Deems Taylor Collection of Broadcast Recordings, *L(Special) 89.38, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
The collection contains acetate and radio transcription disc recordings primarily of Taylor's spoken word radio programs dating from 1935 to 1954. Included are samples of his work on shows such as Information Please, Coronet, Swift's Studio Party, as well as special radio shows such as the ASCAP Cavalcade of Music, and memorial tributes to Stephen Vincent Benet and Jerome Kern.
Deems Taylor was an American composer, author, and music critic.
Born in New York in 1885, Taylor studied music theory with Oscar Coon. After various jobs in publishing and journalism, he became music critic for the New York World (1921-1925), editor of Musical America (1927-1929), and music critic for the New York American (1931-1932). He served as director and then president (1942-1948) of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Taylor worked in radio as a musical advisor and commentator, and published collections of his radio talks in 1937, 1940, and 1949. He composed a number of works for large ensembles, including the opera, The King's Henchman and Peter Ibbetson, both commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera.
He died in 1966.
The collection contains acetate and radio transcription disc recordings primarily of Taylor's spoken word radio programs dating from 1935 to 1954.
Included are samples of his work on shows such as Information Please, Coronet, Swift's Studio Party, as well as special radio shows such as the ASCAP Cavalcade of Music, and memorial tributes to Stephen Vincent Benet and Jerome Kern.
Gift of Joan Kennedy Taylor; 1971.
Processed by Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound staff.
For permission to publish, contact the Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
Access to acetate discs restricted.