Collection of Music Scores for the Emmy Awards, 1966-1996

Summary

Creators:

Bornstein, Robert G.

Abstract:

This collection is comprised of non-published manuscripts of scores and orchestral parts used for Emmy Award presentations primarily between 1969-1970 and 1980-1988. The manuscripts included in this collection mainly consist of segments of theme songs drawn from popular television shows that were nominated for Emmy Awards during this time. This collection was donated by Robert G. Bornstein, former Supervisor of Music Preparation at CBS Special Entertainment, who was involved in preparing the music scores for the Emmy Awards Ceremonies. The materials included in this collection range from holograph orchestral scores prepared by music copyists, to translucent ozalid facsimiles used in the reproduction of parts for the orchestra. Orchestral scores often include the conductor's personal annotations.

Extent:

123 flat boxes (51 linear ft.)

Language:

Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The materials included in this collection consist of both handwritten scores and facsimile reproductions of scores used in the Emmy Awards ceremonies. The conductor's full score, as well as the parts for each individual instrument are provided. The scores often include hand-written notes and markings inscribed by the conductor or the performer. In terms of musical content, the scores include both ‘play-on’ and ‘play-off’ cues for popular television shows nominated for Emmy Awards. This means that an abridged segment of a theme song is adapted for orchestral performance, and structured as either a ‘play-on’ cue that is played when a television program is introduced, or a complementary ‘play-off’ cue that is played as the representative awardees of a given program leave the stage with their award in hand. This collection contains such cues adapted from popular television programs from 1969-1970 and 1980-1988. Some notable television programs include: The Rockford Files (1969), Hill Street Blues (1982), and Perry Mason (1986). In addition, the collection includes medleys of popular TV themes that were performed to entertain the live audience during commercial breaks. This collection offers researchers a valuable insight into the rich history of television music, as well as orchestral musical practices at Emmy Awards ceremonies.

Prior to the advent of laser printing technology in the 1990s, full orchestral scores and orchestral parts were prepared manually by a team of copyists. The Emmy Awards collection contains original hand-written holographs, and also facsimiles made on ozalid translucent sheets. The ozalid process involves printing scores onto chemically treated paper, by ultra-violet rays. This process is rarely used today, due to the fact that it produces harmful ammonia fumes.

Biographical / historical:

The Emmy Awards are an annual awards ceremony held by the Association of Television Arts and Science (ATAS) that recognizes excellence in television programming. The first Emmy Awards Ceremony was held in 1949, and honored television shows produced in the Los Angeles area. The Emmy Awards have since expanded to include all national television programming. This collection of music scores from the Emmys originated in the CBS Music Library. It includes musical scores utilized in the production of the Primetime Emmy Ceremonies primarily from 1969-1970 and 1980-1988. The collection was donated to UCLA by Robert G. Bornstein, former Supervisor of Music Preparation at CBS Special Entertainment. Mr. Bornstein was also employed as the head of Music Preparations for the Academy Awards Ceremonies, working with renowned composer, Johnny Green. In addition to his work on awards shows, he has been the music preparer for over 75 major motion pictures, including Avatar (2009), Titanic (1997), and Fatal Attraction (1987). He is a professional orchestrator, arranger, and copyist.

Acquisition information:

This collection was donated by Robert G. Bornstein, on 30 October, 2007. Bornstein was the former Supervisor of Music Preparation at CBS Special Entertainment. This collection was originally housed at the CBS Music Library.

Arrangement:

This collection has been organized into thirteen series arranged by year. Within the first twelve series, the scores have been kept in the original order in which they were received. The order of the scores within each folder is neither alphabetical nor chronological. It is likely that the scores may have been arranged in the order in which they were performed at the Emmy Awards ceremony. The last series contains undated materials as well as a folder of correspondence.

Physical / technical requirements:

This collection includes 5 cassette tape recordings that must be digitized before use.

Physical location:

Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

The UCLA Music Library collects and provides primary and secondary research materials relating to the film, television and radio arts and industry. Such collections are housed in the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections. Some notable collections of television music scores include:

Jeff Alexander Television, Radio, and Motion Picture Music Collection. Collection number 42.

Carol Burnett Collection of Television Music and Printed Sheet Music, 1967-1978. Collection number 162.

Herschel Burke Gilbert Collection of Motion Picture and Television Music, 1946-1969. Collection number 268-M.

Bernard Herrmann Collection of Music for Film, Television, and Radio Productions, 1935-1969. Collection number 79.

ABC Television Network scripts and production material for television, 1954-1974. Collection number 220.

Warner Brothers Studios Music Collection. Collection number 317.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Television music, Arranged.
Television broadcasting--Awards--United States.
scores.

Location of this collection:

UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library

A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US

Contact:

(310) 825-4988

AskLSC@library.ucla.edu

Website