Willy Stahl papers,
1894-1963
Finding aid prepared by UCLA Library Special Collections staff. Reprocessed in 2015 by Lori Dedeyan, machine- readable finding
aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Willy Stahl papers
Collection number: PASC-M 244
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.6 linear ft.
(9 flat boxes and 1 oversize flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1894-1963
Abstract: This collection consists of the manuscript scores and personal papers of composer Willy Stahl. Papers include photographs,
correspondence, contracts, drawings and sketches, journals and written manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and concert programs.
Language of Materials: Materials are largely in English, with a few pieces in French and German.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Stahl, Willy
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Willy Stahl Papers (Collection PASC-M 244). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
William Bernard (Willy) Stahl was a self- described "composer, violinist, painter, ceramicist, writer, archaeologist, traveler,
bum, and lots of unmentionables." This collection is mainly representative of his work as a composer and musician.
Born on 22 June 1896 in New Jersey, Stahl grew up in New York City. He played violin as a child and in 1912 was sent to Vienna
to study at the Imperial Conservatory of Music. After returning to the United States, he was drafted in 1917 and briefly stationed
at Fort Totten, Long Island. He played with the Russian and New York Symphony orchestras around this time. Stahl became director
of the Rialto Theatre Orchestra in New York City in 1923, later moving to the Brooklyn Strand Theater, where his directorship
lasted from 1926-1929. He moved to Hollywood in 1934 and worked as a composer for radio shows and motion pictures, also working
with Meredith Wilson and Victor Young as an arranger and assistant conductor. Around this time, a few of his compositions
were performed at New York venues and by the Works Progress Administration's Federal Orchestra. Stahl composed at least five
symphonies and 35 pieces of chamber music, which are all likely represented in this collection. He died of cancer on 11 April
1963, in Venice, California.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the scores and personal papers of composer Willy Stahl. Scores largely include manuscript compositions
by Stahl himself, with a smaller portion of primarily published scores by other composers. Personal papers include photographs,
correspondence, contracts and license agreements, bills and affidavits, journals and written manuscripts, drawings and sketches,
newspaper clippings, and concert programs.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Scores
- Subseries 1.1. Stahl
- Subseries 1.2. Other composers
- Series 2. Personal papers
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Stahl, Willy--Archives
Chamber music--Scores.
Orchestral music--Scores.
Scores.
Violin and piano music--Scores.
Series 1. Scores.
1894-1962.
Subseries 1.1. Stahl.
1914-1962.
Scope and Content
This series contains manuscript scores and sketches by Stahl. Scores have been arranged by title.
Box 1, Folder 1
An American Poem. parts.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 2
An American Prelude, for Flute, Violin, and Two Pianos. parts.
1961.
Box 1, Folder 3
Anicette. full score.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 4
Book VI. Three String Quartets, in Five Movements. parts.
1940.
Box 1, Folder 5
A Collection of Nine Commercial Songs, Ballads and Dance Numbers. lead sheets.
1960.
Scope and Content
Includes: My Heart is Always Thine, It Is With Love, Show Me How, Then I’ll Give You My Heart, No Other One But You, You’re
My Dream, I Dream of You, Always Be Mine, and You’ll Crawl Back to Me and Cry.
Box 1, Folder 6
Concert Piece for Violin and Piano. parts.
1914-1947.
Box 1, Folder 7
Dead Forest (Music for the Theatre). full score.
1932.
Box 1, Folder 9
Five Short Preludes for Orchestra. parts and master score.
1939.
Box 1, Folder 10
Four Little Novelties, for Violin and Piano. parts.
1934.
Box 2, Folder 1
Four Nature Pictures for Violin, Viola, Oboe, Cello. parts.
1936.
Box 2, Folder 2
Hollywood Sketches for String Quartet. parts.
1936.
Box 2, Folder 3
Hora’n Gluma (Hora Dance in Fun). sketch.
undated.
Box 2, Folder 4
Improvisations on a Theme. parts and sketches.
1936.
Box 2, Folder 5
Kermesse Grotesque, for Piano with four hands and two violins. parts and sketches.
1933.
Box 2, Folder 6
Little Fantasy. full score.
1941.
Box 2, Folder 7
Little Lullaby. lead sheet.
1925.
Box 2, Folder 9
Lyric Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. full score and parts.
1946.
Box 2, Folder 10
March Heroic, for Violin Solo and Piano Accompaniment. parts.
1946.
Box 2, Folder 11
March of the Bullfrogs. full score and parts.
undated.
Box 2, Folder 12
Melody. parts and sketches.
1933-1948.
Box 3, Folder 1
Motus Melodicus, for Helene. violin or piano score.
1960.
Box 3, Folder 2
Nocturne for Symphony Strings. sketch.
1962.
Box 3, Folder 3
The Perfume Shop, Suite for Orchestra. parts, fulls scores, and sketches.
circa [1927-1928].
Box 3, Folder 4
A Piece for String Quartet, I. parts.
1943.
Box 3, Folder 5
A Piece for String Quartet, II. parts.
1944.
Box 3, Folder 6
A Piece for Strings and Harp. full score and parts.
1936.
Box 3, Folder 7
Prelude. score and sketches.
1959.
Box 3, Folder 8
Romantic Fantasy. score.
1916.
Box 4, Folder 1
Second String Quartet. parts.
1936.
Box 4, Folder 2
Second Trio, First and Second Movements. full score and parts.
1936.
Box 4, Folder 3
Serenade. full score.
circa 1943.
Box 4, Folder 4
Short Piece for String Quartet. parts.
1949.
Box 4, Folder 5
“Sketches”.
circa [1937-1962].
Scope and Content
Folder contains sketches for various titled and untitled pieces.
Box 4, Folder 6
String Quartet in E, No. 1 (In Three Movements). parts.
1935.
Box 4, Folder 7
Suite of Five Pieces for String Quartette. parts.
1931.
Box 6
Symphonic Trio in Three Movements for Violin, Cello, and Piano with Orchestra. full scores and parts.
circa 1935-1937.
Box 5, Folder 1
Symphonie Helene (Seventh Symphony) in Five Movements. full score.
1959-1962.
Box 5, Folder 2
Symphony No. 1. parts.
circa 1930s.
Box 5, Folder 3
Symphony No. 1, Movement 1. full score.
1934.
Box 9, Folder 2
Third Symphony, The Country. Symphony in Four Parts for Large Orchestra. full score.
1945-1946.
Box 5, Folder 4
Three Pieces for String Quartet. parts.
1936.
Box 5, Folder 5
Three Pieces for String Trio. parts.
undated .
Box 5, Folder 6
Three Trees, for Trio. parts.
1935-1939.
Box 5, Folder 7
Two Impressions for Large Orchestra. full score sketch.
1932.
Box 5, Folder 8
Two Little Color Pieces for Orchestra. full score.
1928.
Box 5, Folder 9
Two Lyric Pieces for Violin and Piano, I. score.
undated.
Box 5, Folder 10
Two Lyric Pieces, II. score.
undated.
Box 9, Folder 3
Two Movements in Symphonic Form. full score.
1938-1939.
Box 5, Folder 11
Two Pieces for Quintet (Two Violins, Viola, Cello, Piano). parts.
1933.
Box 5, Folder 12
Two Pieces for String Quartet. parts.
undated.
Box 5, Folder 13
Two Pieces for Trio. parts.
1943.
Box 5, Folder 14
Two Songs of Nature. parts.
1946.
Box 4, Folder 8
Universal Prayer. parts.
1945.
Box 4, Folder 9
Universal Prayer No. II, for Violin and Piano. parts.
1959.
Box 4, Folder 10
Untitled score. sketch.
undated.
Subseries 1.2. Other composers.
1894-1956.
Scope and Content
This subseries contains scores by other composers, arranged alphabetically by surname. They are published, unless otherwise
noted.
Box 10, Folder 1
Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Sonatas for Pianoforte and Violin.
1894.
Box 10, Folder 2
Drdla, Franz. Souvenir, for violin and piano.
1907.
Box 10, Folder 3
Elman, Mischa. Succes Classiques pour Violon et Piano.
undated.
Box 10, Folder 4
Grainger, Percy Aldridge. Molly on the Shore, Irish Reel.
1924.
Box 10, Folder 5
Greene, More and Lou Singer. Sleepy Serenade.
1941.
Box 10, Folder 6
Hoffman, Al, Mann Curtis, and Jerry Livingston. I Wish I Had a Dime (For Ev'rytime I Missed You).
1941.
Box 10, Folder 7
Kreisler, Fritz. Violin Compositions.
1911.
Box 10, Folder 8
Kreutzer, Rodolphe. Forty- Two Studies or Caprices for the Violin.
1923.
Box 10, Folder 9
Lalo, Edouard. Symphonie Espagnole for Violin and Piano, Op.21.
1915.
Box 10, Folder 10
Mendelssohn- Bartholdy. Wedding March.
undated.
Box 10, Folder 11
Nachez, Tivadar. Konzert- Bearbeitunge fur Violine und Klavier.
1912.
Box 10, Folder 12
O' Brien, Obie. Dreamed and The Mouse in the Moon. manuscript lead sheets.
Box 10, Folder 13
Raye, Don and Gene de Paul. You Don't Know What Love Is (From Universal Picture "Keep 'Em Flying"). manuscript lead sheet.
1941.
Box 10, Folder 14
Saint-Saëns, Camille. Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso.
1901.
Box 10, Folder 15
Stein, Jack. If It Wasn't to Be. manuscript lead sheet.
1956.
Box 10, Folder 16
Wienawski, Henri. Etudes- Caprices for Violin, Op.18.
undated.
Box 10, Folder 17
Treasure Chest Community Songster.
1936.
Box 10, Folder 18
Violinist's Recital Album. A Collection of Eighteen Famous Compositions for Violin with Piano Accompaniment.
1905.
Series 2. Personal papers.
Box 7, Folder 1
Photographs.
circa 1900- 1960.
Box 7, Folder 2
General correspondence.
1956-1963.
Box 7, Folder 3
Letters to wife Helene.
circa 1959-1963.
Box 7, Folder 4
Letters from Wilton B. Persons, President's secretary, White House.
1959-1960.
Box 7, Folder 5
Autobiography draft.
circa 1956.
Box 7, Folder 7
Affidavits of support regarding sobriety.
1957.
Box 7, Folder 8
Certificates of military discharge and death.
1958-1963.
Box 7, Folder 9
Bills and receipts.
1934-1963.
Box 7, Folder 10
Clippings and articles.
circa 1948-1963.
Box 7, Folder 11
Manuscripts and typescripts by others.
undated.
Box 8, Folder 1
Composers in America, by Claire R. Reis.
1947.
Box 8, Folder 2
Manuscripts.
circa 1951-1959.
Box 8, Folders 3-6
Drawings, sketches, and paintings.
circa 1948-1960.
Box 9, Folder 1
Scrapbook.
circa 1900- 1960.
Scope and Content
Scrapbook includes photographs, clippings, correspondence, drawings, and concert programs.
Box 9, Folder 4
Felt painting on woven mat.
undated.
