Otto Luening collection of non-commercial sound recordings [sound recording], 1950-1983.

Links

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Creator

Luening, Otto, 1900-1996.

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound

Extent

• 257 sound tape reels : analog.
• 38 sound tape reels ; 5 in.
• 212 sound tape reels ; 7 in.
• 7 sound tape reels ; 10 in.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Users never directly handle sound recordings. Listening selections are transmitted through a playback system.

Scope/Contents Note

Collection of 257 reel-to-reel tapes of Luening's works (primarily from the late 50s, 60s, and 70s), performed by various performers and groups, as well as works written by others (students and associates of Luening). Also includes recordings of various talks, lectures, and demonstrations given by Luening, and concerts given in hishonor.

Biographical/Historical Note

Otto Luening was an American composer, teacher, conductor,and flautist, and was a pioneer in the field of electronicmusic. He was born on June 15, 1900 in Milwaukee, and diedin New York, on Sept. 2, 1996. Luening began composing in1906 at the age of six. He made his debut as composer/conductor in 1917 in Europe. In 1920 Luening returned to the U.S. after studying abroad. From 1925 to 1973 he was on the faculty at many different schools including the Eastman School, the University of Arizona, and Bennington (Vermont) College. In 1944 Luening was named director of opera productions at Columbia University and was also appointed professor at Barnard College. Along with Vladimir Ussachevsky, he established an electronic music center at Columbia University (which was later named the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center). Luening continued to teach at Columbia until 1960, and retired from Barnard in 1964. He became professor emeritus and music chairman of the School of the Arts at Columbia from 1960 until his retirement in 1970, and thereafter taught at the Juilliard School (1971-3). Some of his many students (many of whom are represented in this collection)are Charles Wuorinen, Charles Dodge, Walter (i.e. Wendy) Carlos, and Ezra Laderman. Luening's interest in chamber music was renewed in the late 1960s. He wrote many works for chamber groups many of which are suitable for amateur ensembles, because of his strong interest in music education. Luening was awarded three Guggenheim fellowships (in 1930-31, 1931-2; and 1974), the first two of which enabled him to write the text and music of his opera Evangeline. Luening was associate conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Chamber Orchestra (1936-8),and was active in the Vermont Chamber Music Composers' Conferences from 1941 together with Alan Carter. He was a founder of CRI [i.e. Composers Recordings, Inc.] (in 1954)and a trustee of the American Academy in Rome (1953-70), where he was also composer-in-residence in 1958, 1961 and 1965. In addition Luening was a co-founder of ACA [i.e. American Composers Alliance] (1938) and the American MusicCenter (1939).(Source: Grove Music online)

Controlled Access Terms

• Luening, Otto, 1900-1996.
• Composers -- United States.
• Composition (Music)
• Electronic music.
• Instrumental music.
• Chamber music.
• Sound recordings.

Additional Creator Names

• Ussachevsky, Vladimir, 1911-
• Wuorinen, Charles.
• Dodge, Charles, 1942-
• Carlos, Wendy.