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Joaquín Nin-Culmell and José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos family
papers
MS
076
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Title: Joaquín Nin-Culmell and José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos family
papers
Date (inclusive): 1863-2003, undated.
Date (bulk): 1910-2002
Collection Number: MS
076
Creators:
Nin-Culmell, Joaquín, 1908-2004;
Nin y Castellanos, José Joaquín
Extent:
58.83 linear feet
(68 boxes)
Repository: Rivera Library. Special
Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence,
manuscripts, scores, reviews and other material pertaining to Joaquín Nin-Culmell, a
twentieth century Cuban-Spanish composer, conductor, pianist, and professor, and his
father José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos, a twentieth century Cuban pianist and
composer. The included materials document both the professional and personal lives
of both men with an emphasis on their musical careers. Highlights include several
versions of Nin-Culmell's opera
La Celestina, numerous
concert programs and reviews of worldwide performances, published and unpublished
scores, photographs of Nin-Culmell and his performances, and correspondence with
notable musicians of their time.
Languages: The collection is primarily in English, but also contains material in Spanish, French, German, and
Catalan.
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections
may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the
reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or
purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing
agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials
protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written
permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply,
permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is
also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests
exclusively with the user
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Joaquín Nin-Culmell and José Joaquín
Nin y Castellanos family papers (MS 076). Special Collections & University
Archives, University of California, Riverside.
The Joaquín Nin-Culmell and José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos family papers were
acquired in 2005.
Processed by Eric Johns, 2015.
Joaquín Nin-Culmell was born in Berlin, Germany in 1908 to Cuban singer Rosa Culmell
and pianist-composer José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos. Nin Culmell went onto become a
composer, pianist, conductor, lecturer, and emeritus professor of music at the
University of California, Berkeley. He was educated at the Schola Cantorum
(1925-1930) first studying in the class of Paul Braud and then privately with Alfred
Cortot and Ricardo Vines. At the Paris Conservatory Nin-Culmell studied harmony,
counterpoint, and fugue with Jean and Noel Gallon, and composition with Paul Dukas.
As a concert virtuoso, Nin-Culmell performed in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy,
Belgium, Denmark, England, the United States, Canada, and Cuba. He also taught music
at Williams College and the University of California, Berkeley, retiring in 1971 as
Professor Emeritus. He was founder and conductor of the Berkshire Community
Orchestra and conductor of the University of California Symphony from 1950-1954 also
having served as guest conductor of the Miami Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, and the Municipal Orchestra of
Barcelona. Nin-Culmell composed music for piano, voice, string quartet, solo cello,
solo guitar, orchestra, and unaccompanied chorus. Perhaps his most famous work,
Nin-Culmell was the composer of the opera
La Celestina
(1985) based on a 15th century drama. Nin Culmell passed away in January 2004.
José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos was born in Havana, Cuba in 1879 and was raised in
Barcelona, Spain. Nin y Castellanos studied piano in Barcelona with Felipe Pedrell
and eventually returned to Cuba in 1901, where he met his future wife, Rosa Culmell.
The couple returned to Europe, primarily Paris, where he pursued his career as a
pianist, performing all over Europe and in parts of South America. He was also an
editor and publisher of early Spanish keyboard and vocal composers. His many
collaborations with violinists of note and his close friendship with violinists such
as Paul Kochanski, Jeanne Gautier, Mischa Elman, Jacques Thibaud, Albert Spalding
and Manuel Quiroga amongst others made his transcriptions for violin and piano an
attractive alternative to the available virtuoso arrangements in vogue at the time.
The Spanish Civil War and World War II terminated his performing, composing, and
editing career in Europe so he returned to Havana, Cuba in 1939 where he lived until
his death in 1949. Nin y Castellanos' lasting contribution to the divulgation of
Spanish folklore and Spanish composers of the 18th century is evidenced by the many
world-wide performances of his compositions and editions.
José Joaquín Nin y Castellanos and Rosa Culmell were the parents of Anais Nin,
Joaquín Nin-Culmell, and Thorvald Nin. José Joaquín and Rosa divorced in 1924. José
Joaquín was re-married to Maria Luisa Rodriguez, with their marriage ending shortly
before World War II.
This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, scores, reviews and other
material pertaining to Joaquín Nin-Culmell and his father José Joaquín Nin y
Castellanos. The included materials document both the professional and personal
lives of both men with an emphasis on their musical careers. Highlights include
several versions of Nin-Culmell's opera
La Celestina,
numerous concert programs and reviews of worldwide performances, published and
unpublished scores, photographs of Nin-Culmell and his performances, and
correspondence with notable musicians of their time.
This collection is arranged into two series and twenty-three sub-series. Series and
sub-series arrangement is as follows:
- Series 1. Joaquin Nin-Culmell. 1901-2003, undated.
- Sub-series 1.1. Articles and publications. 1901-2002, undated.
- Sub-series 1.2. Artifacts. 1914-1996, undated.
- Sub-series 1.3. Audiovisual material. 1979-2002, undated.
- Sub-series 1.4. Biographical material. 1934-2001, undated.
- Sub-series 1.5. Correspondence. 1905-2003, undated.
- Sub-series 1.6. Essays, notes, and other material. 1910-2001, undated.
- Sub-series 1.7. Interview transcripts. 1939-2001, undated.
- Sub-series 1.8. Personal documents. 1926-2003, undated.
- Sub-series 1.9. Photographs and other material. 1909-2003, undated.
- Sub-series 1.10. Programs. 1913-2002, undated.
- Sub-series 1.11. Promotional material. 1936-2001, undated.
- Sub-series 1.12. Reviews. 1910-2001, undated.
- Sub-series 1.13. Scores and related material. 1916-2002, undated.
- Series 2. Jose Joaquin Nin y Castellanos. 1863-1999, undated.
- Sub-series 2.1. Biographical material. 1926-1998, undated.
- Sub-series 2.2. Correspondence. 1900-1950, undated.
- Sub-series 2.3. Essays, notes, and other material. 1902-1949, undated.
- Sub-series 2.4. Personal documents. 1903-1950, undated.
- Sub-series 2.5. Photographs and other material. 1896, undated.
- Sub-series 2.6. Programs. 1897-1999, undated.
- Sub-series 2.7. Promotional material. 1907-1932, undated.
- Sub-series 2.8. Publications. 1863-1979, undated.
- Sub-series 2.9. Reviews. 1912-1999, undated.
- Sub-series 2.10. Scores and related material. 1915-1943, undated.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Composers.
Music.
Nin y Castellanos, José Joaquín
Nin-Culmell, Joaquín, 1908-2004
Pianists.
Correspondence.
Documents.
Manuscripts.
Photographs.
Scores.