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Music, Opera Librettos

Collection Creator:
Cornell, Joseph  Search this
Container:
Box 16, Folder 10
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1920s
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the original papers requires an appointment.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Joseph Cornell papers, 1804-1986, bulk 1939-1972. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Joseph Cornell papers
Joseph Cornell papers / Series 4: Source Material / 4.3: Subject Source Files
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9895f34e7-0f0f-4510-8bbf-2937177c1fd0
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-cornjose-ref901

Behind the Scenes of 'Mỹ Lai' by Kronos Quartet, Rinde Eckert, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ

Creator:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
YouTube Videos
Uploaded:
2022-05-12T16:18:47.000Z
YouTube Category:
Music  Search this
Topic:
Cultural property  Search this
See more by:
smithsonianfolkways
Data Source:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
YouTube Channel:
smithsonianfolkways
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:yt_Flj7eoXdSzE

Kronos Quartet, Rinde Eckert, Vân Ánh Vanessa Võ - Third Landing: Fishing (Excerpt) (Official Audio)

Creator:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
YouTube Videos
Uploaded:
2022-04-21T15:43:21.000Z
YouTube Category:
Music  Search this
Topic:
Cultural property  Search this
See more by:
smithsonianfolkways
Data Source:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
YouTube Channel:
smithsonianfolkways
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:yt_NitrN50_Gi8

Kronos Quartet, Rinde Eckert, Vân Ánh Vanessa Võ - First Landing: Descent (Excerpt) Official Audio

Creator:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
YouTube Videos
Uploaded:
2022-03-16T15:00:17.000Z
YouTube Category:
Music  Search this
Topic:
Cultural property  Search this
See more by:
smithsonianfolkways
Data Source:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
YouTube Channel:
smithsonianfolkways
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:yt_f6V_YqFSg4k

Breakdown

Artist:
Simone Leigh, born Chicago, IL 1968  Search this
Liz Magic Laser, born New York City 1981  Search this
Medium:
single-channel digital video, color, sound; 09:00 minutes
Type:
Media Arts
Date:
2011
Credit Line:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Samuel and Blanche Koffler Acquisition Fund
Copyright:
© 2011, Simone Leigh & Liz Magic Laser
Object number:
2019.33.2
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department:
Time-Based Media Art
Data Source:
Smithsonian American Art Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7c51029d7-066c-4351-9c92-58f8625d37b6
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:saam_2019.33.2

The Devil and Daniel Webster; folk opera in one act

Performer:
Moore, Douglas, 1893-1969  Search this
Creator:
Luening, Otto, 1900-1996  Search this
Collection Creator:
Asch, Moses  Search this
Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this
Folkways Records  Search this
Extent:
1 Phonograph record (analog, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.)
Type:
Archival materials
Phonograph records
Date:
195x
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-3045

Westminster.11032
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Westminster 195x
General:
Program notes by Otto Luening on container; libretto (12 p.) laid in container. Performer(s): Doris Young, soprano; Frederick Weidner, tenor; Lawrence Winters, baritone; Joe Blankenship, bass; James de Groat, speaker; with other soloists; The Festival Chorus and Orchestra; Armando Aliberti, conductor.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Topic:
Music  Search this
Collection Citation:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-LP-3045
See more items in:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection
Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / LP
Archival Repository:
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5b7f6cea5-39dd-4761-9695-a9dd508af803
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref17594

The Literary Corner: Introduction to African American Poetry with Eugene Redmond—Part I (side A) / Introduction to African American Poetry with Eugene Redmond—Part II (side B)

Title:
Cassette tape with two episodes of the Literary Corner radio program
Created by:
Brooks B. Robinson Ph.D., American  Search this
Interview of:
Eugene B. Redmond, American, born 1937  Search this
Subject of:
Phillis Wheatley Peters, American, ca. 1753 - 1784  Search this
Paul Laurence Dunbar, American, 1872 - 1906  Search this
James Weldon Johnson, American, 1871 - 1938  Search this
Gwendolyn Brooks, American, 1917 - 2000  Search this
Directed by:
Robert Cham  Search this
Medium:
plastic and tape
Dimensions:
H x W (audiocassette): 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 00:14:19
Duration (side b): 00:14:50
Type:
audiotapes
Place made:
United States, North and Central America
Place depicted:
Harlem, New York, New York, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1978
Topic:
African American  Search this
Literature  Search this
Poetry  Search this
Radio  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Contributed in memory of Professor Sarah Webster Fabio (1928-1979), poet, educator, Black Arts Movement icon, and one of the Literary Corner's analysts.
Object number:
2010.17.1.6a
Restrictions & Rights:
© Brooks B. Robinson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Portfolio/Series:
The Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World
Classification:
Media Arts-Audio Recordings
Movement:
Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement)
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e3a5e0e5-d806-4870-aea2-cf73f544fa2e
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2010.17.1.6a
1 Page(s) matching your search term, top most relevant are shown: View entire project in transcription center
  • View <I>The Literary Corner: Introduction to African American Poetry with Eugene Redmond—Part I (side A) / Introduction to African American Poetry with Eugene Redmond—Part II (side B)</I> digital asset number 1
Online Media:

"Hiawatha: the Indian Passion Play" performance photographs

Creator:
Moore, F. E. (Frank E.)  Search this
Names:
Cornplanter, Jesse J.  Search this
Extent:
98 Photographic prints
18 Copy negatives
Culture:
Seneca [Cattaraugus]  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographic prints
Copy negatives
Place:
Cattaraugus (N.Y.)
Date:
1906
Summary:
This collection include souvenir photographs shot by producer Frank E. Moore of his 1906 outdoor stage production of "Hiawatha: The Indian Passion Play" based on Longfellow's epic poem The Song of Hiawatha. This production of Hiawatha was performed near the Cattaraugus Reservation, New York, and included Seneca [Cattaraugus] performers, possibly with Jesse Cornplanter in the role of Hiawatha.
Scope and Contents:
This collection includes 98 photographic prints from a souvenir book of a 1906 performance of "The Song of Hiawatha" produced by Frank E. Moore. The performance was held on the shore of Lake Chautauqua near the Cattaraugus Reservation. It is very likely that several of the performers photographed in this collection were also a part of the 1913 film production of Hiawatha, also produced by Frank E. Moore. This includes Jesse Cornplanter, in the role of Hiawatha, and his father Edward Cornplanter. The photographs show scenes from the theatrical production featuring characters such as Hiawatha, Minnehaha, Nokomis, and Pau-Puk-keewis. 18 copy negatives were later made from the photographic prints.
Prints: P04612-P04709; Copy Negatives: N35315-N35332
Arrangement:
Arranged by catalog number.
"Song of Hiawatha":
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow first published the epic poem, Song of Hiawatha, in 1855. By 1900, the poem had been translated into 20 different European languages as well as back into the Ojibwe language at the turn of the century ushering in a "Hiawatha Revival" that captured American Imaginations. In 1901, Louis Oliver Armstrong, an amateur ethnologist and land agent for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, wrote a new libretto from the Longfellow poem in English and Ojibwe which was first prepared with Garden River Anishinaabeg community members as actors. His performances, or "Pageants," became regular events which led to additional versions and tours around the United States. Not long after Armstrong discontinued his show in 1905, Frank E. Moore created his own version. Originally from Middletown, Ohio, Moore gathered a large cast of Native performers from various tribal communities including many actors from the Seneca Nation on the Cattaraugus Reservation. Moore continued the tradition of large outdoor pageant performances of "Hiawatha" which were performed along a body of water and featured Native actors performing traditional dances and wearing "Native" costumes alongside narration of Longfellow's poem.

In 1913 Frank E. Moore produced the stage version of Hiawatha into a film, hiring Jesse Cornplanter (Seneca) to play Hiawatha. Jesse Cornplanter had previously accompanied his father, Edward Cornplanter, acting and singing in the Hiawatha pageant on tour through the United States and Europe. "Hiawatha" was shot in upstate New York and northern Michigan by Moore and was the first feature film to use an all-Native cast, with reportedly 150 actors from the Cattaraugus Reservation. A twenty-eight-minute cut is housed in the American Film Institute's collection in the Library of Congress.

Sources:

McNally, Michael D. "The Indian Passion Play: Contesting the Real Indian in "Song of Hiawatha" Pageants, 1901-1965," American Quarterly Vol. 58, No. 1 (March 2006), pp. 105-136.

Evans, Katy Young. "The People's Pageant: The Stage as Native Space in Anishinaabe Dramatic Interpretations of "Hiawatha"," Melus Vol. 41, No. 2 (Summer 2016), pp. 124-146.
Related Materials:
Library of Congress, Lot 8218, "Scenes from theatrical production of Hiawatha, Lake Chautauqua, New York."
Provenance:
Gift of Reginald P. Bolton, 1918.
Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archives Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not modified in any way, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use and NMAI Archive Center's Digital Image request website.
Topic:
Theatrical productions  Search this
Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); "Hiawatha: the Indian Passion Play" performance photographs, image #, NMAI.AC.162; National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NMAI.AC.162
See more items in:
"Hiawatha: the Indian Passion Play" performance photographs
Archival Repository:
National Museum of the American Indian
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv40a276800-0d72-4e32-835e-10800737ef82
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmai-ac-162
Online Media:

Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Plays

Creator:
Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969  Search this
Extent:
10.92 Cubic feet (consisting of 23 boxes, 2 folders, 2 oversize folders, 1 flat box, plus digital images of some collection material. )
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Business ephemera
Ephemera
Date:
1708-1938
Summary:
A New York bookseller, Warshaw assembled this collection over nearly fifty years. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana: Plays forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subseries 1.1: Subject Categories. The Subject Categories subseries is divided into 470 subject categories based on those created by Mr. Warshaw. These subject categories include topical subjects, types or forms of material, people, organizations, historical events, and other categories. An overview to the entire Warshaw collection is available here: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
Scope and Contents note:
Man has performed for his fellow man since the dawn of time. Whether it be the story of the hunt, part of religious worship or an evening of drama or music the art of performing has been part of human existence for countless ages.

The "Plays" section of the Warshaw Collection consists of various types of materials relating to plays, operas and their production. The material is especially strong in providing actual copies of plays and operas, 1708-1924. This portion of the collection is divided into eight series:

Subseries 1: Plays, 1708-1918 & undated; contains copies of the scripts and is arranged alphabetically by title. Dates given are either copyright/publication dates or dates when first performed whichever is earlier.

Subseries 2: French Language Plays, OperasS, 1821-1924; contains a variety of plays and operas written in French and is arranged alphabetically by title. Dates given are either copyright dates or dates when first performed whichever is earlier.

Subseries 3: Operas, ca. 1800-1911 & undated.; contains librettos and scores for the operas listed and is arranged alphabetically by composer. The folders may contain either scores, librettos or programs.

Subseries 4: Prompt Books, 1779-1895 & undated.; contains prompt books used by prompters and stage managers in the production of a play. The prompt books contain notes made by the stage manager relevant to the staging of the work and in some cases there are scenery plots included as well. The series is arranged alphabetically by the play title.

Subseries 5: Related Theatre Publications, 1877-1925 & undated.; contains a variety of materials relating to acting, recitation and production. The series is arranged chronologically.

Subseries 6: Catalogues, 1904-1935 & undated; contains a range of catalogues from various publishing houses advertising the works licensed by them. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Subseries 7: Arthur W. Tams Music Libray, Inc. Corporate Records, 1892-1938; Arthur W. Tams, Inc. began business in approximately 1870 as a music, and later musical play, licensing and rental house. The Tams company reportedly controlled the largest collection of cantatas, oratorios and masses as well as the works of John Philip Sousa and Franz Lehar. Earlier located at 1600 Broadway between 48th and 49th streets, Tams re-located in 1916 to 1650 Broadway. Tams moved to their new, custom-built office building, 318-320 West 46th St. NYC, in July, 1921. There is a substantial amount of correspondence and construction contracts concerning the construction of these offices and their layout and finishes. Most of the correspondence from the Arthur Tams Company in this collection concerns matters relating to copyright. Sargent Aborn, one time secretary and general manager of Tams was a Mason. In 1925, Tams merged with the Witmark Music Library and formed Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. The Witmark company controlled the works of Victor Herbert, Reginald DeKoven and others. With this merger the company controlled the largest collection of printed and manuscript music then in existence. The merger proved wildly successful and the Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. is still in business, located at 560 Lexington Ave., New York, NY. Subseries 7 includes correspondence, financial records, catalogues, costume plots, property plots, advertising, blank letterhead and costume contracts, unidentified photographs and a stamped vocal score.

Subseries 8: Advertising and Programs, 1880-1911 & undated.; Series 8 contains general advertising for plays, licensing houses and instructional texts. This series also contains programs from several tours performed by Sarah Bernhardt in the United States. There is also an appreciation of the actor Charles Young, an early 19th century tragic actor.
Materials in the Archives Center:
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms Part Of:
Forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana.

Missing Title

Series 1: Business Ephemera

Series 2: Other Collection Divisions

Series 3: Isadore Warshaw Personal Papers

Series 4: Photographic Reference Material
Provenance:
Plays is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form:
Business ephemera
Ephemera
Citation:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Plays, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Plays
See more items in:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Plays
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep84c2ede64-86b1-42e8-b6e2-433a4675cc56
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0060-s01-01-plays
Online Media:

Music Manuscripts

Collection Donor:
Riva, Julia  Search this
Jones, Jophe  Search this
Collection Composer:
Warren, Harry, 1893-1981  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1928-1987
Scope and Contents:
Series 1: Music Manuscripts, 1928-1987

The music in Series 1 is arranged into five sub-series: Sub-series 1.1: Original Holographic Theatre and Motion Picture Music Manuscripts, 1930-1960, Sub-series 1.2: Bound Presentation Scores, 1931-1982, Sub-series 1.3: Original Individual Song Manuscripts, 1938-1965, Sub-series 1.4: Published Sheet Music, 1930-1980 and Sub-series 1.5: Published Songs, Instrumentals and Song Collections, 1928-1987. All material is arranged alphabetically by show, film or song title.

Sub-series 1.1 contain Warren's original holographic music manuscripts for each show or motion picture. Folders will not necessarily contain a complete score for each production. It is possible that some material was retained by the motion picture studios where Warren worked. Of particular interest are a number of folders containing untitled music sketches where it is possible to identify tune fragments that may have been used in later compositions. Subseries 1.2 contains bound presentation scores. There are four complete scores, from main titles to end credits, for Yolanda and the Thief, The Harvey Girls and two copies of the score for Summer Holiday. As well as the work of Warren, these scores include the work of the studio arrangers and orchestrators who worked on the picture, in the case of these three MGM productions, Conrad Salinger. Other scores are gifts from other fellow composers or for two of Warren's Broadway shows and one un-produced film. Some of the scores include the libretto as well as the music.

Subseries 1.3 contain original music manuscripts for individual songs. These manuscripts include vellum and paper song sheets. Files are listed according to song title and retain the original order as found when the material was transferred from Four Jays Music Corporation.

Subseries 1.4 contains published sheet music for songs from the shows/motion pictures listed. Not every folder will contain a full compliment of the songs from that particular project. These were collected by Warren. These publications are incomplete in their scope. They are arranged alphabetically according to the original project title.

Subseries 1.5 contains published versions of individual songs and song collections. The songs are arranged alphabetically by title.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy existsContact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Harry Warren Papers, 1909-2000, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Jophe Jones and Julia Riva.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0750, Series 1
See more items in:
Harry Warren Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep823bcdba8-ae5d-41e5-ad52-f817e9e3d3e2
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0750-ref12

William Russo Music and Personal Papers

Creator:
Strayhorn, Billy (William Thomas), 1915-1967  Search this
Russo, William, 1928-2003  Search this
Photographer:
Claxton, William  Search this
Leonard, Herman, 1923-2010  Search this
Composer:
Kenton, Stan  Search this
Musician:
Mulligan, Gerry  Search this
Names:
Chicago Jazz Ensemble  Search this
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Extent:
87 Cubic feet (188 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion pictures (visual works)
Music
Audiotapes
Business records
Photographs
Correspondence
Librettos
Awards
Posters
Programs
Scrapbooks
Scores
Lecture notes
Date:
1920-2002
Summary:
Papers and audiovisual materials documenting Russo's career in music.
Scope and Contents:
The collection includes Russo's original and published music scores, parts and arrangements; audiovisual materials including recordings of broadcasts of Russo's radio show, performances of Russo's compositions, including performances by Duke Ellington, and film and video recordings of Russo's productions in theater and opera; and personal papers such as correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, publicity files, contracts, etc. Among the most significant items in the collection are experimental jazz arrangements for Stan Kenton in the late 1940s-early 1950s, undated arrangements for Gerry Mulligan, Russo's original arrangement of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert, scores to his first and second symphonies, and scores and libretti to several early rock operas. The photographs include images of persons such as Ellington, Kenton, and Billy Strayhorn, and photographs by jazz photographers Herman Leonard and William Claxton. 2007 addendum includes correspondence, mostly between Russo and his family; eighteen diaries for 1946-1967 (not all years are present) with sparse entries, some in Italian; and additional music manuscripts, parts, scores and libretti.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into nine series.

Series 1: William Russo's Music

Series 2: Teaching Notes

Series 3: Correspondence

Series 4: Publicity, Programs, and Reviews

Series 5: Posters and Artwork

Series 6: Photographs

Series 7: Books and Lecture Notebooks

Series 8: Memorabilia

Series 9: Audiovisual Materials
Biographical / Historical:
William Russo, renowned American jazz composer, arranger, and founder of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, had a music career that spanned five decades and included performance, conducting and composition. During his career he worked with such diverse talents as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein, Cannonball Adderly, Yehuidi Menuhin, Dizzy Gillespie, Seiji Ozawa, and Billie Holiday. Although critics acknowledged Russo mainly for his pioneering contributions to the big-band jazz canon, his talents extended to a far wider range of musical styles, creating groundbreaking jazz scores, rock operas, classical works, film scores, and educational textbooks on jazz orchestration and arrangement. In all, he composed over 200 pieces for jazz orchestra with more than 25 recordings of his work. In 1990, Russo received a Lifetime Achievement award from NARAS, the organization that presents the Grammy Awards.

As a young trombonist, Russo studied with Lennie Tristano, the pianist and theorist who became a leader in the progressive jazz movement. During the late 1940s, Russo led the revolutionary Experiment in Jazz band. At age 21, he became one of the chief composers/arrangers for the Stan Kenton Orchestra, one of the most innovative and influential jazz orchestras of the postwar era. In his four years with Kenton, Russo penned such classic Kenton works as "23° North – 82° West," and "Frank Speaking."

Russo made several major jazz recordings under his own name before his classical "Symphony No. 2 in C (TITANS)" received a Koussevitsky award in 1959; it was performed by the New York Philharmonic that same year under Leonard Bernstein, who had commissioned the work. This award marked Russo's "official" entry into the world of classical music. Russo continued to write major symphonic works throughout his career, including his 1992 grand opera, "Dubrovsky."

After his tenure with Kenton, in the early 1950s, Russo led his own successful bands, The Russo Orchestra in New York, and the London Jazz Orchestra, before returning to Chicago to form the Chicago Jazz Ensemble in 1065. With the Ensemble, he presented Duke Ellington's "First Concert of Sacred Music" in 1967. This was one of the rare times when Ellington allowed one of his compositions to be arranged and performed by a jazz orchestra other than his own, and was a reflection of Ellington's respect for Russo. Shortly after this performance, Russo composed a rock cantata, "The Civil War," that led him into the field of rock opera. After concentrating on classical music again in the 1970s, in the late 1980s, Russo began to re-explore the history of jazz through his revived Chicago Jazz Ensemble. In 1995, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble made history with the first-ever complete live performance of Gil Evans' and Miles Davis' "Sketches of Spain" in its original form. Recent Russo works that premiered in Chicago included "Chicago Suite No. 1," and "Chicago Suite No. 2," a recording that was published posthumously in the spring of 2003.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center

William Russo Transcription and Arrangement of Duke Ellington's First Concert of Sacred Music, 1967-1968 (AC0406)
Provenance:
Bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William Russo. Papers collected after Russo's death in 2003. The 2007 addendum sent by Russo's sister and daughter were also part of the bequest.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but an oil painting is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Composers -- 20th century  Search this
Topic:
Opera  Search this
Jazz musicians -- United States  Search this
Jazz  Search this
Music -- 20th century  Search this
Genre/Form:
Motion pictures (visual works)
Music -- Manuscripts
Audiotapes
Business records -- 20th century
Photographs -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
Librettos
Awards
Posters -- 20th century
Programs
Scrapbooks
Scores
Lecture notes
Citation:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers, 1920s-2002, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0845
See more items in:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep888a8d92a-3927-49c1-ace4-466bb766a9d6
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0845
Online Media:

Luther Davis Papers

Creator:
Davis, Luther  Search this
Davis, Joan Bassie  Search this
Extent:
14 Cubic feet (40 boxes, 3 map folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Videotapes
Audiotapes
Awards
Programs
Screenplays
Scripts (documents)
Theater programs
Date:
1916-2007, undated
bulk 1936-2007
Summary:
Luther Davis (1916-2008) was an awarding winning writer, playwright and screenwriter. He won a Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award in 1954 for the musical Kismet. He was the playwright for Lady in a Cage, and Grand Hotel and many other productions.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains scripts, screenplays, and teleplays written by Luther Davis for the stage, screen, and television with related documents. Also included are writings for publications, business papers, and personal papers and photographs.

Series 1, Articles and Fiction, 1936-1946, 2003. This series consists of articles and stories written for magazines, published and unpublished. This series is divided into two subseries:

Subseries 1, Articles and Non-Fiction, 1936-1946 and 2003. Articles published in magazines or other publications and unpublished manuscripts.

Subseries 2, Fiction, 1936-1940s and undated. Stories published in magazines and unpublished manuscripts.

Series 2, Works for Film, 1946-2003. This series consists of treatments, scripts and screenplays for films, produced and unproduced. This series is divided into two subseries:

Subseries 1, Screenplays, Produced, 1946-1972. Drafts and scripts for films produced and materials relating to their production such as advertising and reviews. Photographs for several films are also included and copies of novels used as sources.

Subseries 2, Screenplays, Unproduced, 1940s-2003. Drafts and scripts developed but unproduced and research materials for these projects.

Series 3, Works for the Theater, 1944-2007. This series consists of scripts for stage plays and musicals, produced and unproduced. This series is divided into two subseries:

Subseries 1, Theatrical Productions, 1944-2004. Scripts and other materials related to those productions. These include documents relating to adapting, financing, and promotion of the productions, as well as source materials, photographs, and reviews. Some materials relate to productions in foreign countries.

Subseries 2, Theatrical Works, Unproduced, 1937-2007. Scripts and partial scripts, ideas, outlines and research materials for these projects.

Series 4, Works for Television, 1956-1997. This series consists of scripts for television programs, produced and unproduced. This series is divided into two subseries:

Subseries 1, Television Productions, 1960-1971. Scripts and other materials related to these productions. Subseries 2, Works for Television, Unproduced, 1956-1997. Scripts and partial scripts, ideas, outlines and research materials.

Series 5, Business and Personal Records, 1916-2007. This series consists of two subseries:

Subseries 1, Business Records, 1941-2006. Correspondence, news clippings, awards, general casting research and story research materials.

Subseries 2, Personal Records, 1916-2007. Documents, scrapbook pages, military records, news clippings, photographs, correspondence, miscellaneous personal items.

Series 6, Works by Others, 1939-1979. This series consists of stories and scripts written by others.

Series 7, Audio-Visual Materials, 1976-1991, undated. This series consists of two subseries:

Subseries 1, Audio Materials, 1976-1991, undated. Audio cassettes for Timbuktu! and Grand Hotel stage productions. Radio interviews with Davis and others.

Subseries 2, Video Materials, 1979-1990, undated. Video cassettes for Timbuktu!, 1990 Tony Awards, and film Daughter of the Mind.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into seven series.

Series 1, Articles and Fiction, 1936-2003, undated

Subseries 1.1, Articles and Non-Fiction, 1936-2003

Subseries 1.2, Fiction, 1936-1940s, undated

Series 2, Works for Film, 1946-2003

Subseries 2.1, Screenplays, Produced, 1946-1972

Subseries 2.2, Screenplays, Unproduced, 1940s-2003

Series 3, Works for the Theater, 1944-2007

Subseries 3.1, Theatrical Productions, 1944-2004

Subseries 3.2, Theatrical Works, Unproduced, 1937-2007

Series 4, Works for Television, 1956-1997

Subseries 4.1, Television Productions, 1960-1971

Subseries 4.2, Works for Television, Unproduced, 1956-1997

Series 5, Business and Personal Records, 1916-2007

Subseries 5.1, Business Records, 1941-2006

Subseries 5.2, Personal Records, 1916-2007

Series 6, Works by Others, 1939-1979

Series 7, Audio-Visual Materials, 1976-1991, undated

Subseries 7.1, Audio Materials, 1976-1991, undated

Subseries 7.2, Video Materials, 1979-1990, undated
Biographical / Historical:
Luther Berryhill Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 29, 1916. He attended Culver Military Academy, graduating in 1934. At Yale University he was a member of the Yale Literary Society and contributed stories and essays to the Yale Literary Magazine. While at Yale, he began writing plays and musicals and his work in these fields would define his long and successful career. Following his graduation he wrote articles on entertainment figures for Colliers and other publications until his enlistment as captain in the Army Air Corps. While serving, he wrote a breezy column for the service publication C.B.I. Roundup and covered aviation subjects for Air Force magazine for the duration of the war. He was promoted to the rank of major before his demobilization in 1945.

Returning to civilian life, Davis embarked upon a career as a writer for the stage, screen, and television that would continue for more than six decades. In the autumn of 1945, Davis's play Kiss Them for Me, adapted from a Frederic Wakeman novel, opened on Broadway and was adapted for film in 1955. In 1947 he wrote the screenplay for The Hucksters (also by Wakeman), starring Clark Gable. He worked as a screenwriter well into the 1980s.

Davis collaborated with Charles Lederer, Robert Wright, and George Forrest on the book and libretto for Kismet, an adaptation of Edward Knoblock's 1911 play. Kismet featured music based on the works of Alexander Borodin and won the Tony award for Best Musical in 1954. It was made into a film directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1955. In 1978, Davis produced a further adaptation titled Timbuktu! that was notable for its use of African themes and locales. Its cast included Eartha Kitt and Melba Moore, and it was choreographed by Geoffrey Holder. Timbuktu! was nominated for six Tonys, including one for Davis's script.

In 1956, Davis and partners Wright and Forrest purchased the rights to Vicki Baum's novel Menschhen in Hotel. The novel had been the source for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's (MGM) 1931 film, Grand Hotel. In 1958, Davis adapted the story for At the Grand, a production of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. Thirty-one years, and numerous revisions, later it opened on Broadway in 1989 as Grand Hotel, the Musical. Directed by Tommy Tune, it ran until 1992. In 1990, the show was nominated for twelve Tony awards and won six.

As a producer, Davis and partners brought the World War I drama Not About Heroes to Broadway with stars Edward Hermann and Dylan Baker in 1981. He also co-produced Eden Court off-Broadway with Ellen Barkin and Melanie Griffith in 1985.

Davis continued his work in film as writer and producer, most notably with his controversial film Lady in a Cage, a 1964 study of modern violence starring Olivia de Havilland. Other film scripts, such as A Lion is in the Streets (1953) and Across 110th Street (1972), also explored gritty, contemporary themes. These were a marked contrast to the wry comedy of some of his earlier screenplays.

As a writer for television, Davis's work earned him recognition from the Writer's Guild of America and Mystery Writers of America. Most of his television work was produced in the 1960s, including episodes for the series "Run for Your Life" and "Kraft Suspense Theater." He authored several movies for television, including Arsenic and Old Lace in 1968. His other works for television included comedies, dramas, mysteries and thrillers.

In his lengthy career, Luther Davis earned success because of both his talent and his extraordinary determination and energy. His papers include not only his works produced for film, stage, and television but an equal, if not greater number, of works never seen by audiences.

His tireless efforts with these projects, as well as the many that reached fruition, indicate a willingness to persevere that is essential to success; in 2007, when he was ninety-one years old, he wrote a treatment for a stage musical based on Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Luther Davis died in 2008.
Provenance:
Donated to the Archives Center in 2009 by Davis's widow, Joan Bassie Davis.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Dramatists  Search this
Topic:
Motion pictures  Search this
Screenwriters  Search this
Television  Search this
Television writers  Search this
Genre/Form:
Videotapes
Audiotapes
Awards
Programs
Screenplays
Scripts (documents)
Theater programs
Citation:
Luther Davis Papers, 1916-2007, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.1148
See more items in:
Luther Davis Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8c0cc2016-bb7c-4a67-ab70-fe032f6773dd
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1148
Online Media:

Kismet libretto/vocal book,

Collection Creator:
Davis, Luther  Search this
Davis, Joan Bassie  Search this
Container:
Box 10, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1955
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Luther Davis Papers, 1916-2007, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Luther Davis Papers
Luther Davis Papers / Series 3: Works for the Theater / 3.1: Theatrical Productions
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8200b8ed4-9352-43fa-a4f6-c375780f4812
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1148-ref209

Kismet libretto/vocal book

Collection Creator:
Davis, Luther  Search this
Davis, Joan Bassie  Search this
Container:
Box 10, Folder 9
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1986
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Luther Davis Papers, 1916-2007, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Luther Davis Papers
Luther Davis Papers / Series 3: Works for the Theater / 3.1: Theatrical Productions
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep811ebe986-bd13-41e7-be89-57bf88859279
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1148-ref214

Kismet libretto/vocal book,

Collection Creator:
Davis, Luther  Search this
Davis, Joan Bassie  Search this
Container:
Box 10, Folder 19
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1955
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Luther Davis Papers, 1916-2007, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Luther Davis Papers
Luther Davis Papers / Series 3: Works for the Theater / 3.1: Theatrical Productions
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85987bdf2-3340-49e6-96f0-45776c4aaead
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1148-ref226

Orfreo, a one-act opera composed by Elodie Lauten, libretto Michael Andre, Digital Audio Recording

Collection Creator:
Evans, John, 1932-  Search this
Extent:
0.296 Gigabytes (Eight computer files)
Container:
Folder ER02
Type:
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Date:
2004
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original material requires an appointment. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
John Evans papers, 1957-2012, bulk 1970s-2012. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
John Evans papers
John Evans papers / Series 3: Subject Files
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw91b167fbe-7822-41fe-89ad-4c8a4b79e60a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-evanjohn-ref658

Librettos

Collection Creator:
Strayhorn, Billy (William Thomas), 1915-1967  Search this
Russo, William, 1928-2003  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Claxton, William  Search this
Leonard, Herman, 1923-2010  Search this
Collection Composer:
Kenton, Stan  Search this
Collection Musician:
Mulligan, Gerry  Search this
Container:
Box 101, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but an oil painting is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers, 1920s-2002, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
See more items in:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers
William Russo Music and Personal Papers / Series 1: Wiliam Russo's Music / 1.4: Notes on Music
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8c86a4cc7-4738-414e-a5ce-ac95572bbf21
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0845-ref1162

Librettos

Collection Creator:
Strayhorn, Billy (William Thomas), 1915-1967  Search this
Russo, William, 1928-2003  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Claxton, William  Search this
Leonard, Herman, 1923-2010  Search this
Collection Composer:
Kenton, Stan  Search this
Collection Musician:
Mulligan, Gerry  Search this
Container:
Box 101, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but an oil painting is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers, 1920s-2002, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
See more items in:
William Russo Music and Personal Papers
William Russo Music and Personal Papers / Series 1: Wiliam Russo's Music / 1.4: Notes on Music
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8cc02e39c-3843-4fd2-b738-cf7f665efcda
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0845-ref1163

A - G Titles

Series Creator:
DeVincent, Sam, 1918-1997  Search this
Extent:
37 Items
Container:
Box 21, Folder O
Type:
Archival materials
Scope and Contents note:
Includes: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, "Goodbye Girls, I'm Through," and "Gosh, It's Fierce to Be a Girl." Also, cover only of Libretto for THE GIRL, THE MAN, AND THE GAME.
Series Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Series Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Series Citation:
The Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
See more items in:
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 9: Domestic and Community Life
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 9: Domestic and Community Life / 9.4: Songs about and Images of Men and Women / Songs about and Images of Women / Girl/Gal Songs
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8a699dab1-ee2d-4e79-a84d-fe9191873f51
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0300-s09-ref264

Audio Log Sheets

Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival / Armenia / Audio
Archival Repository:
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5f57a5aa6-8bfa-49b8-9534-6ef68a58e8bb
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-cfch-sff-2018-ref1234
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