Guide to the Olivia Mattis Collection
ARS.0107
Finding aid prepared by Franz Kunst
Archive of Recorded Sound
Braun Music Center
541 Lasuen Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305-3076
650-723-9312
soundarchive@stanford.edu
© 2011
The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Olivia Mattis Collection
Dates: 1988-1990
Collection number: ARS.0107
Creator:
Mattis, Olivia
Collection size:
1 box
: 17 10.5" open reel tapes
Repository:
Archive of Recorded Sound
Abstract: Interviews with avant-garde composers by musicologist Olivia Mattis.
Language of Material: Multiple languages
Access
Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for
assistance.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.
Preferred Citation
Olivia Mattis Collection, ARS-0107. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Sponsor
This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Scope and Contents
Interviews with avant-garde composers by musicologist Olivia Mattis, conducted while Mattis was a doctoral student at Stanford
University studying Edgard Varèse. Thus, many of the subjects are family and associates of Varèse (many of whom are from
the art world rather than music), and his name tends to come up in many of the interviews. Mattis was also the first person
to interview Léon Thérémin after he emerged from over fifty years of Soviet seclusion in 1989. While the transcript for
this interview has been published, less commonly found is the recording from the same tape of a theremin demonstration played
by his daughter Natalia. The number of notable composers represented in the collection is impressive: Cage, Xenakis, Babbitt,
Leuning, Schaeffer, Ussachevsky… Captured at the twilight of the twentieth century, there would be few further opportunities
to hear the recollections of these brilliant creators. The collection also contains a rare interview with rock musician Frank
Zappa, a known Varèse acolyte. Musicians, conductors, and artists are also among the interviewed. Sessions were in English
and other languages (French, Russian) with an interpreter, and took place for the most part in Paris and New York City. These
first generation copies (most of which have never been played) were dubbed from her original audiocassettes between 1989 and
1990, while Mattis was briefly employed at the Archive of Recorded Sound. Copies also appear to have been deposited at Yale
University.
Source
The Olivia Mattis Collection was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by Olivia Mattis in 1990.
Arrangement
Reels have been numbered 1-17. Many interviews are contained on more than one reel. Approximate duration has been noted when
evident.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Avant-garde (Music)
Interviews
Box 1, Reel 15
Abravanel, Maurice
1988-02-29
Scope and Contents note
Salt Lake City, Utah [ca. 90 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abravanel, Maurice, 1903-1993
Box 1, Reel 16
Alcopley, L.
1988-07-29
Scope and Contents note
In his studio, Central Park West, New York City.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Copley, Alfred L.
Box 1, Reel 14
Arel, Bülent
1988-07-13
Scope and Contents note
With Daria Semegen and Vladimir Ussachevsky. Stonybrook, New York.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arel, Bülent, 1919-1990
Box 1, Reel 1
Arman
1989-01-01
Scope and Contents
Armand Pierre Fernandez. Vence, France [ca. 60 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arman, 1928-2005
Box 1, Reel 4
Babbitt, Milton
1990-07-02
Scope and Contents note
In his studio at Julliard, New York City. 3-6:15 PM.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Babbitt, Milton, 1916-2011
Box 1, Reel 10
Brown, Earle
1990-03-30
Scope and Contents note
Venice, California [ca. 90 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brown, Earle, 1926-2002
Box 1, Reel 14
Cage, John
1988-07-28
Scope and Contents note
At his apartment on West 18th Street, New York City [ca. 60 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cage, John
Box 1, Reel 6
Cavallo, Diana
1988-07-30
Scope and Contents note
In her apartment on Broadway, New York City.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cavallo, Diana, 1931-
Box 1, Reel 7, Box 1, Reel 6
Charlton, Maryette
1988-07-18
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Charlton, Maryette
Box 1, Reel 2
Corner, Philip
1989-12-27
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Corner, Philip
Box 1, Reel 1
Creuze, Raymond
1989-09-05
Scope and Contents note
In his art gallery, 12 rue Beaujon, Paris [ca. 53 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Creuze, Raymond
Box 1, Reel 2
Dlugoszewski, Lucia
1989-12-29
Scope and Contents note
Erick Hawkins Dance School, New York City. 4:30-5:15 PM [ca. 45 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Dlugoszewski, Lucia, 1931-2000
Box 1, Reel 10
Emmett, Dorothy Morang
1989-11-08
Scope and Contents note
At her home in Sante Fe, New Mexico [ca. 40 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Emmett, Dorothy Morang
Box 1, Reel 12
Guttman, Newman
1988-07-06
Scope and Contents note
At his home in Evanston, Illinois.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Guttman, Newman
Box 1, Reel 2
Heller, Red
1989-12-29
Scope and Contents note
With Ernest Heller (her husband) and Charles Schwartz, founder of Composer's Showcase. At the home of Red And Ernest (Dick)
Heller in New York City. 1:30-2:30 PM.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Heller, Red, 1898-2003
Box 1, Reel 3
Jolas, Betsy
1989-02-09
Scope and Contents note
At her apartment on rue Bonaparte, Paris. 6:20-7:30 PM [ca. 70 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jolas, Betsy
Box 1, Reel 8
Jolivet, Hilda
1989-08-27
Scope and Contents note
at her home on rue de Varenne, Paris. 2:30 PM [ca. 75 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jolivet, Hilda
Box 1, Reel 12
Kiesler, Lillian
1988-07-18
Scope and Contents note
At her apartment in New York City [ca. 45 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kiesler, Lillian
Box 1, Reel 8
Leeuw, Ton de
1989
Scope and Contents note
at his home on rue de la Convention, Paris. May 12 and September 5, 1989 [ca. 80 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Leeuw, Ton de, 1926-1996
Box 1, Reel 15
Luening, Otto
1988-07-12
Scope and Contents note
New York City.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Luening, Otto, 1900-1996
Box 1, Reel 11
McMillan, Ann
1988-11
Scope and Contents note
New York City, November 9 and 13, 1988. At her apartment, on the street, at Cooper Union while waiting for a John Cage concert
to begin, and then at her apartment again.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
McMillan, Ann
Box 1, Reel 13
Mimaroğlu, Ilhan
1988-07-12
Scope and Contents note
At Finnadar/Atlantic Records, New York City [ca 65 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mimaroğlu, Ilhan K. (Ilhan Kemaleddin), 1926-
Box 1, Reel 12
Pierce, John
1988-01
Scope and Contents note
[ca. 50 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pierce, John R. (John Robinson), 1910-2002
Box 1, Reel 13
Pierce, John ; Pierce, Brenda ; Mathews, Max ; Mathews, Marjorie
1988-08-18
Scope and Contents note
At the Pierce residence.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mathews, Max V.
Pierce, John R. (John Robinson), 1910-2002
Box 1, Reel 1
Rifkin, Joshua
1989-10-11
Scope and Contents note
Stanford office [ca. 45 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Rifkin, Joshua
Box 1, Reel 3
Risset, Jean-Claude
1988-12-26
Scope and Contents note
Olivia's apartment, Paris [ca. 90 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Risset, Jean-Claude
Box 1, Reel 5
Rower, Howard
1988-07-23
Scope and Contents note
Cafe Dante, New York City. 8:00 PM. Rower is Alexander Calder's son-in-law. [ca. 45 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Rower, Howard
Box 1, Reel 2
Schaeffer, Pierre
1989-03-06
Scope and Contents note
In his apartment, rue Des Petits Champs, Paris. 5:00 PM [ca. 40 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Schaeffer, Pierre, 1910-1995
Box 1, Reel 3
Schic, Anna Stella
1989-01-20
Scope and Contents note
With Michel Philippot. Paris, 5:30 PM. Schic (Mme. Philippot) speaks at the beginning about the relations between Varèse
and Villa-Lobos, her master.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Philippot, Michel, Michel, 1925-1996
Schic, Anna Stella
Box 1, Reel 5
Schneemann, Carolee
1988-07-14
Scope and Contents note
[ca. 60 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-
Box 1, Reel 17
Slonimsky, Nicolas
1988-04
Scope and Contents note
At his home in Los Angeles, California, April 2-3, 1988.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995
Box 1, Reel 9
Tenney, James
1990-04-28
Scope and Contents note
At the home of Max and Marjorie Mathews in Palo Alto, California, with Max and Marjorie Mathews, John and Brenda Pierce, and
Todd and Marina Winkler. 10:30 -12:00PM [ca. 90 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Tenney, James
Box 1, Reel 9
Thérémin, Léon (Lev)
1989-06
Scope and Contents note
June 16 and 18, 1989: Portion of interview takes place on airplane during take off. June 17, 1989: demonstration of Thereminvox
by Thérémin's daughter Natalia Thérémin, Bourges, France at the 19th International Experimental Music Festival.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Thérémin, Léon, 1896-1993
Box 1, Reel 17, Box 1, Reel 16
Ussachevsky, Vladimir
1988-02-28
Scope and Contents note
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ussachevsky, Vladimir, 1911-1990
Box 1, Reel 7, Box 1, Reel 8
Varèse, Claude
1988-12
Scope and Contents note
Claude is Edgard Varèse's daughter. December 29, 1988 at Cafe de Paris, Monte Carlo, with Claude's daughter Marilyn Mulder
Vespier ; December 31, 1988 in her apartment on boulevard d'Italie in Monte Carlo.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965
Box 1, Reel 6, Box 1, Reel 5
Varèse, Louise
1988-06
Scope and Contents note
Eugene, Oregon. June 1-3, 1988. Widow of Edgard Varèse, b. 1890. With Michael Norton (Louise's son), Loa Norton (Michael's
wife), Sylvia Gillis (Michael and Loa's daughter), and David Calderwood (Sylvia's fiance).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965
Varèse, Louise
Box 1, Reel 13
Weinberg, Henry
1988-08-01
Scope and Contents note
New York City [ca. 70 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Weinberg, Henry, 1931-
Box 1, Reel 8
Wigglesworth, Frank
1989-09-23
Scope and Contents note
at his home on Downing Street, New York City [ca. 70 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Wigglesworth, Frank, 1918-1996
Box 1, Reel 17
Wood, Beatrice
1988-03-30
Scope and Contents note
Ojai, California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Wood, Beatrice
Box 1, Reel 7
Xenakis, Iannis
1989
Scope and Contents note
At his studio on rue Victor Masse, Paris. May 22 and June 8, 1989.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Xenakis, Iannis, 1922-2001
Box 1, Reel 10
Zappa, Frank
1990-03-30
Scope and Contents note
At his home in Hollywood, California [ca. 60 min.].
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Zappa, Frank
