Finding Aid for the Benjamin Simon Collection PASC-M.0201

Finding aid prepared and machine-readable finding aid created by UCLA Library Special Collections staff.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2002.
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

Note

Arts and Humanities--Music


Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Benjamin Simon collection
Creator: Simon, Benjamin
Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0201
Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1920-1986
Abstract: This collection consists of manuscript scores and parts to string trios, string quartets, string quintets, songs, orchestra suites, operas, and violin exercises
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.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Benjamin Simon Collection (Collection Number PASC 201-M). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Processing Information

Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections. 

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9944347663606533 

Scope and Content

This collection includes manuscript scores and parts to string trios, string quartets, string quintets, songs, orchestra suites, operas, and violin exercises.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. Chamber music
  2. Songs
  3. Operas
  4. Orchestral suites
  5. Etudes
  6. Personal

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Music -- Manuscripts.
Composers -- Archives.
Simon, Benjamin, 1900-1986--Archives.

 

Chamber music

 

String trios

box 1, folder 1

String trio. 1 score; 29 leaves (57 pages of music); size: 7" x 10.75".

box 1, folder 2

Trio for violin, viola and cello, op.27, "To R.B.". Score and parts.

Scope and Contents note

Score, 16 leaves [31 pages of music (29 pages indicated, with pages 9 and 10 written twice)]; size: 7" x 10.75" Violin part, 14 leaves (27 pages); Viola part, 11 leaves (23 pages); Cello part, 12 leaves (21 pages); size: 9.5" x 12"
box 1, folder 3

Trio [for 2 violins and viola; 2 movements]. 3 parts, 2 leaves (3 pages of music) each; size: 9.5" x 12.5".

box 1, folder 4

Caprice for Trio [for 2 violins and viola]. Score and parts.

Scope and Contents note

Score, 8 leaves (16 pages of music). Parts for 2 violins and viola, 2 leaves (4 pages of music) each.
 

String quartets

box 1, folder 5

[String Quartet]. 1 music notebook, 40 leaves (39 pages of music); size: 10" x 7.5".

Scope and Contents note

The score is 35 pages. A sketch is 4 pages. Remainder of notebook is blank. Third and fourth movements in this notebook are similar to the third and fourth movements of the B minor quartette. After fourth movement, there is a sketch of the first movement of the B minor quartette.
box 1, folder 6

Preparator Quartette #1. 1 music notebook; 12 leaves (12 pages of music); size: 10" x 7.5".

Scope and Contents note

The score is 8 pages. Remainder of notebook contains sketches or is left blank.
box 1, folder 7

Saltaren [for string quartet]. 1 score; 9 leaves (17 pages of music); size: 7" x 10.75".

box 1, folder 8

[String Quartet]. 1 score; 6 leaves (6 pages of music); size: 6.5" x 10.5".

Scope and Contents note

I. Vom Himmel; II. O so[?] fröhliche; III. Weihnachtslied; IV.Des Jahres (J.A.P. Scholtz); V. New Year song - (Mendelssohn [sic])
box 1, folder 9

Quartette, op.40. 1 score; 12 leaves (16 pages of music); size: 7" x 10.75".

Scope and Contents note

The third movement of the Op.40 is similar to the third movement of the B minor quartette.
box 1, folder 10

B minor Quartette. 1 music notebook, scores and parts.

Scope and Contents note

1 music notebook, 20 leaves (5 leaves are score; 15 leaves are sketches of violin exercises); size: 8" x 10.5"
Score, 20 leaves (30 pages of music): Mod[erato], 12 pages; Allegretto grazioso, 5 pages; Con moto, 13 pages; size: 7" x 10.75" Con moto movement may or may not be part of this quartet; not part of later version. A second Allegretto grazioso (2 leaves; 4 pages of music) is included.
Score, 14 leaves (26 pages of music). 4 parts, 4 leaves (7 pages of music) each; size: 9.5" x 12"
 

String quintets

box 1, folder 11

String Quintette "Harran," op.29. Score and parts; size: 9.5" x 12.5".

Scope and Contents note

Score, 23 leaves (45 pages of music). Violin I and Violin II parts, 4 leaves (6 pages of music); Viola I part, 4 leaves (8 pages of music); Viola II and Cello parts, 4 leaves (7 pages of music).
 

Songs

box 2, folder 1

"Romance," "Caprice," "Cradle," "Valse". 4 leaves (7 pages of music); size: 9.5" x 12.5".

Scope and Contents note

Piano part
box 2, folder 2

"Montemarte". 2 leaves (1 page of music); size: 9.25" x 11.75".

Scope and Contents note

Melody line only. [Note: Melody line and piano part located in Folder 8.] A four-measure sketch is on the back of the 2nd leaf.
box 2, folder 3

"Girl-Boy". 2 leaves (2 pages of music); size: 9.25" x 11.75".

Scope and Contents note

Piano part
box 2, folder 4

"To T. S.," "Song". 2 leaves (4 pages of music); size: 9" x 12".

Scope and Contents note

"To T. S." has melody line and piano part; "Song" has only piano part.
box 2, folder 5

"Lament". 3 leaves (5 pages of music); size: 9.5" x 12.5".

Scope and Contents note

Melody line with piano part.
box 2, folder 6

"Prelude". 1 leaf; size: 9" x 12".

Scope and Contents note

Piano part. Sketch on the opposite side.
box 2, folder 7

"Sonatina," "Theme and variations". 6 leaves (12 pages of music); size: 9.25" x 11.75".

Scope and Contents note

"To Ronnette." Melody line and piano part. (Melody line begins on page 3.)
box 2, folder 8

"Gramma and Grand-chilo," "Montemarte," "[untitled]," "Flower". 4 leaves (7 pages of music); size: 9" x 12".

Scope and Contents note

Piano part for "Gramma and Grand-chilo." Melody line and piano part for "Montemarte." A 2/4 section follows "Montemarte" which may or may not be a separate, untitled piece. Piano part only. Piano part for "Flower."
 

Operas

box 2, folder 9

Prodigal Son. 8 vocal scores; size: 9.5" x 6".

Scope and Contents note

Chorus - soprano - Act I, 4 leaves (7 pages of music) Chor[us] - tenors - [Act I], 4 leaves (7 pages of music) Chorus - baritones - Act I, 5 leaves (9 pages of music) Chorus - bass - [Act I], 4 leaves (8 pages of music) 2 servants - Act I - tenor and baritone, 2 leaves (3 pages of music) Tax-Collector - Act II - (spoken part) - 3 leaves (5 pages of music) Patron - Act II - baritone, 2 leaves (4 pages of music) Visitor - Act III - baritone, 7 leaves (13 pages of music)
box 2, folder 10

Prodigal Son. 9 vocal scores; size: 9.5" x 8".

Scope and Contents note

Maid-dancer - Act II - contralto, 5 leaves (10 pages of music) 2 servants of the Merchant - Act II, 5 leaves (9 pages of music) Prophet - Act II - bariton[e], 5 leaves (11 pages of music - one page written on back cover) Maid servant - Act I-III - mezzo-soprano, 6 leaves (12 pages of music) Tenor lyric, 20 leaves (40 pages of music) Father - bass-baritone, 9 leaves (15 pages of music) Merchant - baritone, 12 leaves (22 pages of music, 1 page of lyrics) Elder brother - baritone, 6 leaves (11 pages of music) Shepherd - Act III, 4 leaves (8 pages of music)
box 2, folder 11

Prodigal Son. 3 scores.

Scope and Contents note

Score, Prelude and 3 acts, 6 leaves (6 pages of music); size: 10.75" x 13.25"
Score, Act I and part of Act II. 47 leaves (pages 1-95; skips page number 56); size: 9.25" x 12.25"
Score, end of Act II. 32 leaves (pages 96-157); size: 9.25" x 12.25"
box 2, folder 12

The Sower. 1 score; 49 leaves (98 pages of music); size: 9.25" x 12".

Scope and Contents note

Taped to back cover: excerpt from script. Very likely these words were read by the conductor.
 

Orchestral suites

box 3, folder 1

Latin suite (Cabalerro y Sandunga - Himno - Habas Verdes). 13 orchestra parts; size: 9.5" x 12.5".

Scope and Contents note

II Flute, 4 leaves (7 pages of music) I Oboe, 4 leaves (7 pages of music) II Oboe, 3 leaves (6 pages of music) English horn, 4 leaves (8 pages of music) I Clarinet in A, 4 leaves (8 pages of music) II Clarinet in C, 4 leaves (7 pages of music) I Bassoon, 6 leaves (12 pages of music) II Bassoon, 4 leaves (8 pages of music) Contrabassoon, 3 leaves (6 pages of music) I Violin, 11 leaves (11 pages of music) II Violin, 11 leaves (11 pages of music) Viola, 10 leaves (10 pages of music) Cello, 10 leaves (10 pages of music)
box 3, folder 2

Latin Suite (Caballero y Sandunga - Hymo [sic] - Habas Verdes). 1 score; size: 9.5" x 15".

Scope and Contents note

Caballero, 13 leaves (24 pages of music) Sandunga, 40 leaves (79 pages of music) Hymno [sic], 8 leaves (16 pages of music) Habas Verdes, 29 leaves (57 pages of music)
 

Etudes

box 3, folder 3

Violin Exercises I and "Hora" sketch. 1 music notebook; 16 leaves; size: 8" x 10.5".

Scope and Contents note

Exercises A-M, 21 pages of music
Sketch of piece, entitled "Hora" and attributed to "L.K.," written for orchestra but condensed here to four staves; 12 pages of music.
box 3, folder 4

Violin Exercises II. 3 music notebooks.

Scope and Contents note

Notebook #I, 21 leaves; size: 8" x 10.5"; contains: Violin exercises I - X (), Sonatina (interjected between the first two exercises), and "Moderato," 34 pages of music; Sketch of a piece written most likely violin and piano (instrumentation unclear), 8 pages of music.
Notebook #II, 24 leaves; size: 9.5" x 12.5"; contains: Violin exercises XI - XXI (also numbered: 1-12), 48 pages of music.
Notebook #III, 13 leaves; size: 9.5" x 12.5"; contains: Violin exercises XXII - XXIX (also numbered: 13-20), 25 pages of music
 

Personal

box 3, folder 5

Biography. 5 leaves; size: 8.5" x 11".

box 3, folder 6

Photographs. 2 photographic images; 2 leaves; size: 8.5" x 11".

Scope and Contents note

First image is Ben Simon as a young man; yellow in hue. Second image is Ben Simon as an older man; black and white.