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Creator
Schillinger, Joseph, 1895-1943
Call number
*L (Special) 89-16
Physical description
259 sound recordings
Preferred Citation

Joseph Schillinger Collection, *L(Special) 89.16, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

These noncommercial acetate disc recordings were collected by Schillinger, and in many instances recorded by him as well. Works by Schillinger in the collection include many of his piano compositions and improvisations. Other composers prominently represented include Will Bradley, Carmine Coppola, Henry Cowell, Clarence Cox, Rosalino De Maria, Belle Fenstock, Edwin Gerschefski, George Gershwin, Lyn Murray, and Lazar Weiner.

Biographical/historical information

Joseph Schillinger (1895-1943) was a Russian born, American music theorist and composer.

He studied design, music, mathematics, physics, drama, art, dance, history, language, and electrical engineering, as well as four years of classical music studies and composition at the University of St. Petersburg. Upon graduation, he was appointed professor of music at the Kharkov Institute of Music. He also served as professor of the history of the arts at St. Petersburg and organized the first jazz band in Russia.

He came to America in 1928, and became a naturalized citizen in 1936. Schillinger taught music, mathematics, art history, and his own system of strict mathematical composition at the New School for Social Research, at New York University and also at Columbia University Teacher's College.

Among his many students were: Tommy Dorsey, Vernon Duke, George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, and Oscar Levant.

His master text is the posthumously published, The Schillinger System of Musical Composition

Scope and arrangement

These noncommercial acetate disc recordings were collected by Schillinger, and in many instances recorded by him as well. Works by Schillinger in the collection include many of his piano compositions and improvisations. Other composers prominently represented include Will Bradley, Carmine Coppola, Henry Cowell, Clarence Cox, Rosalino De Maria, Belle Fenstock, Edwin Gerschefski, George Gershwin, Oscar Levant, Lyn Murray, and Lazar Weiner.

The Joseph Schillinger collection of noncommercial recordings are arranged in three series:

  • Series I: Schillinger works,.
    1938-1941

    The series includes works by Joseph Schillinger. If a recording includes works by Schillinger as well as the works of other composers, it will be found in this series. Therefore, it is possible to find works by composers other than Schillinger in this series. Most items in this series are not attributed to any specific date. Among those recordings which were dated, the date span is 1938-1941.

  • Series II: Works by other composers,.
    1937-1942

    The series includes recordings of works by composers other than Joseph Schillinger. It is also necessary to look in Series I: Schillinger works for works by other composers. Many items in this series have not been attributed to any specific date. Among those items which have been dated, the date span is 1937-1942.

  • Series III: Other material A-Z,.
    1937-1951

    The series contains items which are not Schillinger works, and which cannot be attributed to other specific composers. It includes many radio broadcasts consisting of varying items. Not all items in this series have been attributed to any specific date. Among those which have been dated, the date span of the series is 1937-1951.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The collection was donated to the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts by Schillinger's widow, Frances Schillinger. The sound recordings were separated from the collection, and deposited at The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Source of acquisition

Schillinger, Mrs. Joseph, 1971

Processing information

Processed by Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound staff and Peggy Schein.

Using the collection

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
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 Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.

Access restrictions

Access to original items is restricted.