Arthur Berger papers03.MWalB00294A
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Brandeis University 415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/ Arthur Berger papers03.MWalB00294A
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical / Historical ...... 3 Scope and Contents ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Controlled Access Headings ...... 4 Other Descriptive Information ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 5 Publications ...... 5 By Berger ...... 5 Scores ...... 6 Sound Recordings ...... 6 Berger, Arthur ...... 6 Subject Files ...... 7 Student Compositions ...... 7
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Summary Information
Repository: Brandeis University Creator: Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003 Title: Arthur Berger papers ID: 03.MWalB00294A Date [inclusive]: 1948-2004, undated Physical Description: 1.00 Linear Feet Physical Description: 1.00 Linear Feet Text [other]: 1 record center box, 1 flat box Abstract: Arranged in four series: 1. Publications, 1953-1966; 2. Sound Recordings, 1959-1972, undated; 3. Subject Files, 1948-2004, undated; 4. Student Compositions, 1961-1971, undated. The materials are arranged alphabetically. For more information about each series, please consult the series descriptions in the box and folder listing. 1 record center box, 1 flat box.
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Biographical / Historical
Arthur Berger (1912-2003) was an established music composer and critic before he joined the Brandeis faculty in 1953. He received his musical education at New York University, Harvard University, and the Sorbonne in Paris. Through his membership in the Young Composers Group, Berger befriended Aaron Copland and became Copland's principal biographer. He also became a prominent American music critic who received awards from the Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts, and Fulbright foundations, among many others. He founded the scholarly journal Perspectives on New Music in 1962.
From 1939-1953, Berger worked as a full-time teacher and music critic until joining Brandeis University's new graduate music program in 1953. He specialized in teaching orchestra, chamber, and solo piano music, all areas in which he was renowned as a critic. Berger retired from Brandeis in 1980, becoming the Irving Fine Professor of Music Emeritus. He went on to teach at the New England Conservatory of Music until 1999.
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Scope and Contents
Files in this collection were created from 1948-2004. Materials include books, reprints, reel-to-reel audiotapes, LP records, a memorial CD, concert programs, photographs, reviews, essays, and musical compositions. Most of these items were created during Arthur Berger's tenure at Brandeis, and many of them pertain to his role as a professor. Of note is his biography of Aaron Copland published in 1953, as well as a collection of music reviews from various New York newspapers published by Music Reporter. The latter contains several reviews by Berger, which are indexed on the last two pages.
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Administrative Information
Publication Statement Brandeis University
415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/
Conditions Governing Access Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collecctions Department, Brandeis University. Please contact the department for more information.
Conditions Governing Use Requests to reproduce or publish material from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University,
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Controlled Access Headings
• Brandeis University -- Faculty
- Page 4- Arthur Berger papers03.MWalB00294A • Brandeis University. Department of Music • Music -- United States • Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003 • Brandeis University
Other Descriptive Information
Addenda to this collection may not be listed in the finding aid, but may be available for research use. Please contact us for more information.
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Collection Inventory
Publications, 1953-1966 Date: 1953-1966 Scope and Contents
This series includes books and reprints related to Arthur Berger. It contains works that analyze his career as a musician and composer, as well as those that he wrote or edited.
Title/Description Instances About Berger, 1961-1966 Box 1 Folder 1 Date: 1961-1966
By Berger Box 1 Title/Description Instances Copland, 1953 Box 1 Folder 2 Date: 1953
Ideas of Order [2 copies], oversize folder, 1952 Box 2 Folder 7 Date: 1952 Scope and Contents
Peach cover version shows incorporation of annotations and changes entered into the red cover version.
Perspectives of New Music [2 copies], 1962 Box 1 Folder 4
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Date: 1962
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Scores, 1981, 1983 Date: 1981, 1983
Title/Description Instances Two Birthday Pieces for piano: for Aaron Copland and for Elliott Box 1 Folder 18 Carter, 1981, 1983 Date: 1981, 1983
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Sound Recordings, 1959-1972, undated Date: 1959-1972, undated Scope and Contents
Files in this series include reel-to-reel audiotapes of performances and discussions of musical pieces pertaining to Berger and Copland. Also included is a record of the French performance "Carnet de Notes" and a Philharmonic performance of Berger's "Ideas of Order." Folder labels replicate labels provided on the audiotapes, some of which are vague and nondescript.
Berger, Arthur Box 1 Title/Description Instances (49-51) VI, undated Box 1 Folder 5 Date: undated
Ideas-Voice, undated Box 1 Folder 6 Date: undated
Ideas of Order (Philharmonic), 1959 Box 1 Folder 7 Date: 1959
Brown, J: Piano piece, undated Box 1 Folder 8 Date: undated
Copland, Aaron: Bach and Music for Theater, undated Box 1 Folder 9 Date: undated
Jolas, Betsy and Marcel Mihalovich: Carnet de Notes 36, 1972 Box 1 Folder 10
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Date: 1972
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Subject Files, 1948-2004, undated Date: 1948-2004, undated Scope and Contents
This series contains programs, photographs, and reviews relating to Berger, as well as a memorial performance at the New England Conservatory of Music (on CD). It also has a collected volume of New York music reviews, including several by Berger. Of note are concert programs from the Brandeis University Department of Music, featuring performances of works by Berger and other Brandeis faculty. Several of these performances were tributes to Berger at birthday milestones and after his passing.
Title/Description Instances Aaron Copland: Symphonic Ode--signed, 1959 Folder 11 Date: 1959
Concert programs: Brandeis University Department of Music, Folder 12 1989-2004 Date: 1989-2004
Fine Arts and School of Creative Arts ten year plan, undated Box 1 Folder 13 Date: undated
Music Reporter: New York Reviews, 1948-1949 Folder 13 Date: 1948-1949
Nederlands Blazers Ensemble Program, 1987 Folder 14 Date: 1987
New England Conservatory Memorial Performance [CD], 2004 Folder 15 Date: 2004
Photographs of Arthur Berger, undated Folder 16 Date: undated
"There's Music in Germany", 1963 Folder 17 Date: 1963
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Student Compositions, 1961-1971, undated Date: 1961-1971, undated
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Scope and Contents
This series includes papers and musical compositions created by students of Arthur Berger and Aaron Copland.
Title/Description Instances Essays and short musical compositions, 1971 Box 1 Folder 18 Date: 1971
Cone, E.T.: "Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin", undated Box 2 Folder 1 Date: undated
Farrand, Noel: "Trio", undated Box 2 Folder 2 Date: undated
Herman, Thomas: "How Silent are the Things of Heaven", 1968 Box 2 Folder 3 Date: 1968
Lewis, Peter: "Three Epigrams for Chamber Ensemble", undated Box 2 Folder 4 Date: undated
Randall, Jack: "Pitched-Derived Rhythm, Demonstration I", Box 2 Folder 5 undated Date: undated
Wuorinsen, Charles: "Evolutio Transcripta: Chamber Orchestra", Box 2 Folder 6 1961 Date: 1961
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