Research Catalog

Title

Symphony of the New World records, 1965-1978 (bulk 1970s).

Author

Symphony of the New World (New York, N.Y.)

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Fax, Mark, 1911-1974.
• Dodson, Owen, 1914-1983.

Description

4.5 lin. ft. (3 record cartons, 2 archival boxes, 3 print boxes)

Summary

• The Symphony of the New World Records reflect some of the activities of this orchestra. The Administration series includes files for music director Everett Lee composed of biographical information and correspondence discussing bookings with potential soloists and conductors as well as other programmatic issues. The general correspondence concerns performances, bookings, financial matters, and auditions. The bulk of the material in the Administration series contains publicity information about musicians, vocalists, and conductors who sought to perform with the orchestra.
• The Performances series consists primarily of programs and playbills for concerts that the orchestra performed in New York as well as program notes, reviews and announcements in newspapers. Compositions can be found in the Music series. A few of the compositions were written especially for the Symphony of the New World by Black composers. Of particular interest is the holograph music and copyist's score for "Till Victory is Won" (1967), an opera in four episodes with prologue, with music by Mark Fax and poem authored by Owen Dodson originally written for Howard University. Among other scores that form part of this series are Edward Boatner's "Troubled in Mind," "Forbidden Love: An Afro-American Slave Musical," 1970 (photocopy); "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" by William Foster McDaniel, 1975 (photocopy); and the copyist's score for viola and violin 2 of "Visions of Ishwara" by Rasul Talib Hakim (a.k.a. Stephen Chambers).

Subjects

• Conductors (Music)
• Fax, Mark, 1911-1974 > Till victory is won
• Symphony orchestras > New York (State) > New York
• Singers
• Symphony of the New World (New York, N.Y.)
• Lee, Everett
• African Americans in the performing arts
• African American musicians
• Boatner, Edward
• Musicians
• African American singers
• African American composers
• Composers
• Scores
• Sheet music

Genre/Form

• Sheet music.
• Scores.

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
• Phonograph records transferred to Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.

Source (note)

• Symphony of the New World and Friends of Symphony of the New World

Biography (note)

• The Symphony of the New World was founded in 1964 by an interracial committee of professional musicians to provide opportunities for minorities, particularly Black and Puerto Rican musicians, who were being discriminated against by the major symphonies. It claimed to be the first "fully integrated symphonic orchestra in the United States." Many African American conductors were introduced via the SNW, which also featured works by minority composers as well as performing a standard repertoire of symphonic music and contemporary works. The Symphony of the New World ceased functioning in 1978 due to financial difficulties.

Call Number

Sc MG 171

OCLC

122534107

Author

Symphony of the New World (New York, N.Y.)

Title

Symphony of the New World records, 1965-1978 (bulk 1970s).

Biography

The Symphony of the New World was founded in 1964 by an interracial committee of professional musicians to provide opportunities for minorities, particularly Black and Puerto Rican musicians, who were being discriminated against by the major symphonies. It claimed to be the first "fully integrated symphonic orchestra in the United States." Many African American conductors were introduced via the SNW, which also featured works by minority composers as well as performing a standard repertoire of symphonic music and contemporary works. The Symphony of the New World ceased functioning in 1978 due to financial difficulties.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Added Author

Fax, Mark, 1911-1974.

Dodson, Owen, 1914-1983.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 171