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Finding Aid for the Hans J. Salter Collection 1935-1982
137-M
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Title: Hans J. Salter Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1935-1982
Collection number: 137-M
Creator: Salter, Hans J.
1896-1994
Extent:
180 boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: The collection consists of music, personal papers,
correspondence, photographs, production materials, business papers and
periodical clippings of one of Universal Pictures' film composers, Hans J.
Salter. The various kinds of music are manuscript and published music including
conductor's scores, orchestral parts, sheet music, published music books, and
sound recordings on 7", 10", and 12" sound discs, 7" and 10" open reel analog
tapes, and sound cassettes.
Physical location: Collection is stored off-site at SRLF.
Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA
Performing Arts Special Collections for paging information.
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
, German
The collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Hans J. Salter Collection, 137-M, Performing Arts
Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processed by Collection processed and machine-readable finding aid created by
Rachel Curtis of the Center for Primary Research and Training Plus, UCLA
Performing Arts Special Collections, June 2009
Hans Julius Salter (b Vienna, 14 Jan 1896; d Studio City, CA, 23 July 1994)
was an film composer and conductor of Austrian birth. He studied at the
University of Vienna with Guido Adler, Egon Wellesz and Hans Gál, and at
the Vienna Music Academy with Franz Schreker, conducting with Weingartner, and
composition with Berg. Later, Salter worked as an assistant conductor in at the
Volks Opera in Vienna and other small opera companies. He then worked as a
conductor at the State Opera in Berlin and later switched to conducting in movie
houses in 1929. From 1930 to 1933 he composed musicals and dramatic motion
picture scores for UFA Studios in Neubabelsberg. Before leaving Europe, Salter
worked for the European Branch of Universal Pictures from 1933-1936. He
emigrated to the United States in 1937 to work for Universal Pictures and became
a U.S. citizen in 1942. (Letter written by Salter to ASCAP)
Originally hired as an orchestrator for Universal Studios in 1938, Salter was
soon promoted to the rank of composer. With composer Frank Skinner he wrote
music for serials, westerns, dramas, Deanna Durbin musicals and Abbott and
Costello comedies. Salter received six Academy Award nominations for his musical
comedy and drama scores including:
It Started With Eve (1942),
The Amazing Mrs.
Holiday
(1943),
The Merry Monahans (1944),
Christmas Holiday (1944),
Can't Help
Singing
(1945), and
This Love of Ours (1945). Salter is remembered today for his
contribution to horror films such as
The Wolf Man (1941),
Frankenstein Meets the
Wolf Man
(1943) and
House of Frankenstein (1944). When he retired in 1967, he
had completed scores for over 200 films. He was honored with lifetime
achievement awards from the Society of Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films
in 1982 and the Society for the Preservation of Film Music. He received an
additional tribute at the Viennale, Vienna Film Festival in 1993. (New Grove
Dictionary of Music)
The collection consists of printed and manuscript music composed and arranged
by film composer Hans J. Salter. The bulk of music is published from Universal
Pictures productions that were theatrically released between 1937-1964. Older
music mostly from German and Austrian film productions dated 1923-1933 is also
included in this collection. The music formats include orchestral parts,
conductor's scores, sheet music, published books, and sound recordings in 7",
10", and 12" sound discs. The collection also contains personal and business
correspondence, film review clippings, awards, copyright and license paperwork,
and production materials.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Projects, 1930-1967
- Series 2. Salter Music Ideas
- Series 3. Non Film/Television Salter Compositions
- Series 4. Sound recordings, 1941-1971
- Series 5. Correspondence, 1940-1971
- Series 6. Personal and Financial Papers, 1965-1977
- Series 7. Photographs, 1930-1945
- Series 8. Business Papers, 1954-1967
- Series 9. Awards, 1993
- Series 10. Clippings, 1925-1982
- Series 11. Music by Other Composers
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Salter, Hans J.
--Archives.
Composers --Archival
resources.
Motion picture music --Archival
resources.
Television music --Archival
resources.
Music --Manuscripts.