Research Catalog

John Watts papers

Title
John Watts papers, 1947-1982.
Author
Watts, John, 1930-1982.
Supplementary Content
Finding Aid

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16 Items

StatusContainerFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
Box 1Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 1Offsite
Box 2Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 2Offsite
Box 3Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 3Offsite
Box 4Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 4Offsite
Box 5Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 5Offsite
Box 6Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 6Offsite
Box 7Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 7Offsite
Box 8Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 8Offsite
Box 9Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 9Offsite
Box 10Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 10Offsite
Box 11Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 11Offsite
Box 12Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 12Offsite
Box 13Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 13Offsite
Box 14Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 14Offsite
Box 15Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 15Offsite
Box 16Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-67 Box 16Offsite

Details

Additional Authors
  • Effinger, Cecil, 1914-1990.
  • Foreman, Laura, 1936-2001.
  • Watts, John, 1930-1982.
  • Composers & Choreographers Theatre.
Description
6 linear feet (16 boxes )
Summary
The John Watts papers contain materials spanning the years 1947 to 1981 and cover the professional musical career of the composer, John Watts.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Correspondence.
  • Fliers (printed matter)
  • Lecture notes.
  • Musical sketches.
  • Scores.
Biography (note)
  • American composer and synthesizer player John Watts (1930-1982) was well-known for his work with electronic music.
Indexes/Finding Aids (note)
  • Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Call Number
JPB 06-67
OCLC
122898109
Author
Watts, John, 1930-1982.
Title
John Watts papers, 1947-1982.
Biography
American composer and synthesizer player John Watts (1930-1982) was well-known for his work with electronic music. Born in Cleveland, Tennessee, he studied the clarinet as a teenager. Watts received his Bachelors degree in music composition from the University of Tennessee (1949), a Masters in musicology from the University of Colorado (1953) and was enrolled in the doctoral studies program at the University of Illinois, before transferring to Cornell University. Some of his teachers included Cecil Effinger, Roy Harris, John Krueger, Robert Palmer, Burrill Phillips and David Van Vactor. In 1950, Watts entered military service and served for two years as a clarinetist, dance band pianist, and arranger in the 75th and 179th Army Bands, Special Services. He taught briefly at the Army-Navy Music School in Washington, D.C. and married for the first time during this period. In the fall of 1964, Watts founded the Composers Theatre, and, in 1966, he became the president of its parent organization, the Composers and Choreographers Theatre. In 1969, he became a member of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in New York, where he served as the director of the ARP Electronic Music Program and as the Music Workshops coordinator. During this time, Watts met and married choreographer and dancer, Laura Foreman, with whom he would collaborate on many projects. Over the years, Watts produced over 100 compositions in all forms, primarily chamber music and dance scores. He also had an interest in children's theater. Starting in 1969, Watts began to incorporate electronic elements into his compositions, and became an adept ARP synthesizer soloist. His works and performances helped to popularize the electronic synthesizer as a musical instrument.
Indexes
Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
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Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material
Finding Aid
Occupation
Composers.
Added Author
Effinger, Cecil, 1914-1990.
Foreman, Laura, 1936-2001.
Watts, John, 1930-1982. Elegy to chimney.
Watts, John, 1930-1982. Time coded woman.
Composers & Choreographers Theatre.
Research Call Number
JPB 06-67
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