| Description |
17.2 linear feet (28 boxes) |
|
Arranged in series: I. Professional papers, 1898-1998; II. Photographs, 1957-1997; III. Scores, 1943-circa 1995; IV. Oversized material, 1909-1984. |
| Summary |
The Charles Schwartz papers primarily document three aspects of Schwartz's career. His activities as a producer of concerts of contemporary music and jazz with his Composers' Showcase series are represented by correspondence, business papers, clippings, concert programs, publicity materials, and photographs. Notable correspondents include Aaron Copland and Stephen Sondheim. Schwartz's work as a biographer of George Gershwin and Cole Porter is revealed through manuscripts and proofs, as well as papers, notes, articles, and photographs used in his research process. This material includes copies of Gershwin and Porter music manuscripts and correspondence, originals of which are in other repositories. Schwartz's own prolific career as a composer is also amply documented. His music scores comprise over half the volume of the collection and include music composed from the early 1940s until the mid-1990s. The clippings and concert programs document the performance and critical reception of Schwartz's music, and other papers document the business and logistics of performing and recording it. |
| Biography |
Composer, author, musicologist, and music impresario, Charles Schwartz (1922-1998), was well-known as a presenter of new music and jazz in New York City venues, as well as a prolific author on popular music. Schwartz received his undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College and a graduate degree from New York University before studying from 1945-1953 with several contemporary composers, including Aaron Copland and Roger Sessions. He completed his doctoral work in musicology at NYU in 1969, after which he taught at Queens College (1967-1971) and Hunter College (1972 onward). In addition to his academic career, he also lectured publicly and took part in panel discussions on American musical theater, jazz and contemporary music. Schwartz also freelanced as an orchestrator and trumpeter. From 1957 until the mid-1990s, he produced concert series under the titles Composers' Showcase and Jazz Profiles (both eventually under the former title), presenting concerts of new music and jazz at the Whitney Museum, Circle In The Square, the Museum Of Modern Art, and Lincoln Center. Schwartz also researched and published books about George Gershwin and Cole Porter. He continuously composed his own music, including symphonies, string quartets, popular song, works for wind and percussion, and chamber pieces. He also wrote, performed, and recorded several "jazz symphonies" and other smaller works combining elements of jazz and classical music and featuring such jazz artists as Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, Sonny Fortune, Freddie Hubbard and Jon Hendricks. These pieces included Professor Jive, Solo Brothers, Riding High and Mother, Mother. As a composer, Schwartz won many honors, including ASCAP awards in 1978 for Professor Jive and in 1979 for Mother, Mother. He was a Fellow of the MacDowell Colony in 1968. |
| Indexes |
Collection guide available in repository and on internet. |
| Subject |
Schwartz, Charles, 1922-
|
|
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937.
|
|
Porter, Cole, 1891-1964.
|
|
Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990 -- Correspondence.
|
|
Sondheim, Stephen -- Correspondence.
|
|
Composers -- United States -- 20th century.
|
|
Concerts -- New York (State) -- New York.
|
|
Impresarios -- New York (State) -- New York.
|
|
Musicologists -- United States -- 20th century.
|
| Genre/Form |
Clippings.
|
|
Correspondence.
|
|
Manuscripts for publication.
|
|
Photographs.
|
|
Programs.
|
|
Scores.
|
| Occupation |
Composers. |
|
Impresarios. |
|
Musicologists. |
| Added Author |
Copland, Aaron, 1900-
|
|
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937.
|
|
Porter, Cole, 1891-1964.
|
|
Sessions, Roger, 1896-1985.
|
|
Sondheim, Stephen.
|
|
Schwartz, Charles, 1922-
Mother, mother.
|
|
Schwartz, Charles, 1922-
Professor Jive.
|
|
Schwartz, Charles, 1922-
Riding high.
|
|
American Music Collection.
|
| Call No. |
JPB 00-9
|
| Research Call Number |
JPB 00-9
|
|
