Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
University Of California, Santa Cruz Contemporary Classical Collection
ARS.0103
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
Contributing Institution:
Archive of Recorded Sound
Title: University of California, Santa Cruz Contemporary Classical Collection
source:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Identifier/Call Number: ARS.0103
Physical Description:
11 box(es)
[11 linear feet. 309 open reel tapes (11 5" ; 209 7" ; 89 10" reels)]
Date (inclusive): 1928-1977
Abstract: The University Of California, Santa Cruz Contemporary Classical Collection consists of live performances of classical music,
mostly by twentieth century composers, on open reel tape. For the most part, recordings date from the 1960s and 70s, and include
rehearsals, radio broadcasts and interviews with composers and performers.
Physical Location: Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-3076
Prior to accession, tapes were grouped accordingly: Series 1, 2 and 3 are all live performances. Series 1 features five-inch
reels numbered 1-11. Series 2 is seven-inch reels numbered 1-118. Series 3 contains ten-inch reels numbered 1-93. Series 4
consists of items which were identified as rarer and more significant recordings. These have been assigned numbers as well,
although there are many gaps. Many of these were renumbered from the previous sets. The majority of these tapes also appear
to be live performances.
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 of the Archive of Recorded Sound.
Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for
assistance.
University Of California, Santa Cruz Contemporary Classical Collection, ARS-0103. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded
Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
The University Of California, Santa Cruz Contemporary Classical Collection consists of live performances of classical music
on open reel tape, including rehearsals, radio broadcasts (on KPFA and KUSC) and a few interviews with composers and performers.
The material dates from the late 1920s (transfers of Colin McPhee’s Bali expedition from 1928 and a 1929 Stravinsky piano
roll) to the late 70s, although most are from the 1960s. While there are a few operas, the collection is heavy on instrumental
music, especially organ and harpsichord music. Most significantly, the collection features many twentieth century composers,
many of whom are quite obscure or under-recorded. The majority of performances are Northern Californian, but recordings are
from across the United States as well as Europe. Unfortunately, little else is known of the provenance of this collection.
It is unknown who made the recordings (although some are noted as copies), or what role UCSC played. The collection came to
the Archive of Recorded Sound in the late 1980s. While a simple handwritten listing is available in the Archive, more detailed
information is written on tape boxes and reels.
Despite the contemporary classical tag, and the fact that there is only one recording of Mozart, it would be a mistake to
characterize this collection as all avant-garde (there is also only one Stockhausen performance). A variety of styles is present.
Among the more well-known composers whose works are included: Andriessen, Badings, Berio, Boulez, Britten, Dallapicola, Gorecki,
Harrison, Hindemith, Krenek, Matsushita, Milhaud, Nono, Penderecki, Schuller, Stravinsky, and Wagner. A few highlights: Messiaen
and Cowell performing their own work, an interview with Toru Takemitsu, a documentary on Albert Schweitzer, and an Homage
to Milhaud at Mills College in 1971.
Performing groups include the New York Philharmonic under Stokowski, Boulez, and Mitropoulos, the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
and the Metropolitan Opera. There are recordings from festivals at Bayreuth, Tanglewood, Cabrillo, Spoleto, and Warsaw. Local
performers include the San Francisco Symphony and Opera, the Oakland Symphony, the University of California Brass Ensemble,
the Berkeley Piano Club, the Berkeley Free Orchestra, and the San Francisco Chamber Music Society. There are many recordings
from keyboardists such as Alan Curtis, Margaret Fabrizio, Lawrence Moe, and Alice Ehlers (who is featured in an interview
and lecture as well as in performance). In addition to the Balinese field recordings, there are also a few tapes of Japanese,
Korean, and Indian traditional music.
Initial collection-level finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of California, Santa Cruz