Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1968 The iH story of the Louisiana State University School of Music. Charlie Walton Roberts Jr Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Roberts, Charlie Walton Jr, "The iH story of the Louisiana State University School of Music." (1968). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 1458. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/1458 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received 68-16,326 ROBERTS, Jr., Charlie Walton, 1935- THE HISTORY OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVER­ SITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ed.D., 1968 Music University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan THE HISTORY OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education i n The Department of Education by Charlie Walton Roberts, Jr. B.Mu.Ed., Louisiana State University, 1957 M.A., Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, 1964 May, 1968 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author acknowledges with gratitude the assistance of Dr. William M. Smith, his major professor, for his guidance throughout this study and his graduate program at Louisiana State University. Special thanks are due to the other members of his doctoral committee, Dr. L. M. Harrison, Dr. W. Rodney Cline, Dr. W. R. Eglin, Dr. J. B. Gremillion, Dr. C. W. Hilton, and Dr. Robert F. Shambaugh, for their helpful supervision of his program. Acknowledgment is also made to Dr. Everett Timm, Dean of the School of Music, for making certain materials available to the author and to the late Dr. Edward J. Hermann for assistance in initiating this study. The writer also expresses appreciation to his wife, Martha, for her encouragement throughout this study. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 Music in the United States Prior to 1915 . 1 Development of Music in Higher Education . 1 Beginning of Public School Music in Louisiana ....................................................................... 5 Beginning of Music at Louisiana State University ....................................................................... 8 Search for Director of Department of Music . 12 II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC FROM 1915 TO 1940 17 F a c u lty ........................................................................................... 17 Appointment of D ire c to r.............................. 17 Stopher takes leave of absence .................... 22 Director returns to university .................... 25 Department of Music admitted to National Association of Schools of Music .... 31 Department becomes School of Music . 35 Quality of instruction ......................................... 39 Stopher travels to Europe .................................... 40 Faculty improvement and additions.... 42 Performing Groups and Performances .................... 46 Organizational Action ................................................... 46 i i i i v CHAPTER PAGE B a n d.................................................. 46 Orchestra ........................................ ....... 48 Early vocal groups p e r f o r m ; . 50 Early tours by vocal groups ....... 52 Vocal groups perform at teachers meetings 57 A Cappella Choir organized ....... 59 . Broadcast by performing groups ..... 61 School of Music conducts tours .................... 62 Beginning of o p e r a................................................... 65 Orchestra and chorus tour Europe .... 69 Facilities and Curricula .............................................. 75 Facilities and Equipment ......................................... 75 Department of Music changes sites .... 76 Planning and construction of present-day music b u i l d i n g........................................................ 78 Dedication of new building .......................... 85 Influence of Huey P. Long . ................................... 87 C u rric u la ...................................................................................... 88 Courses Offered .................................................................. 88 Bachelor of Music degree offered .... 89 Problems During the Last Years of the Stopher A d m in istra tio n......................... 96 Stopher retires ............................................................. 100 CHAPTER PAGE III. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC FROM 1940 TO 1943 103 Reorganization of the School of Music .... 103 Director Appointed ........................................................ 103 Aims of d i r e c t o r..............................................................104 Changes necessitated .............................................. 108 Changes in course of s t u d y.....................................110 Improved relations..............................................................112 Needs of the school . .....................................113 Budget r e v i s i o n s............................................. 116 Re-examination of School of Music .......................... 119 Visit by Secretary of National Association 119 Report of S e c re ta ry .........................................................121 Accreditation not published............................... 124 Performing Groups .................................................................. 125 O p era.................................................................................................125 B a n d............................................................ 130 O rch estra.......................................................................................132 F a c u lty .................................................................................................132 Faculty Responsibilities Revised ..................... 132 E n ro llm e n t.......................................................................................139 Director Relieved of Duties 139 vi CHAPTER PAGE IV. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC FROM 1943 TO 1955 143 F a c u lty .................................................................................................143 Barrett Stout Appointed Director ....................... 143 Needs recognized and changes made by d i r e c t o r.............................................................................149 Administrative policies ......................................... 156 Performing Groups .................................................................. 158 B a n d.................................................................................................158 O pera.................................................................................................162 Orches t r a ....................................................... 167 E n ro llm e n t.......................................................................................168 I n c r e a s e.......................................................................................168 Retirement of Director .................................................. 172 Director Honored ............................................................. 172 BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................1 75 VITA ..........................................................................................................................184 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE I. Instrument and Equipment Needs of the Department of Music, 1915-1916 21 II. Budget for Salaries of the Faculty, School of Music, 1932-1933 38 III. Instrumental Needs of the Department of Music, 1920-1921 ........................................ 77 IV. Courses Offered and Students Enrolled During the 1915-1916 Session ........................................................ 90 V. Faculty of the School of Music, 1940-1941 . 134 VI. Faculty of the School of Music, 1941-1942 . 138 VII. Enrollment, 1940-1943 140 VIII. Instructional Staff for 1943-1944 ................................. 145 IX. Enrollment in the School of Music for the 1943-1944 Session ............................................................ 169 X. Enrollment in School of Music of Music Majors, Applied Music Students, and Musical Organizations, 1946-1947 171 vi i ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to present the history of the growth and development of the Louisiana State Uni­ versity School of Music from its beginning in 1915 through 1955. Data for this study were collected primarily from the files of the School of Music, Louisiana State University and from the Archives, Louisiana State University Library. Other methods for collecting data were interviews, various newspapers and magazines published throughout the state, and several Louisiana State University publications such as the Gumbo, Louisiana State Uni vers i ty