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Finding Aid for the Alfred Leonard and Joseph Leonard Collection, 1902-2001
180
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Title: Alfred Leonard and Joseph Leonard Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1902-2001
Collection number: 180
Creators: Alfred Leonard and Joseph Leonard
Extent: 17 boxes (8.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: This collection documents the musical activities and compositions of the brothers Alfred and Joseph Leonard.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF.
Advance notice is required for access to the collection.
Please contact the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections for paging information.
Language:
English.
Copyright has not been assigned to the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections. All requests
for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in
writing to the Librarian for Performing Arts Special Collections. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the Performing Arts Special Collectionsas the owner of the
physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Eleanor Rubin, 1999, 2000.
[Identification of item],
Alfred Leonard and Joseph Leonard Collection, 180, Performing Arts Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
P. (Peter) Alfred Leonard (ne Alfred Levi; b. Mannheim, Germany 1909; d. September 10, 1988) was
an entrepreneur, director of symphonic programs on KFAC, radio host for The Golden Hour in 1935 for
which he also published several monographs for subscribers, owner of a Los Angeles music store,
Gateway to Music (1939-1958), founder of the Los Angeles Music Guild (1944) and director of its
concert series (1945-1952). His family was originally from Mannheim, and he came to the
United States in 1933. As an avid supporter of classical music, his circle of friends included
Ernst and Lilly Toch (also from Mannheim), Artur Schnabel, piano duo performers Vitya Vronsky and
Victor Babin, among others whose concerts he sponsored and careers he followed such as Joseph
Szigeti, and Otto Klemperer. His relationship with the Tochs was very close, and correspondence
included exchanges of gifts, poetry, and musical manuscripts. As Ernst shared the same birthday as
Alfred's daughter, Barbara, for several years he sent musical compositions and a theme and
variations based on her name in celebration of their joint birthday. Alfred was also a writer;
this collection includes his articles published in magazines and a collection of essays, and other
unpublished writings and lectures. He published Gateway to Music - Bulletin (1939-1952) as an
adjunct to his store with reviews of recordings. As the host to the radio show, he also kept reel
to reel recordings of his shows, and maintained recordings of Music Guild concert performances.
His brother Joseph Julius Leonard (ne Josef Julius Levi) (b. August 7, 1903; Mannheim, Germany d. May
20, 1979) was a blind, talented pianist and organist, who had an extensive performing career
in Germany before immigrating to the United States. In 1936 he was invited by Manuel Compinksy
to join the faculty at the Pacific Institute of Music and Fine Arts, where he served on the
faculty. In Los Angeles, he served as organist and choir director at Beth Am synagogue (1953-?) and
performed in secular and religious concerts as a soloist and choir director.
This collection provides valuable documents on Los Angeles Western classical musical programs, local
Jewish community musical events, Toch materials not found in other collections, German and German
Jewish newspapers from the 1920s-30s, and correspondence with important composers and
performers. In addition, this collection provides supporting material on the lives of Ernst Toch,
Artur Schnabel, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, piano duo Vitya Vronsky and Victor Babin, and Joseph
Szigeti.
Collection consists of documents, clippings, music
programs, brochures, correspondence, recordings
and photographs relating to the careers of Alfred
and Joseph Leonard. Correspondence includes
communications with Artur Schnabel, Ernst and
Lilly Toch, pianists Babin-Vronksy, Joseph
Szigeti, Peter Heyworth, and others. Collection
also includes other printed publications,
monographs, German language newspapers from 1920s
and 30s, musical compositions and manuscripts by
Ernst Toch and Joseph Leonard. Recordings include
published and unpublished 33, 45 and 78 rpm
records, reel-to-reel audiotapes, CD transfers of
78s.
Arranged in the following series:
- Sheet music - Published
- Sheet music - Unpublished manuscripts
- Correspondence
- Newspapers, Newsletters, Magazines
- Clippings, Advertisements, Reviews
- Books and Monographs
- Articles, Lectures, Sermons, Other Writings
- Scrap books
- Music Programs
- Documents
- Catalogues and Brochures
- Photographs
- Sound recordings
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Music--California--Los
Angeles
Music--Manuscripts
Leonard, Alfred
Leonard, Joseph
Schnabel, Artur,
1882-1951
Toch, Ernst