Inventory of the Jonathan Elkus Papers, 1940-[ongoing]

Collection processed by Michelle Buchmeier and Atsuko Tanida; finding aid written by Michelle Buchmeier and Atsuko Tanida
Music Library
Hargrove Music Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-2623
Email: music_reference@berkeley.edu
URL: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/music_library_archives
© 2000
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Jonathan Elkus Papers, 1940-[ongoing]

Collection number: ARCHIVES ELKUS 3

The Music Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information

  • Hargrove Music Library
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
  • Phone: (510) 642-2623
  • Email: music_reference@berkeley.edu
  • URL: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/music_library_archives
Collection Processed By:
Michelle Buchmeier and Atsuko Tanida
Finding Aid Created By
Michelle Buchmeier and Atsuko Tanida
Date Completed
July 1997, Oct. 1998 (added material)
Encoded By
James Lake and Xiuzhi Zhou; re-encoded programmatically by EAD Stylus
Revised By
Judy Tsou
© 2000 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Jonathan Elkus Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1940-[ongoing]
Collection number: ARCHIVES ELKUS 3
Creator: Elkus, Jonathan
Extent: 2 legal size document boxes

7 oversize legal document boxes

3 flat storage boxes

1 oversize storage boxes
Repository: The Music Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Music Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Jonathan Elkus Papers, ARCHIVES ELKUS 3, The Music Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Biographical Sketch

Jonathan Britton Elkus (b. San Francisco, CA, August 8, 1931). Composer, arranger, editor, and teacher. He studied composition with Charles Cushing and William Denny at the University of California, Berkeley (BA 1953), with Ernst Bacon and Leonard Ratner at Stanford University (MA 1957), and with Darius Milhaud at Mills College (1957). He taught at Lehigh University from 1957 to 1973 and became director of music at Cape Cod Academy in 1979. He has been guest conductor with concert bands throughout the USA.
As an editor, Elkus has been closely associated with the music of Charles Ives. He is editor of the Ives Society's critical edition of the Robert Browning Overture and is the author of Charles Ives and the American Band Tradition (1974/R1975). A vital interest in extending the repertory of concert bands has resulted in a number of compositions and numerous transcriptions, including Ives's A Son of a Gambolier and The Circus Band, and Berlioz's Grande Symphonie funébre et triomphale. Elkus's musical vocabulary draws on several 20th-century idioms, resulting in a highly individual style with strong definition of pitch and chord centers. -- New Grove Dictionary of American Music
Jonathan Elkus presently teaches at the University of California, Davis, and with his wife, Mickey, runs the Overland Music Distributors in Albany, California.

Scope and Content

The collection includes music manuscripts and proofs as well as printed music. It includes concert programs and production notes of performances. It also includes a small collection of personal correspondence, offprint articles and related documents on friends and colleagues. There are some documents on the Cal Band, concert programs, and sound recordings by UC students and groups. A scrapbook documents Elkus's theatrical and musical productions during his years at Cal.

Series Description

There are nine series: Music Compositions, Correspondence and other documents, Concerts and Performances, College Class Notes and Assignments, UC Marching Band, Other Organizations, Sound Recordings, Posters, and Miscellany.

 

SERIES 1: MUSIC COMPOSITIONS

 

SUBSERIES A: Instrumental Music by J. Elkus

Box 1, Folder 1

Music to Jean Anovih's Antigone. Printed sketches for wind ensemble.

Box 11, Folder 1

The Apocalypse - A Rag. Holograph full score for concert band.

Box 11, Folder 2

The CC Rag. Holograph full score for concert band in pencil.

Box 1, Folder 2

The CC Rag. Printed conductor'ss score.

Box 1, Folder 3

Camino Real. Incidental music and dances for block eleven (fiesta) for Tennessee Williams's play." Manuscript in pencil with sketch for block nine. Includes Sandor Salgo's markings.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camino Real. Photostat piano scores and sketches.

Box 1, Folder 5

Chiaroscuro for Concert Band. Holograph full score in pencil and red ink.

Box 1, Folder 6

Chiaroscuro for Concert Band. Printed conductor's score.

Box 1, Folder 7

Julius Caesar. Sketches in pencil, notes and corrections in pen.

Box 1, Folder 8

Julius Caesar. Incidental music to Shakespeare's plays. Manuscript of orchestral parts in ink.

 

SUBSERIES B: Dramatic Works by J. Elkus

Box 1, Folder 9

Charmed Waters. Manuscript (mostly in pencil, with some photocopied pages inserted) of vocal score with markings and corrections.

Box 1, Folder 10

Charmed Waters. Sketches.

Box 1, Folder 11

Charmed Waters. Orchestra masters, manuscript in ink.

Box 1, Folder 12

Charmed Waters. Photocopy of manuscripts. Parts (drum set and percussion).

Box 1, Folder 13

Cinderella. Bound manuscript of vocal score in ink. Newspaper article and program attached to the first few pages of the score.

Box 1, Folder 14

The Dorados. Manuscript of vocal score. Ozalid.

Box 1, Folder 15

The Magic of Oz. Vocal score. Includes souvenir coloring and storybook. Photocopy of manuscript.

Box 1, Folder 16

The Mandarin. Libretto by Richard Franko Goldman. Published by Carl Fischer, Inc.

Box 1, Folder 17

The Mandarin. Copy of libretto published by J.B. Elkus and Son.

Box 1, Folder 18

Five songs from Odyssey. Manuscript, vocal score. 34 lvs in ink.

Box 1, Folder 19

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Libretto by Robert Bander. (photocopy).

Box 1, Folder 20

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Libretto (photocopy). Editorial markings by Gustav Reese of Carl Fischer.

Box 1, Folder 21

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Libretto (photocopy). Editorial markings by Robert Bander. Includes a letter from Bander to the composer.

Box 11, Folder 3

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Sketches and revisions in pencil and prints of vocal score.

Box 2, Folder 1

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Vocal score with editorial markings by Arthur Bloom. Loose leaves, mimeograph and prints. Includes letter by Bloom to the composer.

Box 11, Folder 4

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Manuscript of vocal score in ink, originally inserted in three 14" x 17" sketchbooks.

Box 11, Folder 5

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Sections to be inserted to vocal score. Manuscript in ink.

Box 11, Folder 6

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Bound vocal score with notes and corrections made in red pencil. Includes program and photograph.

Box 12, Folder 1

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Manuscript of full score in pencil.

Box 2, Folder 2a,2b

Outcasts of Poker Flat. Master for orchestra parts." Manuscript in ink.

Box 2, Folder 3

Tom Sawyer. Published libretto.

Box 2, Folder 4

Tom Sawyer. Published vocal score.

Box 12, Folder 2

Tom Sawyer. Bound printed vocal score and libretto (unbound) inserted in a pocket. Notes in pencil.

Box 12, Folder 3

Tom Sawyer. Bound printed full score. With some markings in red pencil.

Box 2, Folder 5

Tom Sawyer. 3 photographs of manuscript with a note, originally inserted in the printed full score (Box 12 folder 3).

Box 2, Folder 6

Tom Sawyer. Galop. Ozalid manuscript.

Box 2, Folder 7

Treasure Island. Published libretto. Words by Bruce Snyder.

Box 2, Folder 8

Treasure Island. Published vocal score.

Box 13, Folder 1

Treasure Island. Full score. Bound manuscript in ink.

Box 2, Folder 9

Valthek. Typescript of libretto [27 lvs].

Box 2, Folder 10

Valthek. Typescript of synopsis and lyrics [11 lvs].

Box 2, Folder 11

Valthek. Lead sheets, manuscript in ink [13 lvs].

Box 2, Folder 12

Valthek. Orchestra masters, Adummies@ and miscellaneous notes.

Box 3, Folder 1

Valthek. Vocal score. Manuscript in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 2

Valthek. Guitar parts in pencil, loose leaves.

Box 3, Folder 3

Valthek. Electric keyboard part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 4

Valthek. Bass part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 5

Valthek. B=clarinet and E=Alto sax part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 6

Valthek. Baritone part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 7

Valthek. Drum set part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 8

Valthek. Percussion part in pencil.

Box 3, Folder 9

Venice à la Mode. Synopsis and libretto. Typescript. Words by Robert Bander. Last version, 1977 [22 lvs].

Box 3, Folder 10

Venice à la Mode. Libretto with corrections and insertions made in pen by Robert Bander. Typescript [14 lvs].

Box 3, Folder 11

Venice à la Mode. Libretto, 2nd draft. Typescript [17 lvs].

Box 3, Folder 12

Venice à la Mode. Libretto, 3rd draft. Typescript [21 lvs].

 

SUBSERIES C: Music Arranged by J. Elkus

Box 3, Folder 13

Bliss, Arthur. Fanfare: Prelude for The Age of Kings. Condensed score. Incomplete pencil copy, complete ink and ozalid copies.

Box 3, Folder 14

Bliss, Arthur. Fanfare: Prelude for The Age of Kings. Manuscript. Full score in ink and pencil. Parts in ink and published copies.

Box 4, Folder 1

Ives, Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Photographs interleaved with photocopies of manuscript.

Box 4, Folder 2

Ives, Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Page proof with correction.

Box 4, Folder 3

Ives, Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Photocopy of holograph full score.

Box 4, Folder 4

Ives Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Page proof with corrections.

Box 3, Folder 15

Ives, Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Printed full score.

Box 3, Folder 16

Ives, Charles E. Thanksgiving and Forefather's Day. Critical commentary.

Box 3, Folder 17

Jacobi, Frederick. The Prodigal Son. Manuscript (photocopy).

Box 3, Folder 18

Joplin, Scott. Ragtime-Dance for Symphonic band. Published full score.

Box 13, Folder 2

Joplin, Scott. Ragtime-Dance for Symphonic band. Holograph. Full score in pencil and red ink.

Box 3, Folder 19

Sly, Allan Passacaglia for Piano. Submitted to Jonathan Elkus to transcribe for band. The arrangement was never done.

Box 5, Folder 1

Wagner, Richard. Siegfried's Funeral March.

 

SUBSERIES D: Music Published By J. Elkus

Box 5, Folder 2

Armer, Elinor. String Quartet 1983. (J.B. Elkus and Son)

Box 5, Folder 3

Cushing, Charles. Piece for Clarinet and Piano. (J.B. Elkus and Son)

Box 5, Folder 4

Cushing, Charles. Piece for Clarinet and Piano. Ozalid copies. Manuscript. Arthur Bloom, copyist.

Box 5, Folder 5

O=Neill, Eugene. Eugene O'Neill Song Book. (East Bay Books)

Box 5, Folder 6

O=Neill, Eugene. Eugene O=Neill Song Book, marked proof copy. (East Bay Books)

 

SUBSERIES E: Music by Others

Box 5, Folder 7

Bliss, Arthur. Age of Kings. Bound ozalid full score of prelude and postlude. Includes small, published condensed score of prelude, chorale, and postlude, arr. by F. Erickson.

Box 5, Folder 8

Bliss, Arthur. 3 Published conductor's scores of Fanfare for Heaven, Three Jubilant Fanfares and Three Solemn Fanfares, Two Royal Fanfares.

Box 5, Folder 9

Ferguson, Howard. A Festive Fanfare. Full score (copied from parts by J. Elkus). (original manuscript, photocopy print) Includes published music parts for 4 B= trumpets and 3 trombones.

Box 5, Folder 10

Neale, Charles. Zueline Galop. Arrangement of Albert Elkus's original 1896 composition for military band. Manuscript in ink [6 lvs].

Box 5, Folder 11

Weil, Oscar. Ah, Thou Golden Month of May. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

Box 5, Folder 12

Weil, Oscar. If Love, Like Spring, Can Come and Go. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

Box 5, Folder 13

Weil, Oscar. No Tears Have We to Shed. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

Box 5, Folder 14

Weil, Oscar. On Meadow and Hillside. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

Box 5, Folder 15

Weil, Oscar. Tears are Idle and Said the Sallow. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

Box 5, Folder 16

Weil, Oscar. Ye Winds of Nature. Published score, SATB and piano accompaniment.

 

SERIES 2: DOCUMENTS

 

SUBSERIES A: Correspondences (often with other documents)

Box 6, Folder 1

Babbit, Milton.

Box 6, Folder 2a

Bander, Robert. Letters and photographs.

Box 6, Folder 2b

Bander, Robert. Letters regarding Outcast of Poker Flat and Venice à la Mode. Legal agreement, letters from Carl Fischer publishing company, card from Muriel Thebault, sketches, copy of libretto, newspaper article on Bander, etc.

Box 6, Folder 2c

Bander, Robert. Letter regarding S.R. Beckler's version of Outcasts of Poker Flat. Includes newspaper clipping and program.

Box 6, Folder 3

Berdhal, James.

Box 6, Folder 4

Bloch, Ernest.

Box 6, Folder 5

Boyden, David.

Box 6, Folder 7

Commanday, Bob.

Box 6, Folder 8

Downey, Al.

Box 6, Folder 9

Dochterman, Clifford.

Box 6, Folder 10

Farquhar, Samuel.

Box 6, Folder 11

Field, Sara Bard.

Box 6, Folder 12

Hertz, Lilly.

Box 6, Folder 13

Jacobi, Frederick.

Box 6, Folder 15

Mihailoff, Sergei.

Box 6, Folder 16

Nicewonger, Harriet.

Box 6, Folder 17

Pharris, Elizabeth. Letters, papers, concert programs, and 2 photographs. (regarding Outcast of Poker Flat

Box 6, Folder 18

Renzi, Dorothy. Letters, resume, and 4 photographs. (regarding Outcast of Poker Flat

Box 6, Folder 19

Schwabacher, James. Letter regarding Outcasts of Poker Flat.

Box 6, Folder 20

Sessions, Roger.

Box 6, Folder 21

Shifrin, Seymour.

Box 6, Folder 22

Slonimsky, Nicholas.

Box 6, Folder 23

Spies, Claudio.

Box 6, Folder 24

Stricklen, Edward Griffith.

Box 6, Folder 25

Taylor, Alice. Letters and a photograph. (regarding Outcast of Poker Flat

Box 6, Folder 26

Thompson, Randall.

Box 6, Folder 27

Unidentified correspondents. 3 letters.

 

SUBSERIES B: Scrapbook

 

Scrapbook (removed for conservation 11/98)

 

SERIES 3: CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES

 

SUBSERIES A: Concert Programs

Box 6, Folder 28

1940-1949

Box 6, Folder 29

1950-1953

Box 6, Folder 30

1955-1967

Box 7, Folder 1

1983-1987

 

SUBSERIES B: Documents related to performances and productions of Jonathan Elkus's music

Box 6, Folder 31

Charmed Waters. Notes to band members, faculty.

 

Outcasts of Poker Flat.

Box 6, Folder 32

Budget.

Box 6, Folder 32

Correspondence. See correspondence under Bander, Pharris, Renizi, Schwabacher, Taylor.

Box 6, Folder 33

Costuming.

Box 6, Folder 34

Dow Publishers. Correspondence.

Box 6, Folder 35

Expenses.

Box 6, Folder 36

Fundraising.

Box 6, Folder 37

Funds -- Salz Fund.

Box 6, Folder 38

Funds -- Institute of Research. Includes accounts, requisitions, invoices regarding vocal score.

Box 6, Folder 39

Legal agreement. Papers regarding Bander-Elkus agreement.

Box 6, Folder 40

Library.

Box 6, Folder 41

Orchestra.

Box 7, Folder 2

Photographs. 63 black and white photographs in 13 envelopes.

Box 7, Folder 3

Program. Lists of names of people involved in the production.

Box 7, Folder 4

Prospects. Correspondences with various people and organizations for possible attendance, publication, performances, etc.

Box 7, Folder 5

Publicity. Photographs of cast members, letters, notes, stage plot, etc. (original folder label: Publicity (Hansen))

Box 7, Folder 6

Publicity releases by Dept. of Music.

Box 7, Folder 7

Publicity and Reviews. Newspaper clippings.

Box 7, Folder 8

Publicity and Reviews. Photocopies of newspaper clippings.

Box 7, Folder 9

Publicity and Reviews. Magazines: Lehigh Alumni Bulletin (June 1960) and Music of the West (Mar 1961).

Box 7, Folder 10

Rehearsal schedule.

Box 7, Folder 11

Santa Fe Opera Company. Correspondence. Includes J. Crosby's comments.

Box 7, Folder 12

Staging and technical aspects of production.

Box 7, Folder 13

West Bay Opera Association. Correspondence.

 

Valthek.

Box 7, Folder 14

Notes to band members, rehearsal schedule, list of names.

Box 7, Folder 15

Synopsis, program, ticket, newspaper article, etc.

 

SERIES 4: COLLEGE CLASS NOTES AND ASSIGNMENTS

Box 7, Folder 16

English 128-- Fall 1952.

Box 7, Folder 17

Music 20C-- Spring 1952.

Box 7, Folder 18

Music 127A-- Fall 1952.

Box 7, Folder 19

Music 118B-- Fall 1951.

 

SERIES 5: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MARCHING BAND

Box 8, Folder 1

Correspondence.

Box 8, Folder 2

Miscellaneous marching band parts.

Box 8, Folder 3

Miscellaneous documents I.

Box 8, Folder 4

Miscellaneous documents II.

Box 8, Folder 5

Speech given by Jonathan Elkus.

 

SERIES 6: PUBLISHING COMPANIES OWNED BY J. ELKUS

 

SUBSERIES A: East Bay Books

Box 8, Folder 6

Materials of Matador Monograph Series, This Misery of Boots.

Box 8, Folder 7

This Misery of Boots.

 

SUBSERIES B: Elkus Press

Box 8, Folder 8

The Elkus Press. Correspondence.

 

SUBSERIES C: J.B. Elkus & Son Music Publishers

Box 8, Folder 9

Materials for The Mandarin.

Box 8, Folder 10

The Mandarin, regarding transfer from Carl Fischer. Correspondence with Alexandra Goldman, D.F.G., Arthur Cohen (Carl Fischer), Douglas Jones (MMB), etc.

 

SUBSERIES D: Overland Music Distributors

Box 8, Folder 11

Documents and info for obtaining a business license.

Box 8, Folder 12

Business cards, stationary, list of music published.

 

SERIES 7: OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Box 8, Folder 13

Composer's Forum. Correspondence.

Box 8, Folder 14

The Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music. Newsletter.

Box 8, Folder 15

King's Music. Catalogs, published scores, etc.

Box 8, Folder 16

MMB Music, Inc. Performance catalog for 1992.

Box 8, Folder 17

UCLA, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. Letters regarding acquisition of Colt's Armory Press.

Box 8, Folder 18

Miscellaneous. Samples of letterheads from music publishing companies, letters.

 

SERIES 8: SOUND RECORDINGS

 

SUBSERIES A: Elkus's Compositions

Box 9, Folder 1

CC Rag in Western District Winter Festival Concert, LP.

Box 9, Folder 2

The Cal Band March, Chiaroscuro in 1982 Zone 9 Area All-State Concert, LP.

Box 9, Folder 3

Camino Real in Carnegie Hall Concert, LP.

Box 9, Folder 4

Camino Real. Lehigh University and Cornell University Concert Bands, LP.

Box 9, Folder 5

Camino Real in P.M.E.A. Regional Band, LP.

Box 9, Folder 6

The Dorados. Lehigh University Band and Glee Club, LP. 2 copies.

Box 9, Folder 7

Football Sequence in Lehigh Sounds, LP.

Box 9, Folder 8

Golden Bear Fanfare in Songs of California, LP.

Box 9, Folder 9

I See You Everywhere in Big Game Gaieties 1954, LP.

Box 9, Folder 10

Julius Caesar. Reel -to-reel tape.

Box 9, Folder 11

Julius Caesar. Lehigh University Band, LP.

Box 9, Folder 12

Marching Lehigh Sequence, Precision Drill in Moonshine and Marches, LP.

Box 9, Folder 13

The Mandarin. Lehigh University Band, reel-to-reel tape.

Box 9, Folder 14

Medea. Lehigh University Band, reel-to-reel tape.

Box 9, Folder 15

Medea. Performed at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, reel-to-reel. tape.

Box 10, Folder 1

Oedipus in She's Gone!, LP.

Box 10, Folder 2

The Outcasts of Poker Flat. Reel-to-reel tape.

Box 10, Folder 3

The Outcasts of Poker Flat. LP.

 

SUBSERIES B: Music Arranged by Elkus

Box 10, Folder 4

Big Game Gaieties of 1955, LP.

Box 10, Folder 5

Big Game Gaieties of 1956, vol. I & II; LP.

Box 10, Folder 6

Centennial Song by Godfrey, Salute to Lehigh University by Bliss in Pops, LP.

Box 10, Folder 7

Fanfare-Songs-Marches: The 97, LP.

Box 10, Folder 8

Of Thee I Sing, vol. I & II; LP.

Box 10, Folder 9

Prelude and Chorus of the Brigands from "Ernani" by Verdi, Lehigh University Band and Glee Club, LP.

Box 10, Folder 10

Prelude and Processional from "Henry VIII" by Saint-Saëns, in Eastern District Band Festival, LP.

Box 10, Folder 11

Prelude and Processional, Twin Valley High School, LP.

Box 10, Folder 12

A Son of a Gambler by Ives, in P.M.E.A. Southern District Band Festival 1964, LP.

 

SUBSERIES C: Elkus as Performer

Box 10, Folder 13

Freedom High School Patriot Band, LP.

Box 10, Folder 14

1966 Twin Valley Band Festival, LP.

 

SERIES 9: POSTERS

Box 13, Folder 3

8 posters of various concerts and performances.

 

SERIES 10: MATERIALS RELATED TO J. ELKUS'S FRIENDS

Box 10, Folder 15

Clement, Ada. A Few Reminiscences by Ada Clement, booklet.

Box 10, Folder 16

Langinger, Herman. Inventory of Langinger's archive.

Box 10, Folder 17

Sessions, Roger. Newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, etc.

 

SERIES 11: MISCELLANY

Box 10, Folder 18

Jonathan Elkus's miscellaneous notes on the collection.

Box 10, Folder 19

Miscellany.