Robert Commanday Papers
985.016
Finding aid prepared by Supriya Wronkiewicz
Processing, cataloging, digitization, and access supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art
Works.
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
893B Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107
Title: Robert Commanday Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 985.016
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
9.5 Linear feet
9 cartons, 1 document case
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1960-1990
Date (inclusive): 1911-2000
Abstract: Robert Commanday (1922-2015) was educated at The Juilliard School of Music, Harvard University, and the University of California;
he conducted and taught at Ithaca (NY) College, the University of Illinois, and at UC Berkeley. In 1964, he became the music
and dance critic for the
San Francisco Chronicle, a position he held from 1964-1993. Following his retirement from the
San Francisco Chronicle, in 1998 he founded
San Francisco Classical Voice (SFCV), a pioneering online resource for its time that would serve as a model for similar sites across the United States.
Commanday also has a direct affiliation to the Museum of Performance + Design as he served as a strong advocate for the Museum
(then known as the Archives of the Performing Arts) and its founder Russell Hartley since the 1970s and served on the Museum's
Board of Trustees from 1982-2001. The collection primarily focuses on Robert Commanday's nearly thirty year career as the
music and dance critic for the
San Francisco Chronicle. The collection includes Commanday's articles, original notes, correspondence, research, and collected ephemera. The Papers
have been arranged into the following series:
Articles and Press Clippings,
Reference Materials and Working Documents, and
Photographic Materials.
Language: All materials are in English.
Creator:
Robert, Commanday
Copyright Information
Museum of Performance + Design holds property rights. Copyright of all original works by Robert Commanday belong to his heirs.
Copyright of photographs and collected materials belong to their respective creators.
Preferred Citation
[Folder Title], Robert Commanday Papers, Museum of Performance + Design.
Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Provenance
Received from Robert Commanday in a number of installments beginning in 1985.
Biographical Sketch of Robert Commanday
Robert Commanday was born on June 18, 1922 in Yonkers, NY. Commanday was educated at The Juilliard School of Music, Harvard
University, and the University of California; he conducted and taught at Ithaca (NY) College, the University of Illinois,
and at UC Berkeley. Following his graduation from Harvard, Commanday enlisted in the Army early in 1943, trained as a crypt
analytic translator of encoded Japanese to serve in that capacity. After the war, he started his career as a choral conductor
working with the Univeristy of California Glee Club, a role he held for almost 14 years. In 1964, he became the music and
dance critic for the
San Francisco Chronicle, a position he held until 1993. During that time, Commanday served as president of the Music Critics Association of North
America twice; received the Deems Taylor Award for Music Criticism, the John Swett Award, and was honored as citizen of the
year by the Il Cenacolo society and the Harvard Club of San Francisco. Following his retirement from the
San Francisco Chronicle, out of concern about local newspapers' lack of addressing various musical activity in the San Francisco Bay Area, in 1998
he founded the
San Francisco Classical Voice (SFCV). Funded by Gordon Getty, SFCV was a pioneering online resource for its time that would serve as a model for similar
sites across the United States. Commanday also has a direct link to the Museum of Performance + Design as he served as a strong
advocate for Russell Hartley and the Museum (then known as the Archives of the Performing Arts) since the 1970s. He also served
on the Board of Trustees from 1982 to 2001. Commanday passed away on September 3, 2015 in his home in Oakland, California.
Information for this biography was obtained from the following sources:
Scope and Contents
The Robert Commanday Papers primarily focus on Robert Commanday's nearly thirty year career as the music and dance critic
for the
San Francisco Chronicle. The collection includes Commanday's articles, original notes, correspondence, research, and collected ephemera. The Papers
have been arranged into the following series:
Articles and Press Clippings,
Reference Materials and Working Documents, and
Photographic Materials. This collection provides valuable insight to the histories of various San Francisco based music and dance organizations,
especially the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Symphony. Items of particular value include annotated programs, featuring
notes that may have likely been taken during or immediately following a performance. The collection also offers an insight
into the depth and breadth of music and dance performances taking place in San Francisco. Not one to shy from controversy,
Commanday wrote at length regarding what he felt was the unfair termination of timpanist Elayne Jones by the San Francisco
Symphony in 1975, which can be found in the
Reference Materials and Working Documents series.
The
Articles and Press Clippings series includes news articles and other writings by Robert Commanday. The bulk of the items are from the
San Francisco Chronicle. Commanday had organized some of the articles into the following subseries: Chamber Music and Recitals (information from
chamber performances, choral and solo recitals, and other related events), Dance (articles from various dance performances
Commanday reviewed in San Francisco, the bulk of which pertain to the San Francisco Ballet), Festivals (articles on the Carmel
Bach Festival among others), New Music, Opera (clippings and articles regarding opera performances, major opera company auditions,
and performances by opera singers outside of a company performance, the bulk of which pertain to San Francisco Opera), and
Symphonies and Music(articles and clippings related to symphony performances and related items, the bulk which relate to various
aspects of the San Francisco Symphony). This arrangement was retained. Some columns were sorted according to what he had labeled
as "Best" or by day of week published. All the remaining articles are in chronological order. Also included in some areas
are galley copies and working drafts. There also may be duplication across the different categories.
The
Reference Materials and Working Documents series contains working documents, collected items, correspondence, reference, and ephemera. It has been divided into the
following subseries: Annotated Programs and Notes (programs from various performances Commanday attended annotated heavily
with notes inscribed in the programs and attached handwritten notes), Correspondence (correspondence, work related documents
such as expense reports, and other related documents), and Reference Materials by Subject (reference materials from various
individuals, groups, companies, or events Commanday wrote about or made reference to, including writings by others, press
releases, collected programs and promotional materials, drafts and notes, and other related materials). The materials in the
last subseries have been further subdivided to the following categories: Dance, Opera, Symphonies and Music/Musicians, and
Other Subjects and Collected Publications. The first two subseries are arranged in chronological order. Reference Materials
by Subject are first arranged within subcategories derived from the original order of Commanday's materials upon accession.
The materials are then arranged in alphabetical order and then in chronological order if applicable. The bulk of the materials
in this series pertains to the San Francisco Symphony followed by the San Francisco Opera.
The
Photographic Materials series includes photographs collected by Commanday as part of his work. This series is largely unsorted and primarily contains
promotional photography likely sent over to him via the
San Francisco Chronicle or similar means.
Organization
- Articles and Press Clippings
- Reference Materials and Working Documents
- Photographic Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ballet
Clippings (Information artifacts)
Commanday, Robert
Correspondence.
Dance
Music
Music--20th century--Performance.
Music--20th century.
Opera
Performing arts--United States.
Photographic Materials
Programs (Documents)
Promotional materials.
San Francisco Ballet Association (San Francisco, Calif.)--History.
San Francisco Ballet--History.
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra--History
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Boxes 1-6
Articles and Press Clippings,
1967-1987
Scope and Contents note
This series includes news articles and other writings by Robert Commanday. The bulk of the items are from the
San Francisco Chronicle. Commanday had organized some of the articles into the following subseries:
Chamber Music and Recitals;
Dance;
Festivals;
New Music;
Opera; and
Symphonies and Music. Some columns were sorted according to what he had labeled as "Best" or by day of week published. All the remaining articles
are in chronological order. Also included at times are galley copies and working drafts. There may be duplication across the
different categories.
Chamber Music, Recitals,
1978-1988
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes information from chamber performances, choral and solo recitals, and other related events.
Box 3, Folder 9
Columns and drafts,
1978-1979
Dance,
1971-1987
Scope and Contents note
This includes articles from various dance performances Commanday reviewed in San Francisco. The bulk of the articles pertain
to the San Francisco Ballet, but other visiting companies are highlighted as well.
Festivals,
1971-1975, 1981
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes articles on the Carmel Bach Festival among others.
Box 4, Folder 2
Columns - Carmel Bach Festival,
1980
New Music,
1967, 1970-1974, 1978-1980
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains items Commanday labeled as New Music.
Opera,
1965-1987
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains clippings and articles regarding opera performances, major opera company auditions, and performances
by opera singers outside of a company performance. The bulk of the articles pertain to San Francisco Opera.
Box 4, Folder 6
Columns and drafts,
1965-1967
Box 4, Folder 11
Columns - out of town Opera,
1972-1973
Symphonies and Music,
1971-1987
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains articles and clippings related to symphony performances and related items. The bulk of the articles
relate to various aspects of the San Francisco Symphony. There are also several articles regarding the Oakland Symphony and
other groups local to the San Francisco Bay Area and other out-of-town touring companies.
Box 5, Folder 1
Columns - Misc. San Francisco Symphony,
1971-1975
Box 5, Folder 2
Columns - Oakland Symphony,
1972-1975
Box 5, Folder 8
Columns - Oakland, Marin, and other non-San Francisco symphonies,
1980
Box 5, Folder 11
Columns - San Francisco Symphony,
1983
Box 5, Folder 13
Columns - San Francisco Symphony,
1984
Box 5, Folder 14
Columns - San Francisco Symphony,
1985
Box 5, Folder 15
Columns - San Francisco Symphony,
1986
Box 5, Folder 16
Columns - San Francisco Symphony,
1987
Box 2, Folder 21
Columns - Tuesdays,
1979-1981
Box 2, Folder 22
Columns - Wednesdays,
1983-1984
Box 2, Folder 23
Columns - Sundays,
1979-1980
Box 5, Folders 19-20
Clippings scrapbook,
circa 1964-1965
Box 5, Folders 21-23
Clippings scrapbook,
circa 1965-1966
Box 5, Folders 24-25
Clippings scrapbook,
circa 1966
Boxes 7-10
Reference Materials and Working Documents,
1911- circa 2000
Scope and Contents note
This series contains working documents and materials Commandy may have used for reference purposes. It has been divided into
the following subseries:
Annotated Programs and Notes,
Correspondence, and
Reference Materials by Subject. The first two subseries are arranged in chronological order.
Reference Materials by Subject are first arranged within subcategories derived from how Commanday's materials were organized upon accession to maintain
original order. The materials are then arranged in alphabetical order and then in chronological order if needed. The bulk
of the materials in this series pertain to the San Francisco Symphony followed by the San Francisco Opera.
Annotated Programs and Notes,
1964-1970
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes programs from various performances Commanday attended annotated heavily with notes inscribed in the
programs with attached handwritten notes.
Box 10, Folder 16
San Francisco Symphony Programs,
1971-1973
Box 10, Folder 8
San Francisco Symphony Program,
1973 May-June
Box 10, Folder 9
San Francisco Symphony Program,
1975 December
Box 10, Folder 10
San Francisco Symphony Programs,
1976
Box 10, Folder 13
San Francisco Symphony Programs,
1978-1979
Correspondence, Notes, and Related Documents,
1964-1970, 1975, 1982, 1987-1988
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes correspondence, work related documents such as expense reports, and other related documents.
Box 5, Folder 17
Germany trip itinerary and columns,
1970
Reference materials by subject
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes reference materials from various individuals, groups, companies, or events Commanday wrote about or
made reference to in his articles. This includes writings by other individuals or groups, press releases, collected programs
and promotional materials, drafts and notes by Commanday, and other related materials. Materials have been further subdivided
to the following categories: Dance, Opera, Symphonies and Music/Musicians, and Other Subjects and Collected Publications.
Box 7, Folder 1
Arigang - Dance and Song Group of Korea (folklore)
Box 7, Folder 4
Bali Dancers and Musicians
Box 7, Folder 6
de Coteau, Denis - San Francisco Ballet Orchestra conductor
Box 7, Folder 8
Kathakali - Dance Theatre from India
Box 7, Folder 9
Murray Louis Dance Company
Box 7, Folder 12
Romanian Folk Ballet, The
Box 7, Folder 14
Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The
Box 7, Folder 17
Tamburitzams - Slavic Folk Group of Duquesne University
Box 7, Folders 24-25
Los Angeles Opera Theatre
circa 1979-1984
Box 7, Folder 27
Metropolitan Opera - NYC Opera, Texaco/Metropolitan Opera Radio Network
Box 7, Folder 28
Metropolitan Opera - Metropolitan Opera Centennial information
Box 7, Folder 29
Metropolitan Opera - San Francisco Auditions and Related Docs,
1982-1983
Box 7, Folder 30
Music Center Opera, Los Angeles,
1985
Box 7, Folder 34
San Francisco Opera,
circa 1960s-1980s
Box 7, Folder 35
San Francisco Opera,
circa 1970s-1990s
Box 7, Folder 36
San Francisco Opera - 50th Season,
1973
Box 7, Folder 37
San Francisco Opera,
circa 1980s
Box 7, Folder 38
San Francisco Opera,
1987-1998
Box 7, Folder 39
San Francisco Opera - Opera Chorus Lockout,
1987-1988
Box 9, Folder 1
San Francisco Opera,
1989-1990
Box 9, Folder 2
San Francisco Opera - Correspondence,
circa 1990s
Box 9, Folder 3
San Francisco Opera,
1990-1991
Box 8, Folder 49
Western Opera Theatre,
circa 1990s
Symphonies and Music/Musicians
Box 8, Folder 2
American Symphony Orchestra League,
1986
Box 8, Folder 7
Calvary Presbyterian Church
Box 8, Folder 8
Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
1982
Box 10, Folder 1
Contra Costa Symphony,
1978-1979
Box 8, Folder 14
Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra,
circa 1965-1966
Box 8, Folder 22
London Symphony Orchestra,
1979-1980
Box 8, Folder 23
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Box 8, Folder 24
May T. Morrison Festival of Music,
1958
Box 8, Folder 26
Milhaud, Darius and Les Six
Box 8, Folder 27
Minnesota Orchestra,
1974
Box 8, Folder 29
National Choir of Helsinki,
1965
Box 8, Folder 31
Oakland Symphony,
1984-1985
Box 10, Folder 2
Oakland Symphony Programs,
1967-1978, 1971-1972, 1975
Box 9, Folder 4
San Francisco Midsummer POPS, Fiedler, Arthur,
1965
Box 9, Folder 5
San Francisco Symphony Programs (copies),
1911-1979
Box 9, Folder 6
San Francisco Symphony photographs,
1911, 1947
San Francisco Symphony - Programs,
1959, 1960, 1963, 1969
Box 9, Folder 7
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
circa 1960s
Box 9, Folder 8
San Francisco Symphony - Notes for articles,
circa 1960s-1970s
Box 9, Folder 9
San Francisco Symphony - Promotional materials,
circa 1960s-1970s
Box 9, Folder 10
San Francisco Symphony - Programs, program excerpts, notes
Box 10, Folder 6
San Francisco Symphony - Programs,
1966-1970
Box 9, Folder 11
San Francisco Symphony - Repertories,
circa 1963-1978
Box 9, Folder 12
San Francisco Symphony - Youth Program
circa 1966-1974
Box 9, Folder 13
San Francisco Symphony - Labor crisis
1967-1968
Box 9, Folder 14
San Francisco Symphony - Master Agreement with AFM Local 6,
1968
Box 9, Folder 15
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and Related Documents,
1969-1970
Box 9, Folder 16
San Francisco Symphony - History
circa 1970s
Box 9, Folder 17
San Francisco Symphony - Master Agreement with AFM Local 6,
1971-1972
Box 9, Folder 18
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1971-1972
Box 9, Folder 19
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases and related documents,
1971-1974
Box 9, Folder 20
San Francisco Symphony - SFS Association Board of Governors Annual Meeting,
1972 October 19
Box 9, Folder 21
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases and other news,
1972-1973
Box 10, Folder 3
San Francisco Symphony - Newsletters,
1972-1974
Box 9, Folder 22
San Francisco Symphony - Europe Tour,
1972
Box 9, Folder 23
San Francisco Symphony - Jones, Elayne case
1974
Box 9, Folder 24
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, history,
1974-1975
Box 9, Folder 25
San Francisco Symphony - Japan Tour,
1975
Box 9, Folder 26
San Francisco Symphony - SFS Association Board of Governors Annual Meeting,
1976 November 17
Box 9, Folder 27
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1976-1977
Box 10, Folder 11
San Francisco Symphony - Program excerpts,
1976-1977
Box 9, Folder 28
San Francisco Symphony - Correspondence,
1977 June 8
Box 9, Folder 29
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1976-1982
Box 10, Folder 12
San Francisco Symphony - Program excerpts,
1978
Box 9, Folder 30
San Francisco Symphony - Contract with AFM Local 6,
1978-1981
Box 9, Folder 31
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1978-1979
San Francisco Symphony -
Monthly Mozart newsletter,
1979
Box 9, Folder 32
San Francisco Symphony - Programs,
1979-1980
Box 9, Folder 32, Box 10, Folder 7
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1979-1980
Box 9, Folder 33
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1979-1981
Box 9, Folder 34
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1980
Box 9, Folder 35
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1982
Box 9, Folder 36
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1983
Box 9, Folder 37
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1984
Box 9, Folder 38
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1984-1985
Box 9, Folder 39
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1985-1986
Box 9, Folder 40
San Francisco Symphony - History,
1986
Box 9, Folder 41
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1986-1987
Box 8, Folder 36
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1987-1988
Box 8, Folder 37
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1989-1990
Box 8, Folder 38
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1990-1991
Box 8, Folder 39
San Francisco Symphony - Press releases, news, and related documents,
1991-1992
Box 8, Folder 41
The Standard Hour program,
circa 1950s
Box 8, Folder 42
The Standard Hour photographs,
circa 1950s
Box 8, Folder 45
There's Music in Germany,
1965
Box 8, Folder 48
von Karajan, Herbert,
1989
Other subjects and collected publications
Box 8, Folder 52
Book News - Johns Hopkins University Press,
circa 1976
Box 10, Folder 5
Davies Symphony Hall - Inauguration Week,
1980 September 13-21
Box 8, Folder 50
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
Box 8, Folder 53
Moor, Paul authored article,
1962
Box 5, Folder 18
New York Times articles,
circa 1974
Box 10, Folder 4
National Endowment of the Arts - Endowment Cuts,
1981
Box 8, Folder 54
Music News from Prague,
1974
Box 8, Folder 56
Proposal for Earthquake Safety Program for City-Owned Buildings Phase II,
1990
Box 6, Folder 23
Pulitzer Prize nomination related documents,
1965
Box 8, Folder 57
Recommendations Regarding the Yerba Buena Gardens Cultural Facilities to the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency,
1983 May
Box 6, Folder 24-25
San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum (SFPALM) related materials,
circa 1991-2000s
Box 6, Folder 22
Searches done by Commanday,
circa 1980s, 1997
Box 8, Folders 58-63
Photographic Materials,
circa 1960s-1990s, undated
Scope and Contents note
This series includes photographs collected by Commanday as part of his work. This series is largely unsorted and primarily
contains promotional photography.
