of Organists, a new organ at Avery Fisher Hall, Berkshire Organ Company, Holtkamp Organ Company, and the organ at Calvary Church. There are files for eight of Hampton's commissioned projects, chiefly from the early 1980s; these files contain notes, forms, and brochures along with correspondence.
Other subject files are for professional organizations. There are materials for publishers, namely Concordia Publishing, MorningStar Music Publishers, Selah Publishing Company, and Wayne Leupold Editions, in addition to organizations such as The Church Hymnal Corporation and The Hymn Society of America.
The series contains files on specific compositions, notably Les Béatitudes, God Plays Hide and Seek, It Happened in Jerusalem, The Man Who Could Work Miracles, and Pictures at an Exhibition, along with a file for hymn tunes. These files largely contain correspondence and notes. Notated music for these works is located in Series II.
Drafts of Jonathan B. Hall's 2008 biography of Hampton, Calvin Hampton: A Musician Without Borders, are held in this series. Additional biographical materials for Hampton are present, including resumes and lists of works that were likely used for grant applications.
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1957-2011
Notated music for Hampton's works comprises this series, which dates from 1957 to 2011. The series holds full scores, parts, and sheet music for a variety of works composed, transcribed, or adapted by Hampton. Often, a work will contain both handwritten notation and photocopied versions. Some published sheet music is also present, specifically for choral works. Scores and sheet music occasionally feature Hampton's notes and edits. Series II is arranged alphabetically by instrumental setting, type of music, or subject.
Instrumental settings represented include choral, solo organ, organ with other instruments, other instruments (no organ), and solo voice. Hampton created different versions of a few works; each of these versions are listed with their corresponding instrumental setting. When necessary, settings are described for individual works.
Dozens of choral works are present, such as "Alpha and Omega," "Faithful Cross," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need," "O Lord, Support Us," and "We Plow the Fields." A number of choral works contain published sheet music versions alongside Hampton's original notation. A list of Hampton's choral works with additional information is ordered before the alphabetical listing.
Solo organ works are also numerous and include Concerto for Solo Organ, two improvisations Hampton wrote while he was a student, and his transcription of Cesar Franck's Symphony in D Minor. Works for organ with other instruments include The Alexander Variations, God Plays Hide and Seek, "Prelude for Easter Day," and Procession through a Black Hole.
Among works for other instruments, there are many copies of scores and parts for Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. Hampton's original manuscript score is present, along with photocopied parts and multiple edited versions by Chris DeBlasio and Allison Sniffin from the late 1980s and early 1990s. There is a full score for Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, Strings, and Percussion, sheet music for Catch-Up, and scores for two versions of Variations on "Amazing Grace." Works for solo voice include a few compositions from the 1960s, namely "The Magnificat," "Psalm 43," and "Song for the Last Act."
This series also contains scores and sheet music for Calvary Episcopal Church's annual Candlelight Carol services, hymns, masses, and larger works. The latter features commissioned pieces or music adapted for special events at Calvary and elsewhere during the early 1980s. Among Hampton's larger works are It Happened in Jerusalem and Live or Die, both of which are represented by full scores and parts.
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1946-2019
Series III holds press clippings, programs, newsletters, and press releases that chronicle Hampton's career from 1946 until his death in 1984. Some materials in this series date after Hampton's death; these mostly concern performances of his work, and the professional activities of Marcella Pambrun and Harry Huff. Taken together, the press and publicity materials present a nearly complete timeline of Hampton's professional appearances from the 1960s to his death. Series III is arranged chronologically into Newsletters, Press Releases, Programs, and Reviews and Articles.
The newsletters are chiefly for the Parish of Calvary, Holy Communion, and St. George's, highlighting upcoming events and recapping events from previous weeks. There are also newsletters prepared by Marcella Pambrun about Hampton (alternatively titled "Noteworthy about Calvin Hampton" or "Newsworthy about Calvin Hampton"). These date from both before and after Hampton's death.
Press releases largely date from the 1970s and highlight Hampton's recitals, performances, and appearances at Calvary Episcopal Church in his capacity as an organist and/or choirmaster. There are many press releases for Friday at Midnight concerts. Some correspondence accompanies the press releases.
Programs comprehensively chronicle Hampton's performances, both at Calvary Episcopal Church and elsewhere, including Friday at Midnight concerts, Candlelight Carol services, premieres of his large-scale compositions, festivals, and tribute shows. The earliest program, from 1946, commemorates Calvary's 100th anniversary. There is a program for Hampton's senior recital at Oberlin College, and early performances at Calvary and other churches during the mid-1960s.
The hundreds of reviews and articles touch on Hampton's performances, as well as events and services at Calvary. Profiles of Hampton are present, especially from the 1970s and 1980s. There are articles covering sacred music broadly, in addition to organ performance and construction. Reviews cover such highlights as the premiere of Prisms in 1965; Hampton's first midnight concerts; the 1977 premiere of Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, Strings, and Percussion; and the 1982 premiere of It Happened in Jerusalem. There are also several obituaries and commemorative articles of Hampton.
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1934-1990s
The Photographs series reflects both Hampton's professional and personal life. It dates from 1934 to the 1990s, with most items dating from the 1970s to the 1990s. Photographs are arranged alphabetically by topic, with unidentified photographs ordered at the beginning and a group of negatives ordered at the end.
A significant number of photographs depict events, services, and people at Calvary Episcopal Church and, more broadly, the Parish of Calvary, Holy Communion, and St. George's. Hampton is in many of these photographs, though some date from after his death. Other photographs show Hampton seated at keyboards, both organs and synthesizers; Hampton performing during the 1970s and 1980s; Hampton at gatherings and events outside of the parish, including music conferences; the Calvary Choir; and various organs that Hampton played.
There are many portraits of Hampton, both professional and informal, from the 1960s to the early 1980s. Also included in the series are photographs of Hampton's family and friends; most of these photographs are unlabeled, but appear to date from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Dozens of travel photographs are present in this series, showing Hampton alone and with friends. Most travel locations are not identified. Some travel photographs date from the 1990s, and feature Marcella Pambrun; a separate file of Pambrun photographs is present as well.
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1960-1999
This series contains nearly 300 audio recordings and five video recordings that mostly feature performances by Hampton or performances of his compositions by others. It is arranged into Performances and Services, and Demos and Studio. A list of tapes in the collection is held at the beginning of the series.
Recordings of performances and services are first arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by title for recordings whose exact dates are unknown; most of the latter items likely date from the 1970s and 1980s. The majority of performances are recitals, services, or Friday at Midnight concerts at Calvary Episcopal Church. Most feature either solo organ or organ with choir. Along with Hampton's own compositions, performances heavily feature works by Johann Sebastian Bach and César Franck, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s.
Notable recordings include Hampton's senior recitals at Oberlin College (1960) and Syracuse University (1963); a 1970 radio broadcast of Hampton performing Triple Play; the 1977 premiere of Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, Strings, and Percussion; Candlelight Carol services from 1979 to 1982; the 1980 premiere of Concerto for Organ and Strings; Calvary Choir's 1982 performance of Live or Die; Hampton's memorial service at Calvary; and the 1993 premiere of Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. Several performances of Olivier Messiaen's Ascension Suite and Nativity Suite are present, as are Easter masses at Calvary. Also of note are several recordings that feature Harry Huff conducting or performing Hampton's works. The five video recordings are from a 1979 Sunday concert at St. George's Church, and Hampton tribute galas from 1985, 1986, and 1988.
Demos and studio recordings are fewer. Arranged alphabetically by title, they consist of electronic parts and various instrumental accompaniments recorded for Hampton's compositions, such as "Alpha and Omega," God Plays Hide and Seek, and Procession through a Black Hole. Also present are percussion parts recorded for several pieces, and synthesizer sounds played by Hampton. Of special interest is a synthesizer improvisation from 1968. It is possible some of the studio recordings were released commercially, but none are identified as such.