Finding aid for the Ara Sevanian papers 1009

Diann Benti

USC Libraries Music Library

2022 April

Doheny Memorial Library, G-24

3550 Trousdale Parkway

Los Angeles, California 90089-1822

music@usc.edu

URL: http://libraries.usc.edu/locations/music-library

Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Music Library

Title: Ara Sevanian papers

Creator: Sevanian, Ara, 1915-

Identifier/Call Number: 1009

Physical Description: 33.19 Linear Feet 33 boxes

Date (inclusive): 1945-2007

Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Armenian-American composer and musician Ara Sevanian (1915-2011). Materials include musical scores and parts and audiovisual recordings including VHS tapes and sound records of Sevanian's music and performances. There is also correspondence between Sevanian and his family and friends dating from 1947, clippings, performance programs, copyright files, a 1989 diary, and three publications.

Language of Material: English, Armenian.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Biographical / Historical

Ara Sevanian (1915-2011) was an Armenian-American composer and kanonist (Egyptian harp player). Sevanian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and during World War II, he was captured by German soldiers. After the war, he moved to California, where he composed and performed music and also ran hamburger stands in the San Fernando Valley. He was married to Nina Sevanian and had two children, Alex (born 1946) and Diane (born 1949).

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder no. or item name], Ara Sevanian papers, Collection no. 1009, Music Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Processing Information

Parts of this collection are not fully processed.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of Armenian-American composer and musician Ara Sevanian (1915-2011). Materials include musical scores and parts and audiovisual recordings including VHS tapes and sound records of Sevananian's music and performances. There is also correspondence between Sevanian and his family and friends dating from 1947, clippings, performance programs, copyright files, a 1989 diary, and three publications. Much of the family correspondence is in Armenian.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Music Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Music Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Armenian Americans -- Archival resources

Folk music -- Armenia -- Archival resources

Composers -- United States -- Archival resources

Qānūn music -- Archival resources

Sevanian, Ara, 1915- -- Archives

Musical scores and parts

Symphonies

Box 1

Symphony No. 6 in F minor (score) (3 copies)

Box 1

Symphony No. 9 in C minor (score)

Box 2

Symphony No. 3 in C minor (Caucasia) (score) (3 copies)

Box 2

Symphony No. 3 in C minor (Caucasia) (parts)

Box 2

Symphony No. 7 in C minor (Beethoveniana #1) (score) (3 copies)

Box 3

Symphonic poem No. 3 (score)

Box 3

Symphony in C minor (score)

Box 3

Symphony in C minor (parts)

Box 3

Symphony No. 8 in A major (score) (2 copies)

Box 4

Symphony No. 4 in A major (score) (2 copies)

Box 4

Symphony No. 4 in A major (parts) (2 copies)

Box 5

Symphony No. 8 in A major (Beethoveniana #2) (score)

Box 5

Symphony No. 8 in A major (Beethoveniana #2) (parts)

Box 5

Symphony No. 8 in A major (Beethoveniana #2) - Reduction (Reduced score)

Box 6

Symphonic poem No. 2 (score)

Box 6

Symphony in A dur - Reduction (score)

Box 6

Symphony No. 1 (Evening Pastoral) (score)

Box 6

Symphony No. 5 in C minor - Reduction (score)

Box 6

Symphony No. 8 in A major (Beethoveniana #2) (score) (2 copies)

Box 6

Symphony No. 9 in C minor (score)

Ballet

Box 6

Areknazan (score)

Chamber

Box 7

Adagio cantabile (score and parts)

Box 7

Adagio cantabile (score) (3 copies)

Box 7

Armenia (score) (3 copies)

Box 7

Armenia, my country (score) (2 copies)

Box 7

Armenian dance (parts)

Box 7

Armenian suite (score)

Box 7

Armenian suite (score)

Box 8

Suite for strings (score) (2 copies)

Box 8

Sulico (String quartet in F) (score)

Box 8

Symphonic sketch (score)

Box 8

Symphonic sketch (score and parts) (2 copies of parts)

Box 9

Piano quintet in A major (parts)

Box 9

Piano quintet No. 1 in E minor (parts)

Box 9

Piano Trio in G minor (Russian Armenian) (parts) (2 copies)

Box 9

Piano Trio in G minor (Russian Armenian) (score and parts)

Box 10

Piano quartet in D (score and parts)

Box 10

Piano quartet in D major (score)

Box 10

Piano quartet in D minor (Love) (score and parts) (2 copies of score)

Box 10

Piano quintet No. 2 in E minor (score)

Box 10

Piano trio in A minor (score)

Box 11

Piano quartet in A minor (score) (2 copies of score)

Box 11

Quartet in A minor (parts) (2 copies)

Box 11

Quartet in A minor (score)

Box 11

Quartet in D minor (score and parts) (2 copies)

Box 11

Quartet in D minor (score and parts) (3 copies of parts)

Box 11

Quintet in D minor (score and parts) (2 copies of parts)

Box 11

Quintet in G (score)

Box 12

String Quartet and Piano Sonata in G, Violin Sonata in E dur (score)

Box 12

String quartet in A minor (parts)

Box 12

String quartet in A minor (1983) (score and parts) (2 copies)

Box 12

String quartet in A minor (1987) (score)

Box 12

String quartet in A minor (Believe) (score)

Box 12

String quartet in A minor (Light) (score)

Box 12

String quartet in C (score)

Box 12

String quartet in D (Hope) (score and parts)

Box 12

String quartet in D major (parts)

Box 12

String quartet in D major (score)

Box 12

String quartet in E minor (Dream) (score and parts)

Box 12

String quartet in F dur (score)

Box 13

Country girl (score)

Box 13

Elegy (score)

Box 13

Fantasia (score and parts)

Box 13

My Armenia (score)

Box 13

Rest Sas Semaee (score)

Box 13

Romance (score and parts)

Box 13

Septet (score) (2 copies)

Box 13

Three sharakans (score and parts)

Box 13

Timpani quintet in A minor (score)

Box 13

Trio in D (score and parts)

Box 13

Variation No. 2

Box 14

Concerto in C for Kanon and Orchestra (score and parts)

Box 14

Kanon Concerto #3 in G (parts)

Box 14

Sketch in A minor for woodwinds (score and parts)

Box 14

Sonata for 8 in A dur (score and parts) (2 copies of parts)

Box 15

14 miscellaneous Armenian chamber

Cello

Box 16

Ballade (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Come my dear shooshig (score)

Box 16

Song without words (score)

Box 16

Zizernak (swallow) (score)

Cello and piano

Box 16

Armenian dance (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Armenian folk song (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Ballade (score) (4 copies)

Box 16

Children's march (score)

Box 16

Come my dear shooshig (score)

Box 16

Falling leaves (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Song for cello (score)

Box 16

Swallow (score) (3 copies)

Flute

Box 16

Hoy Nazan (score)

Box 16

March of souls (score)

Box 16

Sketch in B dur (score)

Box 16

Sketche in E minor (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Song without words (score)

Box 16

Pastoral (score) (2 copies)

Flue and Piano

Box 16

Hoy Nazan (score and parts)

Box 16

Song without words (score) (3 copies)

Box 16

Zizernak (score)

Box 16

Zizernak (score and parts) (2 copies)

Harp

Box 16

Two pieces for harp (score) (2 copies)

Violin

Box 16

Gazzel (score)

Box 16

Prelude (score)

Box 16

Sonata in F dur (score) (6 copies)

Violin and piano

Box 16

Daly yaman (score)

Box 16

Eskize in F dur (score)

Box 16

March (score)

Box 16

Prelude (score)

Box 16

San Francisco Sketch (score) (3 copies)

Box 16

Sketch in A minor (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Sketch in F (score)

Box 16

Sonata in F dur (score) (2 copies)

Box 16

Valse

Kanon and piano

Box 17

18 Armenian pieces

Box 17

11 Armenian instrumental

Box 17

13 Armenian piano

Box 17

14 Armenian kanon

Box 18

Alaghias and Xunry Zar (score)

Box 18

Anahit (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Ari shooshig jau (score)

Box 18

Baiati Kurd (score)

Box 18

Ballade (score)

Box 18

Bloe violet (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Crimean sketches dance (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Dance of Slaves (score) (3 copies)

Box 18

Dilijan (score)

Box 18

Dilijan (score)

Box 18

Kanon Concerto in C #3 (score)

Box 19

Armenian dance (score)

Box 19

Armenian dance #1 (score)

Box 19

Armenian dance #2 (score)

Box 19

Armenian folk song and dance #1-3 (score)

Box 19

Armenian folk song and dance #3 (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

Armenian folk song and dance #1 (score) (4 copies)

Box 19

Armenian folk song and dance #2 (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

Armenian love song (score) (4 copies)

Box 19

Blay yaman (score)

Box 19

Dance of rose maidens (score)

Box 19

Dlighau (score)

Box 19

Gavotte (score)

Box 19

Horirie kautche (score)

Box 19

Komitas (score)

Box 19

Komitas: Spring (score)

Box 19

Love song (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

March of souls (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Misirlou (score)

Box 19

Moscow superb nights (score)

Box 19

Never on Sunday (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Nihavet longa (score)

Box 19

Oriental (score)

Box 19

Partridge (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Persian March (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Protest, Sonata in F dur, Rondo (score)

Box 19

Round dance (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Sama Sadick (score)

Box 19

San Francisco sketch (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Serenade (score)

Box 19

Sevgilim (score) (4 copies)

Box 19

Sketch in A (score)

Box 19

Sketch in D moll (score)

Box 19

Sketche in B dur (score) (6 copies)

Box 19

Slave dance (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

Sonatina (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Song of the partrich (score)

Box 19

Song without a word (score)

Box 19

Spring (score)

Box 19

Suite (score)

Box 19

Suite (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Swallow (score) (2 copies)

Box 19

Tartar folk song (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

The bird (score)

Box 19

The lark (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

Variation No. 2 (score)

Box 19

Variations (score) (3 copies)

Box 19

Yerevan Etuds Hejez (score)

Box 19

Zizernak (score)

Box 20

Bride's dance (score)

Box 20

Caucasian sketches (score) (2 copies)

Box 20

Come my dear shooshig (score)

Box 20

Daly yaman (score) (3 copies)

Box 20

Dance of the Young Kurds (score)

Box 20

Lonesome nightingale (score)

Box 20

Noray (score) (2 copies)

Kanon

Box 18

17 pieces for kanon only (score)

Box 18

Anahit (score)

Box 18

Armenian folk song and dance #2 (score)

Box 18

Ballade (score)

Box 18

Enzely (score)

Box 18

Erepoon (score)

Box 18

Eskis (score)

Box 18

Four pieces for kanon (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Hungarian Dance No. 4 (score)

Box 18

Hungarian Dances No. 1 (score)

Box 18

Kanon I (International dances and songs) (score)

Box 18

Kanon III (score)

Scope and Contents

10 Kanon arrangements from music by Moiseyev Ensemble, Doloukhanian, Solovyov-Sedoy, Saraste, and Ferenc.

Box 18

Komitas (score)

Box 18

Komitas - Keler - Tzoler (score)

Box 18

Little one - Armenian folk song and dance (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Minuet in G (score)

Box 18

Misirlou (score)

Box 18

Nocturne (score)

Box 18

Nocturne in Fis dur (score)

Box 18

Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1 (score)

Box 18

Sketch in Fis dur (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

Song dance and Kaitarma (score)

Box 18

Ten variations for kanon (score) (2 copies)

Box 18

To be sung on the waters (score)

Box 18

Variation (score)

Box 18

Variation No. 2 (score)

Opera

Box 20

Shorokovt (score)

Voice, cello and piano

Box 20

Life (score)

Box 20

To my love (score) (2 copies)

Box 20

To my love

Voice, kanon, and piano

Box 20

Life (score and parts)

Box 20

My soul (score and parts)

Voice, piano, and violin

Voice and piano

Box 20

Blay yaman (score)

Box 21

I want it now (score) (2 copies)

Box 21

Rose and perspiration (score) (3 copies)

Box 21

Childhood (score)

Box 21

Childhood dream (score)

Box 21

Childhood dream (score)

Box 21

Dark Nights (score)

Box 21

Darling (score)

Box 21

Falling leaves (score)

Box 21

Falling leaves (score)

Box 21

Fear songs (score)

Box 21

Gazzel (score)

Box 21

God waiting to you (score) (3 copies)

Box 21

I saw a dream (score) (2 copies)

Box 21

I was a bird (score)

Box 21

If I was a bird (score)

Box 21

If I was a bird (score)

Box 21

In my heart (score)

Box 21

Life (score)

Box 21

Life (score)

Box 21

Life (score)

Box 21

Miss (score) (2 copies)

Box 21

Moon Night (score)

Box 21

My soul (score) (4 copies)

Box 21

Open your door fatherland (score) (2 copies)

Box 21

Sayat Nova (Faded) (score)

Box 21

Sobbing (score) (4 copies)

Box 21

Sobbing (score)

Box 22

65 miscellaneous Armenian songs

Piano

Box 23

Armenian Dance (score)

Box 23

Armenian dance #1 (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #10 (score)

Box 23

Armenian dance #2 (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #3 (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #4 (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #5 (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #6 (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Armenian dance #7 (score)

Box 23

Armenian dance #8 (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Armenian folk song (score) (4 copies)

Box 23

Armenian round dance (score)

Box 23

Armenian round dance #9 (score)

Box 23

Armenian suite in D moll (score)

Box 23

Autumn song (score)

Box 23

Bride's dance (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Children march (score)

Box 23

Dance of flowers (score)

Box 23

Dance of happiness (score)

Box 23

Don't cry nightingale (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Elegy (Schubertiana) (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Falling leaves (score) (4 copies)

Box 23

Festive dance (score)

Box 23

Five Armenian dances for piano (score)

Box 23

Five piano pieces (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Four Armenian dances for piano (#2-5) (score)

Box 23

Four piano pieces (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

March of Vartan's (score) (7 copies)

Box 23

Memory (score)

Box 23

Mother Russia (score)

Box 23

Mozartiana (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Musical picture (score)

Box 23

Musical picture (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

My memory to Esther (score)

Box 23

Naroy-Naroy (score)

Box 23

September song (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Song of Beggars (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Song without words (score) (2 copies)

Box 23

Sorrow (score)

Box 23

The Waltz (score)

Box 23

Tribute to Johannes Brahms (score)

Box 23

Valse (1945) (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Valse (1988) (score)

Box 23

Waltz (1980) (score) (3 copies)

Box 23

Waltz of nobles (score)

Box 24

Nocturne (score)

Box 24

Nocturne in D dur (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Nocturne in D minor (score) (5 copies)

Box 24

Nocturne in G (Melancholy) (score) (3 copies)

Box 24

Piano Sonata in A minor (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Piano sonata in D major (score)

Box 24

Piano sonata in D moll (score)

Box 24

Piano sonata in F dur (score) (3 copies)

Box 24

Prelude (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Protest (score) (3 copies)

Box 24

Rondo (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Sketch in C (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Sketch in C (1974) (score)

Box 24

Sketch in C (1979) (score) (3 copies)

Box 24

Sketch in C (market place) (score)

Box 24

Sketch in D (score)

Box 24

Sketch in D #2 (score)

Box 24

Sketch in G (score) (4 copies)

Box 24

Sketche in D (score) (2 copies)

Box 24

Sketche in F (score)

Box 24

Sonata in D (score)

Box 24

Variation (score)

Box 24

Variation No. 2 (score)

Box 24

Variation on a Russian theme (score) (4 copies)

Armenian song collection (volume)

Box 26

Volume of manuscript Armenian music

Box 28, Box 29, Box 30

Unprocessed manuscript and published music

Audiovisual

Video

Box 25

Chamber music of Ana Sevanian 1988-01-24

Box 27

Ara's music in Armenian, performed by students

Box 27

Symphony no. 8 in A major (Symphony of the Canyons, Robert E. Lawson, Music Director/Conductor) 1996-11-02

Box 27

The Toni Tenille Show #90-80, segment #6 Ara Sevanian

Box 27

Ara on Tony Tennniel

Box 27

"Hamburger man"

Cassette tapes

Box 25

4 pieces for piano (Don't cry nightingale, Waltz, Protest, Waltz of the Nobles), Teresita Chua Chiaco, pianist 1998-07-26

Box 25

Adagio Cantabile and Various 1991-04

Box 25

Banquet in Boston honoring Araui Kachadourian (Ara Sevanian, soloist, Fine Arts Orchestra-Moeck)

Box 25

Concert 1976-12

Box 25

Interview with composer Ara Sevanian: His life and His Music (KCSN, host Bryan Corber) 1984-12

Physical Description: 2 audiocassettes.

Box 25

Interview with Radio Naizy 1986-09

Box 25

Shepherd song, Hedjaz, Anahid, Protest and Anush and various (Fresno, CA) (2 copies) 1977-04

Box 25

Quintet in D minor, Sketch in F major (violin), I had a dream, To my love, I greet thee in my love, Armenian folk song (cello), Quartet in A minor, Childhood, Everything good and sweet, Folk song, and Dance #3 (Kanon), Anush, Hejaz, Partridge (kanon) (St. John Armenian Cathedral) 1976-09

Box 25

San Francisco Sketch, Armenian folk songs and dance #1, 2, & 3, Shepherd song, Swallow, Variation, Protest and various 1976-12

Box 25

Shepherd song, Zizernak, Sketch in E minor (flute), Waltz of the nobles, In a monastery, Armenian Dance #1, 2, Armenian folk song, Market place, Protest (piano) (part 1) 1980-04

Box 25

Street song, Sobbing, My Soul, Everything nice and sweet (voice), Third Concerto in G, Love song (kanon) (part 2) 1980-04

Box 25

Symphony in C minor, Symphonic sketches 1985-03

Box 25

Symphony in C minor 1985-10

Box 25

Kanon Concert Series: Armenian folk song and dance #2, Sketches from Anoosh, Two Jewish dances, Ukrainian dance, Russian dance, Crimean sketches, Mizerlou Greek song, Turkish folk song, Nihavant longa, Hedaz-Fuge in A minor, Russian melodies, Armenian circle dance

Box 25

Kanon Concert Series: Never on Sunday, Nights of Erevan, Enzely, Little One, Festal Song, Artashaty, Lezginka, San Francisco sketch, Tarametzav, Armenin folk song and Dance #1, Shepherd song, Partridge

Box 25

Music of Ara Sevanian: Armenian folk dance, Waltz of Nobles (kanon), Homesick, Trees (voice), Sketch in G, D (piano), March of Souls, Sketch in E (flute), Quartet in D minor, Quintet in G 1982-01

Box 25

Music of Ara Sevanian: Song for cello, Armenian dance (cello), Rose, Spiritual Light of Armenia (voice), Armenian dance #3, 4 (piano), Music picture, Come dear shoosig, Hejaz-Fuga in A, Annosh, Anahid (kanon) 1982-01

Box 25

Music of Ara Sevanian: The three Sharakans, String quartet in A

Audio magnetic reel tapes

Box 27

Never on Sunday, Nights of Erevan, Enzely, Little One, Festal Song, Artashaty, Lezginka (Gold Star Recording Studios) 1961-03-16

Box 27

Mizerlou, Hagilass, Russian, Armenian Dance (Gold Star Recording Studios) 1959-04-01

Box 27

San Francisco Sketch, Tarametzav, Armenian folk song and dance, Shepherd song, Swallow, Partridge 1961-03-16

Box 27

Folk song and dance, Anoush, Krimian sketch, Panidian march 1959-04-01

Box 27

8 recordings on tape (various)

Box 27

Compact discs

Physical Description: 4 sound disc (Audio CD) ; digital ; 4 3/4 in.

Box 32

Egyptian Harp LP records

Papers

Box 31, Folder 2-40

Correspondence 1947-1992

Scope and Contents

Letters between Sevanian and his family and friends. Sevanian's wife, Nina, and daughter, Anahit, are frequently mentioned and written to as well. Their relatives from Armenia include Juliet, Sima, Alex, Siranush, Norik, Vagram, Hrayr, Rosa, Silva, Nina, Marine, and Ohanes. Contents of the letters are mainly general inquiries about the well-being of the family and subsequent responses. Some of the letters are effusive, suggesting closeness between Sevanian and his relatives overseas. Juliet's letters were often in Russian.

Related Materials

There is also correspondence mixed into the publicity, photographs, and ephemera files (Box 33).

Box 31, Folder 1

Diary 1989

Scope and Contents

Diary containing entries in Armenian for a few months in 1989.

Box 33, Folder 1-46

Publicity, photographs, and ephemera

Box 26

Copyright files

Publications

Box 33, Folder 47

"Kanon: The Life of Composer Ara Sevanian" (Shareage Press) by Eva Bogaardt [with CD] 2007

Box 33, Folder 48

Armenian booklets