Stanford Music Broadcast Tapes Collection, 1951-1969

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Summary

Abstract:
The Stanford Music Broadcast Tapes Collection consists of 172 open reel tapes of off-air recordings from 1951 to 1969, the majority of which are of broadcast performances by the NBC Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Extent:
5 boxes : 172 open reel tapes
Language:
Preferred citation:

Stanford Music Broadcast Collection, ARS-0058. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The Stanford Music Broadcast Tapes Collection consists of recordings on 172 open reel tapes, made from 1951 to 1969. All material appears to have been recorded locally at Stanford from radio broadcasts. While the vast majority are of classical music and opera performances, a few recordings are lectures or discussions about economics. Recordings made in the 1950's are largely of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Toscanini, Ormandy, Mitropoulos, and Cantelli, and were originally aired on local NBC affiliate KNBC. These seem to be have been made by a single individual who made notes and comments about the material on the tape box, such as a complaint about "interference from Stanford station," or "watched Toscanini on TV" (NBC also offered a television broadcast of these performances). Later recordings are of a wider variety, and include performances by the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera, with conductors including Monteaux, Munch, and Bernstein. Many tapes are accompanied by notes or newspaper clippings in their boxes.

Processing information:

This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Arrangement:

Each tape is numbered according to its performance date (i.e. 530131 would be January 31, 1953). Boxes are in very approximate chronological order. No full list of contents is presently available.

Rules or conventions:
Prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. Listening appointments may require 24 hours notice. Contact the Archive Operations Manager.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.

Preferred citation:

Stanford Music Broadcast Collection, ARS-0058. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Braun Music Center, 541 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-3076, US
Contact:
(650) 723-9312
soundarchive@stanford.edu
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