]> PUBLIC "-//The New York Public Library::Music Division//TEXT (US::NN::THE::JPB-04-27::John J. Becker Papers )//ENG" "MUSBECKE.xml" Guide to the John J. Becker Papers, 1897-1991 Processed by Jennifer L. Winters; Machine-readable finding aid created by Jennifer L. Winters.

©2005 The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. All rights reserved.

 Machine readable finding aid created June 2005. Description is in English October 16, 2006 EAD v1.0 finding aid converted to EAD 2002 using UC Berkeley's eadv1to2002.pl perl script. JPB 04-27 Guide to the John J. Becker Papers, 1897-1991 Music Division The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts New York, New York Music Division. New York Public Library. 40 Lincoln Center Plaza New York, NY 10023-7498 (212) 870-1650 http://nypl.org/research/lpa/mus/mus.html Jennifer L. Winters June 2005 Jennifer L. Winters Processed and encoded through a gift from Robert W. Wilson.

©2005 The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. All rights reserved.

 Descriptive Summary John J. Becker Papers, 1897-1991 Becker, John J. JPB 04-27 24.25 linear feet ; 61 boxes The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Music Division.
New York, New York
John J. Becker was the only Midwestern member of a group of ultramodernist American composers known as the “American Five”. He was known for his use of difficult techniques of counterpoint and harmony. Becker’s most important works include Symphonia Brevis (1930-1931), A Marriage with Space (1935), and Privilege and Privation (1939). The bulk of the collection consists of scores, correspondence, and papers relating to his professional life as a composer, conductor, and educator. English Subjects Personal Names Organizations Subjects Places Document Types Occupations Titles <?xm-replace_text {Title entry}?> Administrative Information Source

TheJohn J. Becker Papers were donated to the Music Division in 1984 by the Evelyn Becker.

 Access

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

 Restrictions on Use

For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division.

 Preferred Citation

John J. Becker Papers, JPB 04-27. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

 Biography

John Joseph Becker was an ultramodernist composer, conductor, and educator. He was born in Henderson, Kentucky on January 22, 1886 and he spent most of his life in the Midwest. Indeed, he has been called the “Midwestern Musical Crusader”. His early teachers included Alexander von Fielitz and Wilhelm Middelschulte. Becker became an educator himself, working at the University of Notre Dame (1918-1928), St. Mary of the Spring (1928-1929), St. Thomas University (1929-1933), and Barat College of the Sacred Heart (1943-1957). He also spent six years working for the W.P.A., as the Director of the Federal Music Project for the state of Minnesota (1935-1941), before returning to academic life. Throughout his career he wrote about music and culture, as well as serving as an editor and advisor of New Music magazine alongside founder and friend, Henry Cowell. Meanwhile, he and his wife Evelyn raised four children: Mary Cecilia, John A., Eugene (Gene), and Bruce.

Becker is known as leader of an ultramodern, arguably dissonant, distinctly American style of music that broke away from European styles of composition. Along with the other four of the “American Five” (Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles, and Wallingford Riegger) he shattered preconceived notions of composition, employing difficult techniques of counterpoint and harmony. Becker wrote seven symphonies, as well as concertos, orchestral suites, songs, and choral works (especially religious works). In Musicalia (ca.1931), Henry Cowell explains that Becker “bases his style on the art of the great early vocal polyphonists of the Catholic Church - Palestrina, Vittoria, etc.”. He named many works “soundpieces”, a literal English translation of the word “sonatas” - which gives an indication of the principles on which he based his work. Among his notable works, A Marriage with Space (1935) is often cited as most representative of his ideas of new forms for the stage by incorporating sound, light, dance, and poetry. He was honored late in his career (1958) when his Symphonia Brevis (written in 1930-1931) was performed at Carnegie Hall as part of Bernstein’s series on important American composers. John J. Becker died on January 21, 1961, one day before his 75th birthday.

Scope and Content Note

The John J. Becker Papers cover the breadth of his professional career, especially his most active period, from roughly 1920 to 1950. The music series, specifically the Scores sub-series, makes up the largest section of the collection. The scores range from original pencil sketches to final published works and spans Becker’s career. Programs and clippings can help orient the researcher by putting performances in context. Series III: Professional Papers gives a fuller picture of John J. Becker’s career outside of pure composition. The final series, Oversized Materials, simply records Becker’s academic degrees and the posters document some of the many W.P.A. concerts Becker organized. Correspondence may provide a bit of insight into Becker’s personal as well as professional life. There is very little of a personal nature in the collection outside of some of the correspondence. Evelyn Becker, John J. Becker’s widow, retained control over the collection for many years after his death, organizing and annotating many of the papers. For example, Series IV: Interviews and Speeches is almost entirely composed of Evelyn’s thoughts and comments about her late husband’s works.

 Organization

Series I: Correspondence, 1905-1991; undated Sub-series 1 - General, 1905-1991; undated Sub-series 2 - Thematic, 1938-1982; undated Series II: Music, 1897-1969; undated Sub-series 1 - Lists of works and dates, 1956-1969; undated Sub-series 2 - Notes, undated Sub-series 3 - Librettos, 1927-1939; undated Sub-series 4 - Scores, 1897-1960; undated Series III: Professional Papers, 1908-1979; undated Sub-series 1 - Academic Papers, 1908-1952; undated Sub-series 2 - Activities, 1909-1961; undated Sub-series 3 - American Composers Alliance, 1939-1960; undated Sub-series 4 - Catalogs, 1933-1978; undated Sub-series 5 - Conferences, 1928-1979; undated Sub-series 6 - Photographs, 1933-1958; undated Sub-series 7 - W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration), 1935-1942; undated Sub-series 8 - Writings, ca. 1927-1976; undated Series IV: Interviews and Speeches, 1941-1980; undated Sub-series 1 - Notes, 1973-1980; undated Sub-series 2 - Transcripts, 1941-1980 Series V: Legal and Financial Papers, 1916-1978; undated Series VI: Programs, 1911-1991; undated Series VII: Clippings, 1920-1986; undated Series VIII: Oversized, 1922-ca. 1941

Series Descriptions/Container List Series I: Correspondence, 1905 - 1991; undated 16 boxes

This series includes correspondence to and from both John J. Becker and Evelyn Becker. After John’s death in 1961, Evelyn was unrelenting in her quest to keep his memory and music alive and wrote many letters on his behalf.

Sub-series 1 - General, 1905-1991; undated Sub-series 2 - Thematic, 1938-1982; undated

Sub - series 1 - General correspondence, 1905 - 1991; undated

Alphabetical

Organized by individual or institution, this sub-series has many interesting correspondents. There are John Becker’s letters with George Antheil and Ezra Pound, concerning the state of American music. There is also his correspondence with the other members of the American Five: Charles Ives, Wallingford Riegger, Carl Ruggles, and especially Henry Cowell. Don Gillespie, who wrote a dissertation on Becker’s life and work, had an ongoing correspondence with Evelyn Becker and suggested dates for many of the undated letters in this series.

 1 1 Adamson, Stephen, 1972 1 2 Alexandroff, Norman, 1935 - 1939 1 3 Antheil, George 1934 - 1938; undated

Includes letter written by Antheil's wife (Boski?) on his behalf.

1 4 Autograph Editions, 1970 - 1980 1 5 A, 1933 - 1980; undated 1 6 Barat College of the Sacred Heart, 1943 - 1978

Becker worked there 1943 - 1957.

Becker 1 7 Bruce, 1958

John J. Becker's son.

1 8 Eugene, ca. 1949 - 1979; undated

John J. Becker's son, usually known as Gene.

 1 9 Evelyn, 1932 - 1963; undated

John J. Becker's wife. Letters to Becker and their children. Almost entirely undated.

1 10 Evelyn, 1962 - 1977; undated

Mostly unanswered professional correspondence, organized by institution when possible.

1 11 John A. and Eugene, 1933 - 1935; undated

Children's letters to Henry Cowell.

 John J.

Letters to wife Evelyn and their children.

1 12 1920 - 1929 1 13 ca. 1932 - 1943; undated 1 14 1944 Jan. - 1944 May

John J. Becker was teaching at Barat College in Illinois while his family remained in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1 15 1944 June - 1944 Dec.

John J. Becker was teaching at Barat College in Illinois while his family remained in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1 16 1945 1 17 1946 - 1949 2 1 1950

Most letters are while Becker was traveling to the First International Congress of Catholic Artists.

2 2 1956 - 1959; undated 2 3 John J., 1923 - 1960

Mostly unanswered professional correspondence, organized by institution when possible. Includes letters to unidentified persons.

2 4 Bertha Ott Concert Management, 1934; undated 2 5 Blechschmidt, Hans, 1931 - 1934; undated

All letters but one are in German.

2 6 Bradley, David, 1971 - 1975

Of the Directors Guild of America. Includes Evelyn Becker's notes on searching for a copy of John J. Becker's score for the film Julius Caesar.

Breen, Robert and Wilva 2 7 1937 - 1971 2 8 1973 - 1974 2 9 1975 - 1981; undated 2 10 Broadcast Music Inc., 1972 - 1981

Mostly information about publishing permissions and fees.

 2 11 Bruckberger, Father Raymond, 1957 - 1979; undated

Some letters are in French.

2 12 Busch, Carl, 1912 - 1937; undated 2 13 B, 1932 - 1980; undated 3 1 Cage, John, 1939, 1971; undated

Letters between Cage and Becker happened exclusively in 1939. Other letters are about the aforementioned correspondence.

3 2 Campbell, Elsie and Chester, 1965 - 1975 3 3 Carlton, Margaret, 1974 - 1977; undated 3 4 Carpenter, John Alden, 1934 - 1977

The last letter from Carpenter is from 1950. The 1977 letters are about the writing of Carpenter's biography.

3 5 Catholic University of America, 1933 - 1948

Becker was applying for a position, so also includes a letter of recommendation from the Dean of Notre Dame University.

3 6 C.C. Birchard and Company, 1936 - 1937 C.F. Peters Corporation 3 7 1971 - 1975 3 8 1976 - 1980 3 9 Chicago Musical College, 1935 - 1973

Rudolph and Felix Ganz.

3 10 Coates, Helen, 1958 - 1980

For many years she was Leonard Bernstein's secretary.

Cowell, Henry

Many letters dated by Don Gillespie.

 3 11 1927 - 1929 3 12 1930 - 1932 3 13 1933 - 1936 June 3 14 1936 July - 1940 June

While Cowell was in San Quentin prison.

3 15 1940 June - 1941 3 16 1943 - 1961 Jan.

Until John J. Becker's death.

3 17 1961 - 1964

Until Henry Cowell's death.

3 18 Excerpts

Evelyn Becker's handwritten excerpts of Cowell's letters.

 4 1 Cowell, Sidney, 1965 - 1981; undated

Henry Cowell's wife.

4 2 Ca - Char, 1928 - 1980; undated 4 3 Chav - Cu, 1932 - 1980; undated

Includes three photographs of Becker in 1907.

4 4 Dale Warland Singers, 1976 - 1977 4 5 Davies, Dennis Russell, 1974 - 1979 DeLamarter, Eric 4 6 1935 - 1944; undated 4 7 1978 - 1979

Letters about the Becker - DeLamarter correspondence.

4 8 Douaire, Father Richard J., 1950 - 1973; undated 4 9 Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1950 - 1962 4 10 D, 1925 - 1974

Includes a 1950 photograph of Pedro d'Andurain and Pablo Garrido.

4 11 Eckerstein, Dean, 1948 - 1955; undated

A.K.A. Leo Egerinski.

4 12 Ellis, Steve and Helen Jo, 1975 - 1980; undated

Mostly holiday cards.

4 13 Erickson, Ronald, 1974 - 1977 4 14 Étude music magazine, 1956 4 15 E, 1934 - 1976; undated 5 1 Fahnestock, Karol, 1966 - 1967; undated 5 2 Fairbank, Janet, 1934; undated 5 3 Fielitz, Alexander von, 1908 - 1929

Includes Evelyn Becker's notes.

 5 4 Fielitz - Goniar, Alexander von, 1930 - 1952

Nicknamed Axel. Son of Alexander von Fielitz. Includes Evelyn Becker's notes.

5 5 Fletcher, Grant, 1955 - 1973 5 6 Franz Ehrenwirth Verlag, 1957 - 1972

A German publishing house, many letters in German.

Free Library of Philadelphia 5 7 1941 - 1954

Arthur Cohn.

5 8 1936 - 1967

F.H. Price and Theodore Seder.

5 9 1968 - 1980

Harry L. Kowatsky and Sam Dennison.

5 10 F, 1911 - 1979

Includes a copy of a 1911 letter.

5 11 Garvey, John, 1947 - 1954; undated Gillespie, Don

Wrote his dissertation on Becker's life and music.

5 12 1969 5 13 1970 5 14 1971 5 15 1972 6 1 1973 6 2 1974 6 3 1975 6 4 1976 6 5 1977 6 6 1978 6 7 1979 6 8 1980 6 9 1981 6 10 1982 6 11 1991 and undated 6 12 Gingold, Josef, 1947 - 1949; undated 6 13 Goossens, Eugene, 1931 - 1947

Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Gregory, V.J. 6 14 1933 - 1961; undated 6 15 1970 - 1979

Includes photographs of V.J. Gregory and his wife Gene.

6 16 1980 7 1 Gronen - Kubizki, Antonio, 1950 - 1957 7 2 Grunfeld family, 1949 - 1979; undated

Fred, Dorothy, and Foster.

7 3 G. Schirmer, Inc., 1925 - 1931 7 4 Gunn, Glenn Dillard, 1928 - 1942; undated 7 5 G, 1928 - 1977; undated 7 6 Hager, Carl, 1959 - 1962 7 7 Hendl, Walter, 1959 - 1963

Includes Evelyn Becker's note about Hendl conducting a performance of Symphonia Brevis.

7 8 Hincks, Caroline, 1974 - 1976; undated 7 9 Hinrickson, Walter and Evelyn, 1980; undated

Mostly cards from flowers.

Hollowell, Grace Baer

Includes many poems written by Hollowell.

7 10 1935 - 1970; undated 11 1971 - 1974; undated Huebert, Diana

Of the Society of the Golden Section. Her married name was Faidy.

7 12 1935 - 1979

Includes photos of her performing a modern dance piece.

7 13 1980 and undated

Includes Evelyn Becker's notes.

7 14 Humphrey, Hubert, 1948 - 1970; undated 7 15 H, 1927 - 1977; undated 8 1 International Society for Contemporary Music, 1932 - 1962 Ives, Charles

Most are copies of letters between Ives and Becker, the originals of which are in the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale University. Harmony and Edith Ives, Charles's wife and daughter, often wrote the letters on his behalf.

8 2 1931 - 1934 8 3 1935 - 1936 8 4 1937 - 1938 8 5 1939 - 1945 8 6 1946 - 1954; undated 8 7 Excerpts

Evelyn Becker's handwritten excerpts of Ives's letters.

8 8 Ives, Harmony and Edith, 1954 - 1964

Charles Ives's wife and daughter. Letters after his death.

8 9 I, 1918 - 1983 8 10 Jensen, Carey and Margaret, 1973 - 1977; undated 8 11 Jensen, Carl and Helen, 1958 - 1974; undated 8 12 Jirak, Blanka, 1933 - 1977; undated 8 13 Jirak, Karel, 1947 - 1971 8 14 J, 1933 - 1977; undated Kirkpatrick, John

Kirkpatrick worked with Ives's music manuscripts at the Irving S. Gilmore Library at Yale University. Most letters concern dating the Ives - Becker correspondence.

9 1 1939 - 1962 9 2 1963 - 1970 9 3 1971; undated 9 4 Kober, Georgia, 1931 - 1934 9 5 KPFA, 1975 - 1980 Krenek, Ernst 9 6 1943 - 1949 9 7 1950 - 1958 9 8 1961 - 1980; undated

Includes photographs of Krenek and Becker, and Evelyn Becker's notes.

9 9 Kreymborg, Alfred, 1939 - 1980; undated

Letters are mainly from 1939 - 1961. In 1980 Evelyn Becker made notes on John Becker and Kreymborg's relationship.

9 10 Kreymborg, Dorothy, 1966 - 1980

Includes Evelyn Becker's 1980 notes on her relationship with Dorothy.

9 11 K, 1906 - 1970 9 12 Lange, Francisco Curt, 1939 - 1950

Two letters are in German.

9 13 Lemay, Paul, 1936 9 14 Library of Congress, 1933 - 1971 9 15 Livezey, Herman, 1928 - 1931; undated

Of the Walt Whitman Foundation.

 9 16 Loevinger, Gustavus, 1949 - 1963

Includes a postcard to Evelyn Becker from Gustavus's wife Millie, years after his 1957 death.

9 17 Louisville Orchestra, 1971 - 1979; undated 9 18 L, 1911 - 1970; undated

1911 letter is a copy of a recommendation letter written for Becker by the chairman of the music committee at Waples Memorial Church.

10 1 Macalester College, 1936 - 1977 10 2 Mann, Thomas, 1947 - 1948 10 3 Middelschulte, Wilhelm, 1919 - 1937

Middelschulte was a teacher of Becker's.

10 4 Mitropoulos, Dimitri, 1938 - 1952

Includes Evelyn Becker's notes about the 1952 letter.

10 5 Moldenhauer, Hans, 1958 - 1973 10 6 Moulton, David, 1959 - 1963 10 7 Musical America, 1933 - 1954 10 8 Musical Courier, 1932 - 1936 10 9 Ma - Me, 1927 - 1980 10 10 Mi - Mo, 1931 - 1981; undated 10 11 Mu, 1926 - 1975 10 12 New Directions, 1962 - 1966 New York Public Library 10 13 1948 - 1949 10 14 1957 10 15 1964 - 1969 10 16 1970 - 1973 10 17 1974 - 1978 10 18 1979 10 19 1980 - 1981; undated 11 1 N, 1911 - 1980; undated 11 2 Oliver M. Sayler, Inc., 1936

Regarding the American Grand Rights Association.

11 3 O, 1911 - 1974 Pavlakis, Christopher and Betty 11 4 1958 - 1973 11 5 1974 - 1981; undated 11 6 Pearson, Norman Holmes, 1962 11 7 Perlis, Vivian, 1971 - 1980; undated

Perlis worked for the Ives Collection at Yale University for many years, and in that capacity prepared a register of Ives's papers. She also interviewed Eugene and Evelyn Becker, the transcripts of which can be found in Series IV.

11 8 Peters family, 1979; undated

Mostly cards from flowers.

11 9 Pound, Ezra, 1927 - 1979; undated

Letters are ca. 1927 - 1930, all later correspondence is about the Becker - Pound correspondence. Includes photograph of Pound's son Omar.

11 10 P, 1911 - 1976 11 11 Riedel, Johannes, 1974 - 1979

Riedel was working for the Department of Music of the University of Minnesota at the time. He interviewed Evelyn Becker about her husband's work as well as Ernst Krenek. Transcripts of the interviews are in Series IV: Interviews and Speeches.

Riegger, Wallingford and Ruth 11 12 1931 - 1939 11 13 1940 - 1949 11 14 1950 - 1959 11 15 1960 - 1975 12 1 Riordan family, 1962 - 1980; undated

Clare, Mary, Kathryn, and Polly.

12 2 Rossiter, Frank, 1974 - 1979; undated 12 3 Rudhyar, Dane, 1928 - 1932 12 4 Ruggles, Carl, 1933 - 1973; undated

Letters are mainly ca. 1933 - 1951. Also included are a 1971 obituary and Evelyn Becker's 1973 notes on the Becker - Ruggles correspondence.

12 5 Russo, William, 1958 - 1980

Includes some clippings and Evelyn Becker's notes.

12 6 R, 1930 - 1979; undated 12 7 Saint John's University, 1959 - 1960 12 8 Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, 1975 - 1976 12 9 Salloch, William, 1974 - 1980

Rare book dealer.

12 10 Samuel French, Inc., 1947 - 1970 12 11 Schumacher, Reverend Matthew, 1916 - 1965; undated

Includes 1960 photograph of Schumacher.

12 12 Schwerke, Irving, 1931 - 1942

Includes photograph of Schwerke.

12 13 Siwe, Thomas, 1969 - 1975; undated 12 14 Skrowaczweski, Stanislaw, 1974 - 1978

Skrowaczweski was the Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra. Includes letter between Evelyn Becker and Skrowaczweski, as well as his secretary and Program Annotator, on his behalf.

12 15 Slominsky, Nicolas, 1937 - 1974 12 16 Southern Literary Messenger, 1939 - 1940

Correspondence between Becker and Southern Literary Messenger's editor, F. Meredith Dietz, in regards to A Marriage with Space.

12 17 Springer, Helen, 1975 - 1981 12 18 Springer, Monette, 1974 - 1976 12 19 Stadium Concerts, Inc., 1940

Regarding a 1940 performance of Becker's Third Symphony, Symphony Brevis. Includes correspondence on letterhead from Stadium Concerts, the Columbia Concerts Corporation, and the Philharmonic Society of New York - though all three are inter - related and are represented by the same people.

12 20 Stokowski, Leopold, 1936 - 1971 12 21 Stout, Alan, 1970 - 1974 13 1 Strang, Gerald, 1934 - 1939; undated

Of New Music.

13 2 Sykes, James, 1949 - 1976 13 3 Sa - Si, 1928 - 1975 13 4 Sk - Sz, 1925 - 1976

Includes letter from Igor Stravinsky, as well as a letter and ribbon from New York Governor and presidential contender Al Smith.

13 5 Theodore Presser Company, 1923 - 1980 13 6 Thomson, Charles, 1940 13 7 Town and Country, 1974 13 8 Tronitz, Phillip, 1933 - 1958 Turbyfill, Mark

Wrote the poem A Marriage with Space.

13 9 1935 - 1968 13 10 1974 - 1976; undated 13 11 Turwitt, P. Hermes, 1950 - 1958 13 12 T, 1935 - 1979 13 13 University of Cincinnati, 1971 - 1976

Mostly regarding verification of John Becker's education. See also correspondence with Southern Methodist University and Cara Cunningham.

13 14 U, 1933 - 1981

Includes two letters in French.

14 1 Varese, Edgar, 1933 - 1953; undated

Includes clippings about Varese that he sent to Becker.

14 2 Vrionides, Christos, 1937 - 1961; undated

Includes 1961 clipping of Vrionides's obituary.

14 3 V, 1905 - 1974

The 1905 letter is a copy of a recommendation letter written by J.S. Van Cleve, music critic.

14 4 Walton, Blanche, 1931 - 1932; undated

Walton was secretary of the American Library of Musicology.

14 5 War Department/War Production Board, 1942 - 1949 14 6 Weiss, Adolph, 1931 - 1950; undated 14 7 Whithorne, Emerson, 1927 - 1935 14 8 Wicht, Jon von, 1949 - 1980; undated

Final dated letter is dated 1955. In 1974 Evelyn Becker wrote letters about a von Wicht exhibition, and in 1980 made notes on the exhibition. Includes photograph of von Wicht's painting Soundpiece #4.

14 9 Wigglesworth, Frank, 1948 14 10 Wiley, Jackson, 1960; undated 14 11 W, 1911 - 1979; undated 14 12 Y, 1934 14 13 Zinkin, Benjamin, 1972 - 1975 14 14 Unidentified correspondence and Evelyn Becker's lists of correspondents, 1956 - 1980; undated 14 15 Unidentified greeting cards, 1961 - 1975; undated Sub - series 2 - Thematic, 1938 - 1982; undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series contains address books, condolences to the Becker family after John J. Becker’s death, and correspondence organized by project (the American Composers Alliance and the Great Religious Composers series).

 15 1 Address books, 1948; undated American Composers Alliance 15 2 1938 - 1954 15 3 1955 - 1957 15 4 1958 - 1960 15 5 1961 - 1969 15 6 1970 - 1975 15 7 1976 - 1982; undated Condolences, 1961 15 8 A - B 15 9 Becker

Letters between members of the Becker family, including a few letters forwarded to Eugene by his mother.

16 1 C - D 16 2 E - F 16 3 G - H 16 4 I - K 16 5 L - M 16 6 O - R 16 7 S - T 16 8 U - Z 16 9 Unidentified Great Religious Composers Series 16 10 Bauer, Marion, 1954 - 1955; undated

Wrote book on Monteverdi.

16 11 Cowell, Henry, 1954 - 1955

Wrote book on Palestrina - never completed?

16 12 Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1950 16 13 Krenek, Ernst, 1952 - 1953; undated

Wrote book on Ockeghem.

16 14 Leverie, Siegmund, 1954; undated

Wrote book on Machaut.

16 15 Peeters, Guido, 1956

Wanted to do a Dutch - Flemish version of Krenek's book on Ockeghem.

16 16 Pisk, Paul A., 1953 - 1955

Wrote an unpublished book on di Lasso.

16 17 Rosenwald, Hans, 1953; undated 16 18 Sheed and Ward, Inc., 1950 - 1964

Publishers of the series.

Series II: Music, 1897 - 1969; undated

Music includes lists of Becker’s compositions, notes on his and others’ music, librettos, and scores. Scores is by far the largest sub-series and includes sketches, handwritten manuscripts, and published scores.

Sub-series 1 - Lists of works and dates, 1956-1969; undated Sub-series 2 - Notes, undated Sub-series 3 - Librettos, 1927-1939; undated Sub-series 4 - Scores, 1897-1960; undated

Sub - series 1 - Lists of works and dates, 1956 - 1969; undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series includes lists made by Evelyn and John J. Becker. They detail his works and aspects of them.

 17 1 List of instruments required for various pieces, undated

In John J. Becker's handwriting. Fading badly.

17 2 Lists of libraries with John J. Becker's works, 1956, 1966; undated 17 3 List of performance times, undated 17 4 List of performances, 1970

In Evelyn Becker's handwriting. Includes dates.

17 5 List of songs included in various song cycles, undated 17 6 List of larger works by John J. Becker, undated List of works 17 7 Made by John J. Becker, undated

Most include date of composition or publication.

17 8 Made by Evelyn Becker, 1969; undated Sub - series 2 - Notes, undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series includes notes by John J. Becker as well as a few by Evelyn Becker. Subjects include compositions, inscriptions, and the Schillinger method of composition.

 On Compositions 17 9 By John J. Becker 17 10 By Evelyn Becker 17 11 On Inscriptions 17 12 On the Schillinger method of composition Sub - series 3 - Librettos, 1927 - 1939; undated

Alphabetical

John J. Becker, as well as the playwright Alfred Kreymborg and the poet Mark Turbyfill, provided the words to accompany Becker’s music.

 17 13 Anitra, undated

Handwritten in pencil by John J. Becker, bound. Based on Ibsen's Peer Gynt.

17 14 The City of Shagpat: A Tragic Oriental Opera in Three Acts, undated

By John J. Becker.

17 15 Deirdre, undated

Scenes I and II. Photocopy of manuscript.

17 16 The Four Apes, 1939

By Alfred Kreymborg. An early proof copy of published version.

17 17 A Marriage with Space, 1927; undated

Poem by Mark Turbyfill, dramatic adaptation by John J. Becker.

17 18 Moments from the Passion, undated

By John J. Becker.

17 19 A Polytechnic Drama, undated

By John J. Becker. Based on Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers.

17 20 Privilege and Privation, 1937

By Alfred Kreymborg.

17 21 When the Willow Nods, undated

By Alfred Kreymborg.

Sub - series 4 - Scores, 1897 - 1960; undated

Alphabetical

The scores span John J. Becker’s career and most are original manuscripts in his handwriting. Many of them are boxed, meaning loose pages contained in a customized archival box. Of note is Dance Figure (1932), a work produced with Ezra Pound’s poems, and one of Becker’s most famous works A Marriage with Space (1935).

 18 1 Abongo, 1933

Three versions, manuscripts in ink. Boxed.

Antigone, 1944

Manuscript in pencil.

18 2 Piano score for dance rehearsal 18 3 Full score At Dieppe, 1959

A song cycle for voice and piano.

18 4 Full score 18 5 At the Beach only

Section II only. Though Evelyn Becker has dated this as 1960, it is more likely from 1959.

Chinese Miniatures, 1926 and 1928 18 6 Vocal score, 1926

Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

18 7 Vocal score, 1927

Published version. Annotated and incomplete.

18 8 Full score, 1928

Manuscript in ink. Orchestral score arranged by R.F. Kraner.

18 9 Choral Mass in C Minor, ca.1921

Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

19 1 City of Shagpat, 191?

Includes scores, sketches, and several versions of the libretto. Boxed.

Concerto Arabesque 19 2 1930; undated

Three scores. Two original manuscripts, one reproduction. Boxed.

19 3 Undated

One full published score, annotated, and various instrumental parts of manuscript.

Concerto for Horn and Orchestra 20 1 Various scores, 1933

Three scores: one original manuscript and two reproductions. Written for William Muelbe of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Boxed.

20 2 Piano and Horn score, undated

Manuscript in pencil.

Concerto for Horn in F and Orchestra 21 1 Full score, 1936

Published and annotated.

21 2 Piano and horn score, undated

Manuscript in pencil.

21 3 Parts, undated 21 4 Concerto for Viola, undated

Sketch.

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, 1948; undated

Dedicated to Josef Gingold.

21 5 Full score, manuscript in pen, undated

Bound.

21 6 Full score, reproduction, undated

Inscribed.

21 7 Condensed score and violin part, undated

From the American Composers Alliance library.

21 8 Arrangement for violin and piano, 1948 22 1 Concerto Pastoral: A Forest Rhapsodie, 1933

Full score. Reproduction of manuscript.

22 2 Dance Figure, 1932

Poems by Ezra Pound. Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

22 3 Deirdre, 1945

Vocal score, original manuscript, and pencil sketches. Libretto by John J. Becker based on a play by John M. Synge. Boxed.

 22 4 Ecce - Sacerdos, 1947

Original manuscript in ink. Boxed.

23 1 Etude Primitive, 1912; undated

Two versions. Handwritten, one in pencil, one in ink.

24 1 Fantasia Tragica, 1962

Copyright is 1962, but it was written significantly earlier. Original manuscript in ink. Dedicated to Wilhelm Middelschulte.

24 2 Faust, 1957; undated

Sketch in pencil and vocal score for tenor, manuscript in ink. Boxed.

24 3 Favours of the Moon, undated

Manuscript in pencil. Adapted by John J. Becker from Arthur Symonds's prose, based on Charles Baudelaire's poem. Boxed.

24 4 Four Poems from the Japanese, undated

Manuscript in pencil. Poems by Basho.

24 5 Four Songs, 1920

Vocal score. Includes: original manuscript in ink of The Grapes and reproductions of manuscripts for The Grapes, Memory, O Love Me Truly, and I Fear Thy Kisses.

25 1 General Booth's Entrance into Heaven, undated

By Charles Ives. Edited and scored by John J. Becker. Full score, manuscript in pencil. Includes copy of Lindsay poem. Boxed.

Heine Song Cycle 25 2 Sketches, undated

In pen and pencil. Boxed.

25 3 Vocal score, 1924 - 1925

Reproductions of manuscript. Each song bound separately. From American Composers Alliance Library.

25 4 I Fear Thy Kisses, undated

Reproductions of manuscripts. Arrangements for voice and piano, and voice and string quartette.

25 5 Improvisation for Organ, 1960

Sketch in pencil and manuscript in pencil, both in Becker's handwriting. Two manuscripts in ink, both dedicated to "my friend Jack Goode".

26 1 Jesu Dulcis Memoria, undated

Includes two manuscripts - one written by Becker the other by someone else - and a printed version. Though undated, Evelyn Becker marked manuscript as 'written at Notre Dame', which means ca. 1918 - 1928. Boxed.

26 2 Julius Caesar, undated

Score and various parts. Manuscript in ink and annotated in color pencil. Dedicated to David Bradley by John Becker, rededicated and returned to Evelyn Becker by David Bradley in 1973.

26 3 The Lark, undated

Manuscript in pencil. Poem by Alfred Kreymborg. Bound.

26 4 Life of Man, 1938 - 1939

Includes early draft of score in pencil and pen, later full manuscript in pen, and libretto scenario and story notes.

26 5 Little Sleeper, undated

Score for voice and string quartette. Bound.

27 1 Little Songs, 1944

A.K.A. Five Little Songs or A Little Easter Cycle. Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

27 2 Magdalen and Judas, 1958

Pencil sketches and a full bound score in ink. Words by R. L. Bruckberger. Boxed.

28 1 A Marriage with Space, 1935

Poem by Mark Turbyfill. Dedicated to Charles Ives. Full score. Large manuscript in ink.

29 1 A Marriage with Space, 1935

Poem by Mark Turbyfill. Dedicated to Charles Ives. Includes: one page pencil sketch, one full score, and one short score - composed of a manuscript in ink and parts. Boxed.

29 2 Martin of Tours, undated

Chorus score. Handwritten manuscript in ink. Includes note from Evelyn Becker that it was written in the Notre Dame years, 1918 - 1928.

Mass in Honor of the Sacred Heart, 1943

Chorus scores.

29 3 Manuscript in ink

Dedicated to Mother Eleanor Regan. Boxed.

29 4 Reproduction

Bound.

29 5 Mass in Unison or Two Parts, undated

Vocal score, signed by Becker but copied by someone else. Also includes one page sketch in pencil.

30 1 Mater Admirabilis, undated

Vocal score. Three reproductions of manuscripts. Boxed.

30 2 Memory, undated

Poem by Harold Cook. Bound.

30 3 Missa Symphonica, 1933

Includes original pencil draft, manuscript in ink, and a reproduction. Dedicated to Christos Vroinides and the Byzantine Ensemble. Boxed.

30 4 Moments from the Liturgical Year, 1948

Includes pencil sketches, original chorus manuscript in ink, and bound printed version.

31 1 Moments from the Passion, 1945 - 1947

Includes sketches in pencil and ink, manuscript in ink, annotated proof copy and published version. Boxed.

31 2 Morning Song, undated

Manuscript in pencil. Bound.

31 3 The Mountains, undated

Piano score. Manuscript in pen. Boxed.

31 4 My Little Son, Eighteen Months Old, undated

Manuscript in ink. Note in pencil by Evelyn Becker: " For John Alexander. Thematic material from things Johnny did at the piano." Boxed.

32 1 Naomi the Beautiful, undated

Vocal score, sketch in pencil. Poem by Grace Baer Hollowell. Boxed.

Nostalgic Songs of the Earth, undated

Piano scores. Manuscripts in ink.

32 2 Abundance 32 3 Adoration 32 4 Nunc, Sancte, Nobis, Spiritus, undated

Chorus score and sketch in pencil. Boxed.

32 5 O Domino Mea!, 1947

Inscribed by Becker, "A little gift for Mother Reilly's Feast Day". Reproduction - there's a note from Evelyn Becker that the original was donated to Barat College.

33 1 Orchestral Sketches, undated

Includes The Mountains and Among the Reeds and Rushes. Boxed.

34 1 Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking, ca. 1931

Includes: two scores for mixed chorus and orchestra, in ink; chorus score in ink; sketches in pencil. Words adapted from Walt Whitman's poem Sea - Drift. Undated, but first performance was July 19, 1931. Boxed.

34 2 Pater Noster, undated

Chorus score in pencil. Boxed.

34 3 Piano Quintette, undated

For piano and strings. Manuscript in pencil. Bound.

35 1 The Pool, undated

Reproduction. Inscribed with note "For Reverend Mother with happy feast day greetings from John J. Becker".

Privilege and Privation, 1939; undated

Play by Alfred Kreymborg.

36 1 Sketch, undated

In pencil. Boxed.

36 2 Full score, 1939

In ink. Bound.

36 3 - 4 Parts, undated

In ink.

37 1 Psalms of Love, 1935; undated

Includes sketches in ink and pencil and manuscripts in ink, all annotated, one is bound. Boxed.

37 2 Queen of Cornwall, undated

Sketch in pencil. Based on Thomas Hardy's play.

37 3 Rain Down Death, 1939

Full score in ink and individual oboe part.

37 4 Reel #2, 1934

By Henry Cowell for John Becker.

37 5 Rouge Bouquet, undated

Chorus score, manuscript in ink. Words by Joyce Kilmer.

37 6 Salome, undated

Sketch in pencil.

Satirico 37 7 Full score, undated

Manuscript in ink. Annotated.

37 8 Full score, undated

Manuscript in ink. Annotated. Boxed.

38 1 Piano score, 1938; undated

Includes a sketch in pencil and two annotated manuscripts in ink. Boxed.

39 1 Season of Pan, undated

Manuscript in ink. "Reduced from a symphonic score for small orchestra by the composer". Boxed.

39 2 Separation on the River Kiang, undated

Manuscript in pencil. Poem by Rihaku, translated by Ezra Pound. Boxed.

39 3 Seven Last Words, 1947; undated

Sketch in pencil. Manuscript in ink, dedicated to Reverend Mother Gibney. Boxed.

39 4 Sketches, undated

Many fragments, in pencil. Boxed.

40 1 Sonata in One Movement for Piano, undated

Manuscript in ink. Bound.

40 2 Sonate American for Violin and Piano, undated

Manuscripts in ink. Two full scores, one violin part.

40 3 The Song of the Scaffold, undated

Sketches in pencil.

40 4 Songs, 1907 - 1909

Notebook with several early compositions, many with where they were written noted.

40 5 A Soundpiece for Four String Instruments and Piano, 1932

First draft of full score and string parts. Manuscripts in ink.

41 1 Soundpiece #1 for Piano and Strings, undated

Reproduction of full score, annotated. From the American Composers Alliance library.

41 2 Soundpiece #2 "Homage to Haydn" for String Orchestra, 1936

Two bound reproductions and handwritten parts in ink. Boxed.

42 1 Soundpiece #2 "Homage to Haydn" for String Orchestra, 1936

Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

42 2 Soundpiece #3, undated

Two reproductions and a manuscript in ink. Boxed.

 42 3 Soundpiece #4, 1948; undated

Sketch in pencil, reproduction of parts, and fill printed score. Boxed.

42 4 Soundpiece #5, A Short Sonata for Piano, undated

Manuscript in ink. Boxed.

43 1 Soundpiece #6, A Short Sonata in One Movement for Flute and Clarinet, 1941

Sketch in pencil. Written for Glenn Haydon. Boxed.

44 1 Soundpiece #8, undated

Includes a manuscript in ink, and a sketch in pencil with a note that it was on the piano at the time of Becker's death. Boxed.

45 1 Stars About the Lovely Moon, undated

Sketch in pencil. Written for Hans. Bound.

45 2 The Snow Goose, Legend of the Second World War, A Passacaglia - Tone Poem for Large Orchestra, undated

Sketches in pencil. Bound.

Symphonia Brevis, 1930 - 1931; undated 45 3 Full score, 1931; undated

Sketches in pencil and manuscript in ink. Boxed.

45 4 Parts and scherzo, 1930

Manuscripts in ink. Boxed.

45 5 Piano arrangement, 1930; undated

Includes a manuscript in ink, a proof copy, and a published copy that is deteriorating badly. Boxed.

46 1 Symphony #1, undated

Parts and loose pages. Manuscript in ink.

46 2 Symphony #2, Fantasia Tragica, A Short Symphony in One Movement, 1920

Manuscript in ink. Dedicated to Wilhelm Middelschulte.

46 3 Symphony #5, Homage to Mozart in Two Movements, 1942

Sketch in pencil. Dedicated "To my friend Hans".

46 4 Symphony #6, 1941

Manuscripts in pencil. Orchestral scores and score for brass band. Boxed.

46 5 Symphony #6, 1941

Suggested by Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Manuscripts in pencil. Short score and full score. Boxed.

47 1 Symphony #7, undated

Short score in pencil and full score in ink. Dedicated "To my friend Father Richard Douaire". Boxed.

48 1 Taking Leave of a Friend, undated

Manuscript in ink. Poem by Ezra Pound. Boxed.

48 2 Tantum Ergo, ca. 1946

Manuscripts in ink. One has another unidentified piece on the verso.

48 3 The Tempest, undated

Manuscript in ink. Meant for a dance piece based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. Boxed.

48 4 Trap Doors undated

Sketch in pencil. Play by Alfred Kreymborg. Boxed.

48 5 Two Architectural Impressions, undated

Piano scores in pencil and ink. One is dedicated "To my friend Charles Mathes." Boxed.

48 6 Two Simple Songs, undated

Manuscripts in ink. Undated, but Evelyn Becker noted that they were written before 1922. Boxed.

Two Songs for Voice and Piano

Bound. Most are from the American Composers Alliance library.

49 1 Favors of the Moon and Naomi the Beautiful, 1923 49 2 Gentle Lady and You and I, 1923 49 3 The Pool and Whirl Up from the Sea, 1923 49 4 You Are Not Her This April and Death of the Roses, 1921 Two Songs for Voice and Piano, 1935

Poems by John J. Becker's daughter, Mary Cecilia. Includes Open Your Arms to Me, High to the Altar of Sacrifice, and I Should Like to Dance.

49 5 Sketch in pencil

Boxed.

49 6 Reproduction of manuscript

From the American Composers Alliance library. Bound.

49 7 Three Songs, undated

For voice and string quartette. Includes O Love Me Truly, Little Sleeper, and I Fear Thy Kisses. Manuscripts in pencil and ink. Boxed.

50 1 Unison Mass in Honor of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, 1946

Includes sketch in pencil and ink, and vocal score in ink.

Vigilanti, 1938

Dance piece written for Diana Huebert.

50 2 Sketch

In pencil and ink.

50 3 Manuscript

In ink.

50 4 When the Willow Nods, undated

Includes pencil sketch and many parts in ink. Play by Alfred Kreymborg. Boxed.

51 1 You and I, undated

Manuscript written in ink by Evelyn Becker. Boxed.

51 2 You Are Not Here This April, undated

Vocal score, manuscript written in ink by Evelyn Becker. Bound.

51 3 Unidentified sketches and fragments, undated

Does include some notes by Evelyn Becker, including her guesses on some dates.

Various piano selections by Richard Wagner

Annotated by John J. Becker. Published and bound.

51 4 F - M, 1897 - 1904

Includes Der Fliegende Hollander, Lohengrin and Die Meistersinger.

51 5 P - S, 1904

Includes Parsifal, Das Rheingold and Siegfried.

51 6 T, 1897

Includes Tannhauser and Tristan and Isolda.

Series III: Professional Papers, 1908 - 1979; undated

This series includes papers relating to all of Becker’s professional roles including that of teacher, composer, committee member, musical director and writer. The Activities sub-series details his various accomplishments.

Sub-series 1 - Academic Papers, 1908-1952; undated Sub-series 2 - Activities, 1909-1961; undated Sub-series 3 - American Composers Alliance, 1939-1960; undated Sub-series 4 - Catalogs, 1933-1978; undated Sub-series 5 - Conferences, 1928-1979; undated Sub-series 6 - Photographs, 1933-1958; undated Sub-series 7 - W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration), 1935-1942; undated Sub-series 8 - Writings, ca. 1927-1976; undated

Sub - series 1 - Academic Papers, 1908 - 1952; undated

Alphabetical

Becker taught at several colleges (including Kidd-Key College, University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s of the Springs, University of St. Thomas and Barat College of the Sacred Heart) as well as conducting speaking tours that brought him to many other institutions. This sub-series includes yearbooks, lecture notes, syllabi - anything related to his role as teacher.

 Barat yearbooks, 1945 - 1948 52 1 1945 52 2 1946 52 3 1948 52 4 College speaking tours, 1949 - 1952; undated

Includes schedules, correspondence, and addresses.

52 5 Kidd - Key College Yearbook, 1908 - 1913; undated Lecture notes, ca. 1918 - 1928; undated 52 6 From Notre Dame, ca. 1918 - 1928 52 7 Various, undated 52 8 Syllabi, 1928 - 1947; undated 52 9 Tests and grades, ca. 1918 - 1928

From Notre Dame.

52 10 University bulletins, ca. 1918 - 1928

From Notre Dame.

Sub - series 2 - Activities, 1909 - 1961; undated

Alphabetical

“Activities” is a name given by the Beckers to all of John J. Becker’s promotional materials like biographies, lists of compositions, and awards. This sub-series includes these individual elements, as well as drafts and final printed versions, of promotional materials.

53 1 Applications and Nominations, 1950 - 1955; undated 53 2 Biographies only, 1953 - 1961; undated 53 3 - 4 Drafts, ca. 1935 - 1937; undated

Includes resume, biography, and lists of works.

53 5 Printed promotional material, 1909 - 1955; undated

Includes similar brochures about Henry Cowell and Alexander von Fielitz as well.

Sub - series 3 - American Composers Alliance, 1939 - 1960; undated

Alphabetical

Becker was a member of the American Composers Alliance and contributed copies of his scores to their library (some of which now reside in the Scores sub-series). This sub-series includes information related to his membership as well as library receipt forms.

53 6 Constitution and By - laws, 1939; undated 53 7 Meeting notes, membership lists, 1951 - 1960 Library receipt forms

For compositions submitted.

53 8 1952 53 9 1953 53 10 1955 - 1960; undated Sub - series 4 - Catalogs, 1933 - 1978; undated

This sub-series is composed of music publishing companies catalogs that include the works of John J. Becker or his peers (such as Ives or Cowell).

 53 11 With Becker's works, 1933 - 1978; undated 53 12 With Becker's contemporaries' works, 1934 - 1972; undated

Includes Riegger, Ives, and Cowell.

Sub - series 5 - Conferences, 1928 - 1979; undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series includes papers produced by the various meetings of musicians that Becker attended. The First International Congress of Catholic Artists is especially complete, including copies of Becker’s speeches.

 53 13 44th Annual Meeting of the American Musicological Society, 1978

Don Gillespie gave a presentation about John J. Becker and Ezra Pound's correspondence.

53 14 Conference on Inter - American relations in the Field of Music, 1940 First International Congress of Catholic Artists, 1950

In sub - series 6: Photographs, there is a picture of Becker with the pope from this conference.

53 15 Becker's speeches, 1950

In several languages.

53 16 Correspondence, 1950 - 1960 54 1 Clippings and notes, 1950, 1979

Includes Evelyn Becker's 1979 notes on the congress.

54 2 Printed materials, 1950 - 1951; undated 54 3 Receipts and ephemera, 1950 54 4 Midwestern Composers Festival, 1956 - 1957 54 5 National Federation of Music Clubs, 1933 54 6 National Music Clinic, 1940 54 7 Rotary Club, 1928 Sub - series 6 - Photographs, 1933 - 1958; undated

This sub-series includes professional portraits of Becker, snapshots of Becker with others, and portraits of other musicians.

 54 8 Becker portraits, 1933 - 1950; undated 54 9 Becker with others, 1939 - 1950

Includes peers, family, and the pope.

54 10 Other musicians, 1933 - 1958; undated

Including Antheil, Cowell, and Ives. Some are inscribed.

Sub - series 7 - W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration), 1935 - 1942; undated

Alphabetical

John J. Becker served as State Director of Music for the Federal Music Project that organized free concerts throughout Minnesota. There are also programs, clippings, and posters in the final three series of this collection.

 54 11 Completed forms, 1935 - 1942; undated Correspondence 54 12 1936 - 1937 54 13 1938 - 1939 54 14 Job description, undated

Regarding confusion over Becker's job role.

54 15 Various, 1936 - 1939; undated Sub - series 8 - Writings, ca.1927 - 1976; undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series includes mainly the writings of John J. Becker: scholarly works, book reviews, magazine articles and the like. It also includes poems by other authors that were to be used in his compositions. It does not contain shorter published newspaper articles, which are among the chronologically organized Clippings series.

 Becker, John J. 54 16 The Art of Emerson Whitmore, undated

It was written during Becker's time at Notre Dame, 1918 - 1928.

54 17 Charles E. Ives, 1956

In Étude magazine.

54 18 Charles E. Ives: Musical Philosopher, 1933 54 19 A Composer Looks at Aesthetics, 1945 54 20 The Composer Speaks, 1950

In Chicago Musical College magazine.

54 21 Dissertation on the Romantic movement in Germany, undated 54 22 Finding a Personal Orchestral Idiom, 1950

In Musical America magazine.

54 23 Fine Arts and the Soul of America, 1930

In Religious Education journal.

54 24 The Golden Age of Italian Music, undated

Review of book by Grace O'Brien.

54 25 Grant proposal, undated

Rough draft of a proposal to write a book about the Arts in post - World War II America.

54 26 Henry Cowell: Musical Explorer, 1932, 1960

Includes 1932 article in the Northwest Musical Herald and Becker's 1960 notes for another article on Cowell.

54 27 Illustration: An outline of a simple projection of the very complex subject of musical architecture..., undated 55 1 Johannes Ockeghem, undated

Forward to Ernst Krenek's book from the Great Religious Composers Series which Becker edited.

55 2 The Menace of Inefficient Teachers, ca. 1927

From The Musical Observer magazine.

55 3 Notes on a cultural program, undated

Notes on an Introduction to Music program for the layman. Part of a contemplated book "Leisure Time and the Cultural Life" which is, or is similar to, the book he wrote the above grant proposal for.

55 4 Philosophy of Art, 1976; undated

Includes John Becker's paper on Edward Howard Griggs's 1918 book and Evelyn Becker's notes on the same book from 1976.

55 5 Schwerke: Champion of American Music, 1932

In the Northwest Musical Herald.

55 6 Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Music, undated

Review of a book by Manfred F. Bukofzer.

55 7 A Study of Charles Ives's "Essays Before a Sonata", undated 55 8 Wallingford Riegger, 1933 55 9 Wilhelm Middelschulte, Master of Counterpoint, undated 55 10 Untitled, undated

Article about music critics - probably Are Critics Necessary ?

55 11 Unidentified fragments and notes, undated Others 55 12 Becker, Mary Cecilia, ca. 1933

Poems by Becker's daughter when she was approximately 14 - 18 years old.

55 13 Molenar, Robert, ca. 1940 - 1942

Poems.

Series IV: Interviews and Speeches, 1941 - 1980; undated

This series is concerned with public speaking - both the notes prepared before and the transcripts produced later. The notes are entirely Evelyn Becker’s, and the transcripts predominately so.

Sub-series 1 - Notes, 1973-1980; undated Sub-series 2 - Transcripts, 1941-1980

Sub - series 1 - Notes, 1973 - 1980; undated

Alphabetical

This sub-series contains Evelyn Becker’s notes for speaking about her husband and the American Five (as individuals or as a group).

 56 1 Regarding the American Five, 1973 Oct 15

Mainly about Charles Ives. In preparation for an interview with Vivian Perlis of the Ives Collection at Yale University.

56 2 - 3 Regarding the American Five, 1975

In preparation for an interview with Johannes Riedel of the University of Minnesota.

56 4 Regarding the American Five, undated 56 5 Regarding John Becker, 1979 June 8

At NYPL, in honor of a large donation of his papers.

56 6 Regarding John Becker, undated 56 7 Regarding Henry Cowell, 1980

At Cowell's widow's request, Evelyn Becker made audio recordings of her speaking about Becker and Cowell's lives and works. There are transcripts of the tapes in the following sub - series.

Sub - series 2 - Transcripts, 1941 - 1980

Chronological

This sub-series includes interviews with John J. Becker, Evelyn Becker, Eugene Becker, and Ernst Krenek. Each is in whole or in part regarding John J. Becker and his work.

 56 8 John Becker radio interview, 1941 Jan. 9

Given before a W.P.A. concert in Albert Lea.

56 9 Eugene Becker regarding John Becker and Charles Ives, 1971

Interview with Vivian Perlis of the Ives Collection at Yale University.

56 10 Evelyn Becker regarding John Becker and Charles Ives, 1973 Oct. 15

Interview with Vivian Perlis of the Ives Collection at Yale University.

56 11 Evelyn Becker and Ernst Krenek, 1975

Interviewed by Johannes Riedel of the University of Minnesota.

56 12 Evelyn Becker regarding Henry Cowell, 1980

Transcripts of audiotapes made at the request of Cowell's widow.

56 13 Don Gillespie on John Becker, 1975 June 22

Gillespie gave a speech, John Becker, The Musical Crusader of St. Thomas College, at the Minnesota Centennial Ives Festival.

Series V: Legal and Financial Papers, 1916 - 1978; undated

Alphabetical

This series includes papers related specifically to Becker’s music such as appraisals, contracts and invoices, and copyrights, as well as those related to general household finances like stocks, tax returns, and other miscellaneous documents.

 57 14 Appraisals, 1977; undated

Mainly of manuscripts.

Contracts and Invoices 57 15 A - L, 1925 - 1978 57 16 M - Z, 1930 - 1976 57 17 Copyrights, 1930 - 1976; undated

Includes Evelyn Becker's contact notes regarding copyrights.

57 18 Stock certificates, 1916 and 1925 57 19 Tax returns, 1932 and 1950 57 20 Miscellaneous, 1935 - 1966; undated Series VI: Programs, 1911 - 1991; undated

Chronological

This series includes programs of performances of Becker’s works, as well as those of his contemporaries. The better portion are from the 1930s, which Becker began by teaching at St. Thomas University and later became the State Director of Music for the Federal Music Project (of the W.P.A.). Of special note is a 1958 Carnegie Hall performance that included Becker’s Symphonia Brevis, in which Van Cliburn played piano and Leonard Bernstein conducted.

 58 1 1911 - 1929

Most are from Becker's time at Notre Dame.

58 2 1930 - 1935

Most are from performances in New York and Minnesota.

58 3 1936 - 1937

Federal Music Project funded.

58 4 1938 - 1939

Federal Music Project funded, most are in Minnesota.

58 5 1940 - 1959

Of special note is a 1958 Carnegie Hall performance that included Becker's Symphonia Brevis. Van Cliburn played the piano and Leonard Bernstein conducted, as part of a series on important American composers.

 58 6 1960 - 1969

Includes program from the last concert John J. Becker attended.

58 7 1970 - 1979

Includes program from performance of Becker and Krenek's music. Johannes Riedel of the University of Minnesota also conducted interviews.

58 8 1980 - 1991

Only five performances.

58 9 Undated

Most are ca. 1918 - 1941.

Series VII: Clippings, 1920 - 1986; undated

Chronological

This series includes short published articles that are either about, or sometimes by, John J. Becker. The articles by Becker date circa 1926-1929, when he wrote a regular column for the South Bend News-Times. 1936-1941 sees a large increase in the sheer quantity of clippings, as in these years Becker was organizing performances throughout Minnesota for the Federal Music Project (of the W.P.A.).

 59 1 List of books and articles that include Becker 59 2 1920 - 1925 59 3 1926 - 1929 59 4 ca. 1926 - 1929

Undated, but from a book of clippings from this time period. There are many articles that Becker wrote for the South Bend News - Times, while he was the Director of Music at Notre Dame.

59 5 St. Paul period, ca.1929 - 1941

Evelyn Becker constructed this book of clippings, calling it "St. Paul period".

59 6 1930 59 7 1931 59 8 1932 59 9 1933 59 10 1934 59 11 1935

Includes articles documenting Becker's appointment to State Director of the Federal Music Project in November.

59 12 1936 Jan. - 1936 May 59 13 1936 June - 1936 Aug. 59 14 1936 Sept. - 1936 Dec. 59 15 ca. 1936 - 1939 59 16 1937 Jan. - 1937 May 59 17 1937 June - 1937 Aug. 59 18 1937 Sept. - 1937 Dec. 60 1 1938 60 2 1939 60 3 1940 - 1949

Includes clippings regarding the first performance of Symphony #3, with Marian Anderson as vocalist. Also includes an article that Evelyn Becker marked as an "excellent summary of W.P.A.".

Radio guides and timetables

In the summer of 1940 the W.P.A. symphony orchestra performances began broadcasting on Minnesota radio.

1940 60 4 Aug. 60 5 Sept. 60 6 Oct. 60 7 Nov. 60 8 Dec. 60 9 1941 and undated 60 10 1945 - 1955

Undated, but all from a clippings book from this time period.

60 11 1950 - 1959 60 12 1961

Obituaries only.

60 13 1962 - 1969

Includes Henry Cowell's 1965 obituary.

60 14 1970 - 1975

Includes clippings regarding "John Becker Day" on June 22, 1974.

 60 15 1976 - 1979 60 16 1980 - 1986 60 17 Undated

All seem to be ca. 1920 - 1941.

Series VIII: Oversized Materials, 1922 - ca. 1941

Alphabetical

This series contains Becker’s diplomas (1922, 1923, and 1928) and posters advertising performances for the Federal Music Project of the W.P.A.

 61 1 Diplomas, 1922 - 1928

Bachelor of Music and Doctorate of Music from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, as well as Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's of the Springs.

61 2 Posters, ca. 1935 - 1941

All are from when Becker was State Director of the Federal Music Project for the W.P.A.

Audio Materials to Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound Vinyl discs Credo, undated (For a capella men’s chorus. The Greek Byzantine Chorus.) Credo, 1933 New Music Quarterly recordings, undated Volume I, Number 1 Volume I, Number 2 Volume I, Number 3 (Includes Wallingford Riegger.) Volume I, Number 5 (Includes Charles Ives and Carl Ruggles.) Volume II, Number 1 (Includes Henry Cowell.) Volume II, Number 4 (Fourth Sonata for violin and piano.) Volume II, Number 5 Volume II, Number 6 Unnumbered (Includes Charles Ives and George Antheil.) Piano music of Henry Cowell: the composer speaks about his music, 1951 Nov. 8 Song, 1953 Dec. 17 (Performed by Welch Chorale in Town Hall.) Soundpiece #I, undated Soundpiece #IV, 1948 July 26 Soundpiece #IV, 1955 (Walden String Quartette. Album was printed with title Soundpiece # 2, but Evelyn Becker has noted that it is actually Soundpiece #4, as indicated by the record sleeve.) Soundpiece #5, undated (Two 78s, same recording? Ernst Krenek on piano.) String Quartet Number 2, undated (By Charles Ives. Played by the Walden String Quartet.) Cassettes The American Visionaries, 1982 (Holland Festival) 5" reel-to-reel Contata for Wartime, undated Mozart and Couperin, undated John J. Becker talking with his son, John A. Becker, undated 7 1/2" reel-to-reel Abongo, 1963 May 16 (The Manhattan School of Music percussion ensemble.) Abongo, 1969 and 1971 (University of Illinois - Urbana.) American Composer Radio Program #356, 1967 Feb. 13 (On WAKW. The music of John Becker, Wallingford Riegger, and Charles Ives. Karol Fahnestock was the producer/host/narrator.) American Five Concert, 1974 June 22 Becker-Benaroya interview, undated (Tape I.) Becker-Benaroya interview, undated (Tape II. Discussion about piano as percussion, Soundpiece #I, and Becker’s opinion on chamber music.) Becker-Krenek St. Paul Concert, 1975 Nov. 4 (Part I. Includes When The Willow Nods.) Father Bruckberger concert, undated (Includes Horn Concerto, Credo, Piano Sonata, Quartet #2, Soundpiece #1 and When the Willow Nods.) John Becker, Reel #1. 1975 Aug. 27 (Side A has the Symphonia Brevis/Symphony #3, Abongo, and Credo?) John J. Becker, Reel #2 1975 Aug. 27 (Side A has Soundpiece #5, Soundpiece #1. Side B has Soundpiece #8 and Concerto Arabesque.) John Becker Day, 1974 June 22 (Don Gillespie on Becker and Ives at St Thomas. Includes a symposium with Evelyn Becker.) Madeleine et Judas, 1959 (A-“Clear”.Theatre Fontaine.) Madeleine et Judas, 1959 (B-Prelude. Theatre Fontaine.) Madeleine et Judas, 1959 (C-“Lots of music towards the end”. Theatre Fontaine.) Madeleine et Judas, 1959 (D-long introduction. Theatre Fontaine.) Men and Mountains, 1958 Oct. 18 (By Carl Ruggles. Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Includes an interview of Van Cliburn.) Missa Symphonica and Mourning Song, 1976 Oct. 24 (Performed by the Dale Warland singers.) Music for keyboard instruments, undated (Barat College radio program.) Music for keyboard instruments, undated (Becker and Benaroya.) Our American Music, 1976 June 7-1976 June 11 (Week long presentation of Becker programs on WFMT.) Soundpiece #1, undated Soundpiece #8, 1975 July (String quartet #3. First two movements plus fragment of last movement. Recorded at KPFA in Berkeley, California.) Symphonia Brevis, 1958 Oct. 18 (Leonard Bernstein conducting. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra.) Symphonia Brevis, 1958 Oct. 18 (Leonard Bernstein conducting. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Includes talk by Bernstein and Van Cliburn.) Symphonia Brevis, 1958 Oct. 18 (Leonard Bernstein conducting. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Inscribed by Julie and Ed Abbott.) Twentieth Century Music For Orchestra, 1976 Jan. 13 (Tape #1. Robert Sadin, Music Director and Conductor. Includes Concertino Pastorale by John Becker.) Twentieth Century Music for Orchestra, 1976 Jan 13 (Tape #2.) Twentieth Century Music for Orchestra, 1976 Jan. 13 (Tape #3 - continued from tape #2.) WFMT, 1976 July (Concertino Pastorale and Soundpiece #7.) WFUV in New York, 1975 Aug. 27 (Reel # 1.) WFUV in New York, 1975 Aug. 27 (Reel # 2.) WFUV in New York, 1975 Aug. 27 (Unnumbered. Moderated by Cole Gagne at Fordham University.) Unidentified (2 reels.)