Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2003561017
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
Gift, Nicolas Slonimsky, 1969; gift, Electra Yourke, 1999. Additional materials received in 2006.
No further accruals are expected.
The Nicolas Slonimsky Collection was processed in 1998-1999 by Michael Ferrando, William Nelson, Stefan Patejak and Albert Tucker with the assistance of Kevin LaVine. Robert Saladini was Music Specialist and Team Leader. This Finding Aid was prepared with Corel WordPerfect 8 and Procite. In 2002, Michael A. Ferrando coded and edited the finding aid for EAD format.
Sound recordings have been transferred to the Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.
Materials from the Nicolas Slonimsky Collection are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
The Nicolas Slonimsky Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Nicolas Slonimsky Collection contains materials collected by Slonimsky throughout his lifetime that document his life and work as musicologist, composer, conductor lecturer and author. His career as a composer and performer together with his lexicographical work, especially in compiling detailed information about the lives and works of musicians- those of the twentieth century in particular- has produced a remarkable archive of music, correspondence, memorabilia, books and related documents.
The Collection is divided into three sections
Items in category
The date span of the biographical materials is equal to that of Slonimsky's life (1894-1995). Of special interest are examples of Slonimsky's school work from his youth in Russia as well as some personal and medical papers. Most of the materials in the series are clippings which these date from 1925 to 1994. They provide a comprehensive overview of the man's personality, activities, and accomplishments.
Included among the writings series are drafts, typescripts, reprints, etc., and of newspaper, periodical, journal, and magazine articles, record liner notes, radio broadcasts, and talks; these are both published and unpublished and filed in alphabetical order by title. In addition, there are index cards of
The music composed by Nicolas Slonimsky is divided into two sections: manuscripts and printed music. The manuscripts are mostly for solo piano or piano and voice and many of these date from Slonimsky's younger days. The earliest dated manuscripts are from 1913, including a musical examination exercise from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Other early manuscripts date from the years 1918 to 1921. Other manuscripts of particular interest include a volume of
The printed music by Nicolas Slonimsky consists of music published between 1920 and 1990, and written, again, mostly for solo piano or voice and piano. Among these are the
A valuable collection of programs of Nicolas Slonimsky performances dating from 1924-1992 portrays Slonimsky's life as a public figure in his roles as a composer, conductor, musician, lecturer, and writer. Each program refers to Slonimsky in one or more of these roles.
The correspondence series ranges from 1920 through the 1990s. The bulk of these letters date from 1940s through the 1970s and most are responses to Slonimsky's inquiries for biographical and other information relative to his editing of
Most of the biographical materials on composers and performers date from the 1920s to the 1980s. Like the correspondence series, most of these materials were generated when Slonimsky was editing
A collection of concert programs amassed by Slonimsky date from 1873 to 1997. Most of these date from the early 1950s until the late 1990s and most deal with contemporary music. A significant number of the programs are from music festivals. They are organized chronologically.
The music collected by Nicolas Slonimsky series is divided into subseries of manuscript, printed music and multi-composer collections. Among the manuscripts are many short holographic works and fragments by composers: Dante Alderighi, John J. Becker, Eleazar de Carvalho, Sergei Conus, Luigi Dallapiccola, Mabel Daniels, Arcady Dubensky, Gregor G. Fitelberg, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Gino Gorini, Aleksandr Gretchaninov, Roy Harris, Daniel Jones, Ellis B. Kohs, William Kraft, René Leibowitz, Gian Francesco Malipiero, Franco Margola, Edvard Mirzoyan, Riccardo Nielsen, Goffredo Petrassi, Manuel M. Ponce, Gardner Read, Nino Rota, Luis H. Salgado, Giovanni Salviucci, Sergei Slonimsky, Alexandre Tansman, Boris Tishchenko, David Toradze, Georges Tsouyopoulos, Guillermo Uribe-Holguín, Aurelio de la Vega, Heitor Villa-Lobos, John Vincent, Andrei Volkonsky, and Adone Zecchi.
Of particular interest among the printed music and multi-composer collections are a significant number of works by lesser-known Soviet composers as well as composers with Spanish surnames. Especially noteworthy are a number of published works by Sergei Slonimsky, Prokofief and Shostakovich. A copy of
The scrapbooks include general materials such as announcements, flyers and related programs in addition to clippings of reviews of Slonimsky's early work as a performer and conductor and of his later work as a writer. Included also are articles he wrote for the
Most interesting among the iconographical materials in the collection are family photographs along with photographs of composers and musicians from the former Soviet Union, as well as little known musicians from the United States and elsewhere.
The Collection was processed in 1998-99 by Michael Ferrando, William Nelson, Stefan Patejak and Albert Tucker with the assistance of Kevin LaVine. Robert Saladini was Music Specialist and Team Leader.
The Nicolas Slonimsky Collection is organized in thirteen series:
Materials relating to Nicolas Slonimsky's personal life, including family history documents, a miscellaneous subject file, travel materials, and assorted clippings.
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter, or chronologically when appropriate.
Writings of Nicolas Slonimsky consisting of manuscript and typescript drafts and notes (including index cards) for articles, radio scripts, books, along with speeches, lectures, program and liner notes, reviews, and related materials, published and unpublished.
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter.
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Reviews by others of books, articles, music written or composed by Slonimsky. (
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter.
Music composed by Nicolas Slonimsky. These materials are divided into two subseries: Manuscript and Printed Music.
Arranged in alphabetical order by title.
Contents:
Includes fragments for the following (17 leaves):
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Programs of music composed by and/or lectures given by Slonimsky.
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter.
Correspondence to Nicolas Slonimsky, including general and family correspondence.
Arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent.
Biographical materials and assorted background materials collected by Slonimsky for his various writings.
Arranged in alphabetical order by name.
Concert programs of a general nature.
Arranged in chronological order.
Newspaper and print media clippings. (
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Music collected by Nicolas Slonimsky. These materials are divided into two subseries: Manuscript, Printed Music, and Multi-Composer_Collections.
Arranged in alphabetical order by composer then title or by title.
Includes:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Contents:
Scrapbooks organized and/or amassed by Slonimsky.
Arranged in chronological order.
Assorted illustrations and artwork including photographs (people and subjects), drawings and artwork, and miscellaneous.
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject and name.
Miscellaneous materials.
Arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter.