Finding Aid for the Elaine Barkin Musical Compositions and Papers PASC-M.0059
Finding aid prepared by Melissa Haley, 2015, Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 201.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Elaine Barkin musical compositions and papers
Creator:
Barkin, Elaine
Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0059
Physical Description:
15.2 Linear Feet
(31 boxes)
Physical Description:
9 Audiovisual Carriers
(4 records, 5 open reel audiotapes)
Physical Description:
12 Born-digital Carriers
(12 optical discs)
Date (inclusive): 1955-2010
Abstract: This collection primarily contains musical compositions and professional writings by composer Elaine Barkin.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elaine Barkin, 1987-2010.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Elaine Barkin Musical Compositions and Papers (Collection PASC-M 59). UCLA Library Special Collections,
Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Composer, writer, and performer Elaine Barkin was born December 15, 1932 in New York City. She graduated from Queens College,
CUNY and Brandeis University (MFA, 1954 and Ph.D, 1971) and studied composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik in the
1950s. Barkin taught at Queens College (1964-1970), the University of Michigan (1970-1974), and Princeton (1974), before joining
the faculty at UCLA in 1974, teaching music composition and theory; she retired from UCLA in 1997. Barkin also served as an
editor for the journal
Perspectives of New Music from the mid-1960s to 1980s, and wrote numerous essays for the publication and other music journals, including
Open Space Magazine, which she co-founded. In the 1980s, Barkin undertook several excursions to Bali to study gamelan music and interview Indonesian
musicians.
Elaine Barkin has composed numerous musical works, including those for strings, piano, percussion, harp, woodwind, horns,
gamelan, and voice.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of draft and reproduction scores, sketches, and some completed versions of Elaine Barkin's musical
compositions; writings and material relating to editorial work for the journal Perspectives of New Music; and writings for
other publications. Also present is a small amount of material concerning Barkin's other professional endeavors, including
her involvement with the Society for Music Theory and her interest in Balinese music; personal correspondence; ephemera; and
audio recordings of some of her works.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series:
- Series 1. Musical compositions
- Series 2. Perspectives of New Music
- Series 3. Other writings and professional endeavors
- Series 4. Personal correspondence and files
- Series 5. Audio recordings
- Series 6. Film: Lapis
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Universities and colleges -- California -- Los Angeles -- Faculty -- Archives.
Women composers -- United States -- Archives.
Barkin, Elaine, 1932- --Archives.
Series 1. Musical compositions
1955-2007
Scope and Content
This series consists of draft and reproduction scores, sketches, and some completed versions of Barkin's compositions, arranged
alphabetically by title. Material for a few titles includes related correspondence, notes, performance graphics and photographs.
box 11, folder 1
4 Little Machine Pieces
2006
box 11, folder 2
18 Easy and Moderately Difficult Pieces for Pedal and/or Lever Harp
2003
box 3, folder 1
[Be]coming Together Apart
[1987]
box 1, folder 2
Chaconne Variations
[1956]
box 1, folder 3, box 11, folder 7-10
De Amore
1980
Scope and Content
Material includes performance photographs and props (Box 11).
box 3, folder 2
Demeter and Persephone
[1986]
box 11, folder 11
Duo for Two Violins and Three Little Duos
2007
box 3, folder 3, box 1, folder 4
box 3, folder 4
Essay for Orchestra
[1957]
box 3, folder 5
... For My Friends' Pleasure...
[1995]
box 4, folder 1
Four Short Pieces for Piano
1955
box 4, folder 3
...In Its Surrendering...
1980
box 4, folder 4-7
Inward and Outward Bound
1975
box 1, folder 5, box 12, folder 1-2
Media Speak
1981, 1980s
Scope and Content
Material includes clippings and notes (Box 12).
box 12, folder 3
Movement for String Quartet
[1955]
box 12, folder 4
Music for Piano 4-Hands
2006
box 12, folder 7
...Out of the Air...
1988-1989
box 12, folder 8
Past Is Part Of (Graphics)
[1984]
box 12, folder 10
Play and Ghost Sarabande for violoncello
2009
box 12, folder 11
play it AS it lays (Graphics)
[1979]
box 5, folder 4-5
Plus Ça Change [La Même Plus Changé]
1971-1972
box 1, folder 7, box 2, folder 1
box 6, folder 5
Six Compositions for Piano
1969
box 12, folder 12, box 7, folder 1
box 7, folder 5-9
...The Supple Suitor...
[1978]
box 12, folder 14, box 9, folder 1
Tambellan Suite
[2003], 2004-2005
box 2, folder 5
Three Cummings Sky Choruses
1986
box 2, folder 6
Touching All Bases
1995-1998
box 9, folder 2-3
Two Emily Dickinson Choruses
[1976-1977]
box 9, folder 4, box 13, folder 4-5
Sketches and unfinished works
1974-2002
Scope and Content
Includes [Interlude] (1974) and [Strings?] (2001-2002) [Box 13], and a sketch for a piece on solitude never composed (1983)
[Box 9].
box 10, folder 1-3, box 9, folder 5-7
Unidentified drafts and sketches
undated
box 10, folder 4-5
Works by others
1992-1995
Scope and Content
Includes Anne LeBaron's Solar Music, and Renee T. Coulombe's Four (and...) for Solo Piano, Triage I for Seven Performers,
and Triage II: A Map of the Known Universe for Seven Performers. Also present are additional scores submitted by various composers
to Perspectives of New Music for their tribute issue to Aaron Copland (see Box 17, folders 7-8 for related material).
Series 2. Perspectives of New Music
1972-2004
Scope and Content
Barkin wrote numerous essays for Perspectives of New Music and also served as an editor for the journal from the mid-1960s
to the 1980s. This series consists of her PNM writings and of correspondence related to her editorial work, in addition to
production material for a few individual issues. Writings for other journals and publications are located in Series 3.
Subseries 1. Writings
[1975]-2004
Scope and Content
Contains drafts, corrected proofs and notes for Barkin's essays and other works for PNM. Titles are arranged chronologically.
box 14, folder 1
Review of Charles Rosen's Arnold Schoenberg
[1975]
box 14, folder 2
Conversation Piece (for Milton Babbitt)
1976
box 14, folder 3-6
Post Impressions: Arthur Berger's Trio, and a Postlude
1978
box 14, folder 7
A Dedication, Five ADmusements, & A Digression
1980
box 14, folder 8
Earl Kim's Earthlight
[1981]
box 14, folder 9
Conversations with Rachel Rosenthal
[1981-1983]
box 14, folder 10
Responses from Women Composers in the US
1982, 1983
box 15, folder 1-5
either/other (concerning the work of Susan McClary)
1989-1992
box 15, folder 7-9
reexperiencing Language, as a Music revisited
1999-2001
box 15, folder 10
9 Ben-Collages & VI Fragments from a Never-Ending Work in Progress for the Ben Boretz Festschrift
2004
Subseries 2. Correspondence
1972-1993
Scope and Content
Correspondence received also contain some copies of outgoing letters by Barkin.
box 16, folder 1-11
Letters received A-R
1972-1984
box 17, folder 1-3
Letters received S-Z
1976-1984
box 17, folder 5
Correspondence
1973-1993
Scope and Content
Bulk is letters received by PNM; also includes letters sent to Barkin by PNM, mostly about her writings for the journal.
Subseries 3. Individual issues
box 17, folder 6
Material related to Vol. 17 No. 1 (Fall/Winter 1978)
1978, undated
Scope and Content
Notes, correspondence, and other material.
box 17, folder 7-8, box 10, folder 5
Material related to Vol. 19 No. 1/2 (Fall 1980/Summer 1981)
1980-1982
Scope and Content
Correspondence and scores from composers for a tribute issue to Aaron Copland.
box 17, folder 9
Vol. 17 No. 2 (Spring/Summer 1979)
Scope and Content
Annotated published edition; contains Barkin's piece Play it AS it lays.
Series 3. Other writings and professional endeavors
1968-[2010]
Scope and Content
Series consists of Barkin's writings for other journals and publications, biographical entries for the Grove Dictionary of
Music, and her dissertation. Also present is material related to Barkin's editorial work for the anthology Audible Traces:
Gender, Identity, & Music; newsletters and other items for several music organizations including the Society for Music Theory;
material concerning Barkin's interest in Balinese music; items related to her recordings and music publication; images of
an art project; and several folders of ephemera that document Barkin's performances and professional activities.
Subseries 1. Writings
1975-[2010]
Scope and Content
Contains drafts, corrected proofs, notes, and scores for writings, some with related correspondence. Also included are biographical
entries written for various editions of the Grove Dictionary of Music, and Barkin's dissertation Pitch-time Structure in Arnold
Schoenberg's Opus 23, No. 1: A Contribution Toward A Theory of Nontonal Music.
box 18, folder 1
Analysis Symposium: Webern's Orchestra Piece Bewegt
1975
box 18, folder 2
Gesualdo's Moro Lasso
1976
box 18, folder 3-5
Analysis Symposium: Debussy's Pour Les Sixtes: Notes in Progress (3 fols)
1978
box 18, folder 6
Arnold Schoenberg's Opus 19/6
1980
box 18, folder 7
Rhetorical Variations: The Composer in Society
1981
box 18, folder 8
A Text on the Music of Harry Partch
1987
box 18, folder 10
Conjunctions, Affinities, and Loose Ends: A Text in Five Parts for G.E.M.S.
2002, 2003
box 19, folder 1-2
e: an anthology (volume 2), music texts & graphics (1967-2003)
[2004]
box 19, folder 3
Conversations (about Bob Paredes)
2005
box 19, folder 4
The Open Space Magazine issue 7 (fall 2005)
Scope and Content
Includes Barkin's BAB's O, Milton Babbitt's Groupwise, and Conversations.
box 19, folder 5
Review of Phillip Ramey's Irving Fine
2006
box 19, folder 6
Review of Hollis Taylor's Post Impressions
[2009]
box 19, folder 7-12
Grove Dictionary of Music entries
1971-[2010]
Scope and Content
Consists of drafts, notes, biographical information, and correspondence from composers relating to entries written by Barkin
for various editions of the Grove Dictionary of Music. Some copies of Barkin's published entries, correspondence from Grove,
and a contract are also present. Entries include Milton Babbitt, Allan Blank, David Burge, Roger Goeb, Donald Martino, James
K. Randall, Henry Weinberg, Peter Westergaard, and Charles Whittenberg.
box 20, folder 1
Pitch-time Structure in Arnold Schoenberg's Opus 23, No. 1: A Contribution Toward A Theory of Nontonal Music (dissertation)
1971
Scope and Content
Includes dissertation copy, scores, and critique.
box 20, folder 2-6
Subseries 2. Audible Traces: Gender, Identity, & Music
1993-1999
Scope and Content
Consists of material relating to publication of Audible Traces, co-edited by Barkin and Lydia Hamessley, published by Carciofoli
Verlagshaus, 1999. Material includes drafts of Barkin's preface and Hamessley's introduction, contracts, and correspondence
with authors and the publisher. Also included is a zip disk of material for the project (box 31).
box 21, folder 1, box 20, folder 7-11
Subseries 3. Society for Music Theory
1977-1993
Scope and Content
Barkin served on the Executive Board and the Program Committee for the Society for Music Theory. Material includes correspondence,
minutes, membership and program material, and a newsletter. Also present is Barkin's 1993 presentation Rules of One's Own,
given to the SMT's Committee on the Status of Women, which also appeared in Audible Traces and e: an anthology.
box 21, folder 2-4
Subseries 4. Balinese music
[1990]-1998
Scope and Content
While at UCLA, Barkin was involved in the UC-wide New Music in Bali project, which promoted the creation of new works for
gamelan and sponsored visiting composers from Bali. Barkin also received funding to travel to Bali, and conducted interviews
with composers and musicians from 1988 to 1990. Material includes interview transcripts, items regarding the UC Pacific Rim
Research Program, and correspondence.
box 21, folder 5-7
Subseries 5. Recordings and score publication
1974-1984
Scope and Content
Includes correspondence and contracts from the Association for the Promotion of New Music; Boelke-Bomart, Inc. & Mobart Music
Publications, Inc.; and Composers Recordings, Inc.
box 21, folder 8-9
Subseries 6. American Society of University Composers Newsletter
1968-1986
box 21, folder 10
Subseries 7. Contemporary Music Newsletter
1968-1977
Subseries 8. Ephemera
1969-2009
Scope and Content
Primarily contains programs, flyers, and other ephemera concerning performances of Barkin's music and professional activities.
Some related correspondence and clippings are also included. Items are filed in rough chronological order (reverse order within
some folders).
box 31
Subseries 9. Hub cap masks (art project)
2006
Scope and Content
Two CDs of jpg images of Barkin's hub cap masks, created 2002-2005.
Series 4. Personal correspondence and files
1972-2004
Scope and Content
Consists of letters received from colleagues and friends, primarily fellow composers. Barkin arranged her correspondence in
rough chronological order (some folders are in reverse order).
box 27, folder 2
Correspondence: Jack Body
1989-1994
box 27, folder 3
Correspondence and subject file: Diamanda Galás
1984-1995
Scope and Content
Includes Barkin's lecture "Notes for Diamanda Galás and her Plague Mass" given at UCLA October 1993.
box 27, folder 4
Subject file: John Whitney
1984, 2004
Series 5. Audio recordings
1969-2008
Scope and Content
Contains recordings of Barkin's works in various formats, including reels (5 inch and 7 inch), CDs, and audio cassettes. Dates
are those of recording.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
Subseries 1. Reels
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
Ebb Tide, Sound Play
1977, 1978
... the Supple Suitor...
undated
Three Poems by e.e. cummings
1980
Barkin - Sollberger (2 reels)
undated
Five Compositions for Piano
1969
Six Pieces for Piano
1969
Six Pieces for Piano
1977
Two Dickinson Choruses
1978
Subseries 2. CDs
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
box 28
Ballade, Praeambulum for AB, Sara's Dance, Umbrella Steps, When the Wind Blows, Violin Duo, End Piece
2007
box 28
Chaconne Variations
undated
box 28
Coda- Leavetaking, Barely There
2006
box 28
Easy Harp Pieces and Tambellan Suite
undated
box 28
Four MIDI Pieces and Gamelan
undated
box 28
For My Friends' Pleasure
undated
box 28
Legong Dreams, Ebb Tide
undated
box 28
Mixed Modes, String Trio, Song for Sarah
undated
box 28
Piano Music: One on One, Umbrella Steps, Postlude [for AB], Sara's Dance, When the Wind Blows
2007
box 28
Piano Music: Step by Step, Whorl, From the Abbeys, Faygele's Footsteps
2007
box 31
Six Pieces for Piano
undated
box 31
Three Rhapsodies, Poem, Ode, Song for Sarah
undated
box 31
Three Short Pieces
undated
box 31
Three Violin Duets and Essay for Orchestra
undated
box 31
Violin Duo: Two as One
2007
box 31
Violin Duo: Two as One, MIDI
2007
box 31
Subseries 3. Cassette tapes
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
Touching all Bases, Sketch - Ode [or Wind Sketch]
Letter from Peri [?]
1982
box 27, folder 5
Notes for unidentified recording
undated
box 31
Series 6. Film: Lapis
undated
Scope and Content
Most likely a 16 mm copy of James Whitney's 1966 experimental film Lapis. UCLA Film and Television Archives holds another
copy.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of moving image material requires production of viewing copies.
