Homer Simmons papers,
1900-1982
Finding aid prepared by Doug Johnson, 2015; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2015 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Homer Simmons papers
Collection number: PASC-M 73
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.2 linear ft.
(2 document boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1908-1986
Abstract: The collection consists of musical compositions and other writings, concert programs, a scrapbook, and audiotapes originally
belonging to the noted California pianist, Homer Simmons.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Simmons, Homer
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Homer Simmons Papers (Collection PASC-M 73). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography/History
Homer Simmons was born on August 6, 1900 in Evansville, Indiana and began playing piano at the age of four. His family moved
to Los Angeles when he was about ten years old. He studied music with Homer Grunn and attended USC, playing concerts and composing
music. In 1927 he premiered his piano concerto "Phantasmania" at the Hollywood Bowl. In the 1930s he traveled to Europe and
studied with Ottorino Respighi and Ignacy Paderewski, among others.
Returning to Los Angeles in 1938, he partnered with the pianist George Scharl (died 1975), and the two would remain together
for the rest of Simmons' life, touring together and playing Simmons' compositions for two pianos. In later life the two men
became important fixtures in the cultural life of Inglewood and Tujunga. Homer Simmons died on August 21, 1971 in Sunland,
California.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of musical compositions, other writings, biographical material, a scrapbook, and audio recordings.
There is also a significant amount of material about Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Paderewski, including Simmons' unpublished
biography of him.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series:
- Series 1. Musical compositions
- Series 2. Personal material
- Series 3. Material regarding Ignacy Jan Paderewski
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Paderewski, Ignace Jan, 1860-1941
Composers--California--Los Angeles--Archives.
Series 1. Musical compositions. Series 1.
1928-1970.
Scope and Content
Includes works for solo and dual pianos. There are published copies, both originals and reproductions, and reproductions of
handwritten manuscripts.
Box 1, Folder 1
Absence (Abwesenheit).
1939.
Box 1, Folder 1
The Cheshire Cat (Cake-walk).
1941.
Box 1, Folder 1
A Day at the Circus.
1954.
Box 1, Folder 1
The Dormouse (Sarabande).
1941.
Box 1, Folder 1
The Duchess (Passacaglia).
1940.
Box 1, Folder 1
Fugato Giocoso (Homage to Bach).
undated.
Box 1, Folder 1
The Gryphon and the Mock Turtle (Minuet) [two copies].
1940.
Box 1, Folder 2
Happy Return (Heimkehr).
1940.
Box 1, Folder 2
The Lobster Quadrille (Reel).
1941.
Box 1, Folder 2
The Old Dutch Clock.
1948.
Box 1, Folder 2
Parting (Auf Wiedersehen).
1939.
Box 1, Folder 2
Prelude (In Memoriam, Sergei Rachmaninoff).
1944.
Box 1, Folder 2
The Queen of Hearts (Gigue).
1941.
Box 1, Folder 2
Stairways (Fox-Trot) [annotated].
1928.
Box 1, Folder 3
Stations of the Cross.
1970.
Box 1, Folder 4
Two Modern Baroque Dances [two copies].
1969.
Box 1, Folder 4
Valse Piquant - Valse Lente - A Magyar Waltz (For Two Pianos) [two copies].
1969.
Box 1, Folder 4
Valse Piquant - Valse Lente - A Magyar Waltz (For Piano Solo).
1970.
Series 2. Personal material.
1927-1986.
Scope and Content
Includes biographical information, concert programs, correspondence, a scrapbook, audio recordings, and poems and essays.
Box 1, Folder 5
Biographical material.
1936-1975.
Scope and Content
Includes: lists of works composed and performed; photograph of Simmons and Scharl; copy of birth record; certificate of death.
Box 1, Folder 6
Enters, Agna.
1948-1959.
Scope and Content Note
Includes: correspondence between the artist Enters and George Scharl; programs for Enters' pantomime performances.
Box 2, Folder 7
Music publishing.
1927-1983.
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence and material regarding copyrights and royalties.
Box 1, Folder 8
Programs.
1927-ca. 1963.
Scope and Content
Includes: Hollywood Bowlsheviks by de Brú [1927 souvenir program with caricatures by the artist who would later be known as
Xavier Cugat]; program for a recital by Jules Bledsoe, 1941 [inscribed by Bledsoe].
Box 1, Folder 9
Writings.
1941-ca. 1970.
Scope and Content Note
Includes poetry and essays.
Box 3
Scrapbook.
1938-1970.
Scope and Content Note
Includes clippings, performance programs, and biographical material.
Box 2, Folders 1-2
Sound recordings.
1986.
Scope and Content
Contains eight audio cassettes of works and performances by Simmons and George Scharl.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
These are audio cassette copies made in 1986; use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
Series 3. Material regarding Ignacy Jan Paderewski.
1908-1975.
Scope and Content
Contains material regarding the world-renowned pianist, composer, and politician who was Simmons' teacher; includes an unpublished
book manuscript, programs, and a very small amount of correspondence.
Box 2, Folder 3
Book manuscript.
undated.
Scope and Content Note
Contains 307-page typed manuscript "Music Study with Paderewski."
Box 2, Folder 5
Correspondence with Paderewski.
1932.
Scope and Content Note
Includes a handwritten note from Paderewski; thank-you card.
Box 2, Folder 6
Correspondence with publishers.
1949-1975.
Box 2, Folder 8
Periodicals.
1932.
Scope and Content
Contains: Time, February 27, 1939, with Paderewski on the cover [two copies].
Box 3
Periodicals - oversize.
1932-1934.
Scope and Content
Contains: Bravo, June 1932, special issue on Chopin, with an article by Paderewski [in French]; L'illustré, August 16, 1934
[in French].
Box 2, Folder 9
Photographs.
1908.
Scope and Content Note
Contains several copies of the same image in varying sizes and formats.
