Collection Summary
Eric Dolphy Collection
1939-1964
(bulk 1960-1964)
1939-1964
(bulk 1960-1964)
ML31.D67
Dolphy, Eric
Approximately 250 items
6 containers
5.0 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Music Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Eric Dolphy was an American jazz alto saxophonist, flautist, and bass clarinetist. The collection consists of manuscript scores, sketches, parts, and lead sheets for works composed by Dolphy and others.
Selected Search Terms
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.
People
Dolphy, Eric--Manuscripts.
Dolphy, Eric.
Dolphy, Eric.
Dolphy, Eric. Works. Selections.
Mingus, Charles, 1922-1979. Works. Selections.
Schuller, Gunther. Works. Selections.
Subjects
Composers--United States.
Jazz musicians--United States.
Jazz.
Jazz.
Music--Manuscripts--United States.
Saxophonists--United States.
Form/Genre
Lead sheets.
Scores.
Provenance
Gift, James Newton, 2014.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
The Eric Dolphy Collection was processed by Thomas Barrick in 2014. Thomas Barrick coded the finding aid for EAD format in October 2014.
Related Material
The [Charles Mingus Collection] (ML31.M56) and [Billy Taylor Papers] (ML31.T43) contain small quantities of miscellaneous materials related to Dolphy.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Eric Dolphy Collection are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Eric Dolphy 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.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Eric Dolphy Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1928, June 20
Born Eric Allan Dolphy, Los Angeles, California
1949
First known recording appearance with the Roy Porter band
1950
Joined U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington
1952
Attended U.S. Naval School of Music, Washington, D.C.
1953
After discharge, returned to Los Angeles to continue musical career
1954
1958
Performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Bostic, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Gerald Wilson, Buddy Collette, Ornette Coleman, and others
1958
1959
Toured and recorded with drummer Chico Hamilton's quintet
1960
First recording
Outward Bound
released on Prestige label
Released
Here and There
and
Out There
1960
1964
Performed and recorded with various jazz ensembles led by Ron Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Gil Evans, Andrew Hill, Freddie Hubbard, John Lewis, Abbey Lincoln, Booker Little, Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, Sy Oliver, Pony Poindexter, Max Roach, Gunther Schuller, and Mal Waldron
Toured and recorded as a bandleader
1964 Feb.
Recorded the critically acclaimed
Out to Lunch
1964, June 29
Died, Berlin, Germany
Scope and Content Note
The Eric Dolphy Collection is comprised of approximately 250 lead sheets, scores, sketches, and exercises for works composed by Dolphy and others. The collection includes holograph scores, sketches, and parts for
Outward Bound,
Out There,
and
Out to Lunch,
the latter widely considered to be Dolphy's magnum opus. Included as well are three sketchbooks in Dolphy's hand filled with lead sheets, sketches, and studies. The collection also contains printed and manuscript works by Gunther Schuller, Charles Mingus, Jaki Byard, and other composers, and a promotional program chronicling a concert, "Concert Four" (1962), with Gunther Schuller and featuring Dolphy.
Organization of the Eric Dolphy Collection
The Eric Dolphy Collection is organized in two series:
-
[Music](ed01)
-
[Miscellany, 1962](ed05)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-6
Music
1/1
17 West
Double bass part
1/2
245
Lead sheet
6/1
Abstraction
By Gunther Schuller
Score and alto saxophone part (Ornette)
1/3
African lady
By Randy Weston
Lead sheet
1/4
Ain't gonna be that way
By Helen Parker
Lead sheet
Includes unidentified sketches
2/15
Alabama song
By Kurt Weill
Photocopied lead sheet
1/5
All set
By Milton Babbitt
Printed alto saxophone part with annotations
1/6
Alto
Piano part
1/7
Alto tune
Double bass part
1/8
A. Y.
By Prince Lasha / Sonny Simmons
Lead sheet
1/9
Be assured, I'm with you
By Hale Smith
Lead sheet
1/10
Blanca Estela
By Emilio B. Rosado
Piano score
1/11
Blues A♭
Lead sheet
1/12
Bojangles
By Prince Lasha / Sonny Simmons
Lead sheet
1/13
Booker Little
Alto saxophone part (chord changes only)
6/2
Boycott
Score for bass clarinet and double bass
6/3
Burning spear
Score; parts (trumpet, horn, flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, bassoon, double bass, drums, timpani)
1/14
Celia
By Charles Mingus
Lead sheet
1/15
Confirmation
By Charlie Parker
Lead sheet
1/16
Comprensión
Lead sheet
1/17
Congo call
By Prince Lasha / Sonny Simmons
Score for flute and alto saxophone duet
1/18
Criss cross
By Thelonious Monk
Lead sheet
1/19
Darn that dream
By Jimmy Van Heusen
Lead sheet (chord changes only)
Includes unidentified sketch
1/20
Decision
By Sonny Rollins
Lead sheets
6/1
Densities I
By Gunther Schuller
Score for clarinet
1/21
Density 21.5 for flute alone
By Edgar Varèse
Printed score
Inscribed from Varèse to Dolphy
1/23
Don't weep for the lady
By Darshan Singh
Lead sheet
1/24
Eclipse
By Charles Mingus
Lead sheet
Epistrophy
see
[Ode to Charlier Parker](ed04)
By Thelonious Monk
1/25
Ezz-thetic
By George Russell
Lead sheet
1/26
Feathers
see also
[A sketch of Melba](ed03)
By Hale Smith
Lead sheet; parts (double bass, cello)
6/4
Gazzeloni
Score; parts (trumpet, bass trumpet, flute, alto saxophone, piano, double bass, drums, violin, viola, cello)
1/28
Gelana Wami
Lead sheet
1/29
Goodbye pork-pie hat
By Charles Mingus
Alto saxophone part
1/30
The great nuncupator
By Scott Lafaro
Lead sheet
1/31
Green and gold
By Prince Lasha / Sonny Simmons
Score for flute and alto saxophone duet
1/32
G. W.
Partial score; lead sheet; parts (alto saxophone, trombone)
6/5
Hat and beard
Score; parts (trumpet, bass clarinet, piano, double bass)
1/33
Here I'll stay
Lead sheets
1/34
The hollow men
Music by Donald Erb; words by T.S. Elliot
Score
1/35
Honesty
see also
[Lydiot](ed06)
By David Baker
Photocopied lead sheet
Original is on the verso of "Lydiot"
1/36
I can't get started
By Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin
Lead sheet
1/37
I don't know why
Trumpet part
1/38
I worry 'bout you
By Norman Mapp
Lead sheet
1/39
I'm sure of it
By George Backman
Lead sheet
1/40
If you could see me now
By Tadd Dameron
Lead sheet; trombone part
1/41
Iron man
Score sketch; parts (trumpet, piano, double bass)
1/42
In the Inn
By Charles Ives
Clarinet part
Includes alto saxophone part for "In the night"
1/43
It's magic
By Jule Styne
Lead sheet; double bass part
1/44
Lady be good
Printed transcription of Charlie Parker's solo on "Lady be good" with Dolphy's annotations
1/45
Left alone
By Billie Holiday and Mal Waldron
Lead sheets
1/46
Les
Lead sheets; parts (trumpet, 1st and 2nd alto saxophone, 1st and 2nd tenor saxophone)
2/1
Lifetime
By Randy Weston
Lead sheet
2/2
Like Sonny
By John Coltrane
Alto saxophone part
6/1
Little blue devil
By Gunther Schuller
Score for flute and clarinet
2/3
Little Cynthia
By Chuck "Taggie" Taylor
Photocopied lead sheet
2/4
Lo! Here the gentle lark
By Henry Bishop
Flute part
2/5
Locas por el mambo
Music by Perez Prado; words by Benny Moré
Lead sheet
2/6
Love suite III
Piano part
2/7
A lullaby now to sleep
By L. Mordecai
Piano-vocal score
2/8
Lydiot
By George Russell
Lead sheet
Includes lead sheet for "Honesty" by David Baker
6/6
The madrig speaks, the panther walks
Score; parts (trumpet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, double bass, drums)
2/9
Mangoes
Piano part
2/10
A media noche
By P. Cairo
Piano score
2/11
Merengue PaTi
By Silvestre Mendez
Piano score
5/1-4
Miscellany
Printed music methods and solos
Titles: "10 studies of jazz for trumpet" by Tomasz Stanko; "25 daily exercises for saxophone" by H. Klose; Chapel voluntaries for organ, harmonium or piano" by Gerard Alphenaar; "The art of clarinet playing" by Keith Stein; "Concerto for flute and orchestra" by Jacques Ibert; "The developing flutist" by Norman Dello Joio; "Daily drills for clarinet" by Arban-Vanasek; "Gammes et arpeges" by Marcel Moyse; "Grandes exercises pour flute" by G. Gariboldi; "L'indispensabile, school for the flute" by Leonardo de Lorenzo; "The modern flutist, eight etudes..."; "The modern flutist, four grand..."; "Sonata pour flute seule" by J.S. Bach
2/12
Mirrors
By Joe Chambers
Lead sheet; flute part
2/13
Miss Ann
Lead sheet; double bass parts
2/14
Miss Toni
By Charles Greenlee
Lead sheet
2/16
Mrs. Parker of K. C.
By Jaki Byard
Parts (trumpet, trombone)
2/17
Nardis
By Miles Davis
Lead sheet
6/7
Nellie Bly
By Wayne Shorter
Score
2/18
Never had a dream like this before
By George Backman
Lead sheet
6/1
Night music
By Gunther Schuller
Score for bass clarinet
2/19
Nooroog
By Charles Mingus
Lead sheet
2/20
Ode to Charlie Parker
By Jaki Byard
Holograph lead sheet
Includes lead sheet for "There are many worlds" on verso
2/20
Ode to Charlie Parker
By Jaki Byard
Lead sheet
Includes tenor saxophone part [?] for "Epistrophy" on verso
1/27
Oh Gee!
By Matthew Gee, Jr.
Lead sheet
2/21
Omega
see also
[The Prophet](ed02)
Parts (trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone)
2/22
On the rocks
Score; lead sheet; parts (trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, double bass)
2/23
Out there
Alto saxophone parts
2/24
Out to lunch
Parts (trumpet, alto saxophone, piano, drums)
2/25
Paris in blue
By Charles Mingus
Fragment
Includes woodwind exercises
2/26
Partita in A minor for flute
By J. S. Bach
Score in Dolphy's hand
2/27
Pecado
By Pontier / Francini
Piano score
2/28
Pretty girl
By Billy Strayhorn
Lead sheet
2/29
The prophet
Score; lead sheets; parts (trumpet, piano)
Includes score sketch of "Omega"
2/30
Rag-time
By Igor Stravinsky
Printed clarinet part
2/31
Red planet
Parts (trumpet, double bass)
2/32
Rondo for alto saxophone and piano
By Orville Moseley
Alto saxophone part
2/33
Samson and Delilah
Lead sheet
Includes sketches
2/34
Scales and intervallic studies
3/1
Sentimental melody
By Powell/Braithwaite; arranged by Melba Liston
Score
At top: Gloria Lynn [i.e. Lynne]
3/2
Serene
Sketches; parts (trombone, tenor saxophone, piano)
6/8
Song F.T.R.H.
Score; parts (trumpet, clarinet, piano, double bass, drums)
3/3
Simple beauty
By Roland Hanna; arranged by Robert Lassen
Piano score
3/4
Six shades of blue
Music by Sammy Heywood; words by Langston Hughes
Lead sheet
3/5
A sketch of Melba
By Randy Weston
Double bass and cello part
Includes cello part for "Feathers" by Hale Smith
3/6-8
Sketchbooks, undated
Three sketchbooks
Includes synthetic scales, intervallic studies, compositions, and musical excerpts of works by John Lewis, Charles Mingus, Hale Smith, Igor Stravinsky, Randy Weston, and others
3/9
Something sweet, something tender
Lead sheets; trumpet part
3/10
Somthing to live for
By Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
Lead sheet
3/11
Straight up and down
Lead sheets; parts (alto saxophone, double bass, drums)
3/12
Suite for woodwind sextet and piano
Score
Incomplete?
3/13
Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007. Prelude
By J.S. Bach; arranged by Eric Dolphy
Score
There are many worlds
see
[Ode to Charlie Parker](ed04)
6/9
To Tonio, dead
Score for flute and double bass
4/1
Tone poem
Lead sheet; piano part
4/2
Two part suite: South Street exit; The madrig speaks
Lead sheets
6/1
Variants on a theme of Thelonious Monk
By Gunther Schuller
Bass clarinet part
Combination part "Ornette and Eric"
1/22
We diddit
By Mal Waldron
Alto saxophone part
4/5
Weird nightmare
By Charles Mingus
Woodwind part
4/6
Woodn' you
Lead sheet
4/7
Ya me cansé de ti
By Carbo Menendez
Piano score; lyric sheet
6/10
Unidentified
Score sketch
4/3-4
Unidentified
Sketches; lead sheets; parts
5
Miscellany,
1962
1962
5/5
Program, 1962
1962
"Concert Four, Saturday, March 10, 1962"
Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, Inc. concert featuring Gunther Schuller with Dolphy and others.