Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography / Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Gordon Playman papers, 1947-2002
Dates: 1947-2002
Collection Size:
20 boxes
10 linear feet
Repository:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Library.
Dept. of Special Collections
Abstract: Papers of composer Gordon Playman, including manuscript scores, research files, correspondence, clipping and recordings of
his compositions. Playman wrote several large-scale orchestral works, including four symphonies, all of which were performed.
Organized into the following series: I.Musical scores, II.Sound recordings, III.Research Files, IV.Correspondence, and V.Clippings
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
None.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
Gordon Playman papers, 1947-2002. Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Wendy Gonzalez, October 2004.
Biography / Administrative History
Gordon Playman (1922-2004?) studied composition at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, though he left the university
to serve in the Marine Corps as a torpedo bomber pilot in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war ended, he resumed
his studies, graduating in 1947. The same year he won a John Hancock composition scholarship at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts
studying there with Arthur Honegger, Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber.
In 1948 he joined the FBI as a special agent, a position he held for 24 years. After retiring in 1972 he moved to Southern
California, where he devoted his time to composing. His works include: four symphonies, a clarinet concertino, a ballet score,
two essays, a set of variations for orchestra, as well as pieces for string orchestras, solo voice, choral groups and chamber
groups.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Gordon Playman Papers contain a number of his scores in various stages of production and audio recordings of his work.
Also present are small amounts of research files, correspondence and clippings. The scores are among the most interesting
of these sections since frequently works can be tracked from sketches and vellum to performance copies and arrangements. The
papers range in date from 1947 to 2002 and are predominantly in English. They are organized into the following series: I.Musical
scores, II.Sound recordings, III.Research Files, IV.Correspondence, and V.Clippings.
Arrangement
Organized into the following series: I.Musical scores, II.Sound recordings, III.Research Files, IV.Correspondence, and V.Clippings
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Composers -- Archives
Scores
Sound Recordings