Guide to the Gordon Playman Papers, 1947-2002

Dawn Burley, Lisa Koch and David Seubert

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax: (805) 893-5749

Email: special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Guide to the Gordon Playman Papers, 1947-2002

Collection number: PA Mss 59

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Processed by:: Dawn Burley, Lisa Koch and David Seubert
Date Completed:: June 2008
Encoded by:: Lisa Koch

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

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

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

1 Scores

Box 1: 1

Quartet #1

Box 1: 1

Full Score, Mss/Vellum

Box 1: 2

Quartet #1

Box 1: 2

Parts, Mss/Diazo/Vellum

Box 1: 3

Quartet #1

Box 1: 3

Misc. Papers

Box 1: 4

Symphony #1

Box 1: 4

Full Score, Mss/Vellum

Box 1: 5

Symphony #1

Box 1: 5

Misc. Papers

Box 2: 1

Dear Men and Women

Box 2: 1

Full Score, Diazo/Vellum/Photocopy

Box 2: 2

Dear Men and Women

Box 2: 2

Piano Score (x2), Diazo

Box 2: 3

Dear Men and Women

Box 2: 3

Parts, Diazo/Vellum

Box 2: 4

Dear Men and Women

Box 2: 4

Misc. Papers

Box 18: 4

Essay for Orchestra #1

Box 18: 4

Full Score, Diazo/Mss

Box 18: 5

Essay for Orchestra #1, revised 1969

Box 18: 5

Full Score, Diazo/Mss

Box 3: 1

Essay for Orchestra #1

Box 3: 1

Piano Score, Mss

Box 19: 18

Concertino for Clarinet and String Orchestra

Box 19: 18

Full Score, Diazo/Mss

Box 3: 2

Concertino for Clarinet and Strings

Box 3: 2

Score Draft, Mss

Box 3: 3

Concertino for Clarinet

Box 3: 3

Parts, Mss/Vellum/Photocopy

Box 19: 19