Robert Kelly Music and Papers, 1933-2000

By Noah Lenstra

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Collection Overview

Title: Robert Kelly Music and Papers, 1933-2000

ID: 12/5/46

Primary Creator: Kelly, Robert (1916-2007)

Extent: 5.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized into two series: Series 1: Music. Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number, with original manuscripts followed by holograph reproductions, paste-ups and publication proofs. Series 2: Papers. Maintained in original order as received. Titles of folders correspond to titles of works unless otherwise noted. Folders contain press clippings, programs, photographs and correspondence relating to works, their premieres and other performances.

Date Acquired: 07/01/2005

Subjects: Faculty Papers, Music, Music, School of

Formats/Genres: Sheet music

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original manuscripts, holograph manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and proofs of compositions, programs, correspondences, photographs and clippings documenting Robert Kelly's career as a violinist, composer and professor of Music Composition and Theory at the University of Illinois. Of special note are photographs and newspaper clippings from the premiere of the Emancipation Symphony (Symphony No. 3) in Washington DC by the National Symphony in 1963, the 100th Anniversary Year of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Biographical Note

Robert Kelly was born September 26, 1916, at Clarksburg, WV and died in 2007 in Urbana, Illinois. He studied violin at an early age and later majored in violin at the Juilliard School of Music under Samuel Gardner. He studied composition with Rosario Scalero at The Curtis Institute of Music where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition. Much later he continued studies with Herbert Elwell at the Eastman School of Music where he received his Master of Music Degree in Composition.

From 1946-76 he was Professor of Composition and Theory at the University of Illinois School of Music, Urbana, Illinois. Many of his compositions were composed and performed in this period. Notable ones include: Miniature Symphony (Symphony No. 1) premiered by the Austin Symphony, Ezra Rachlin, conductor, and later with Rafael Kubelik conducting this Miniature Symphony on one of the University of Illinois Contemporary Arts Festivals. Later performances include a performance of the Miniature Symphony by the Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell conducting. Kelly's Symphony No. 2 was premiered in Tokyo, Japan by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Akeo Watanabe conducting. The Emancipation Symphony (Symphony No. 3) was premiered in Washington DC by the National Symphony in 1963, the 100th Anniversary Year of the Emancipation Proclamation. Walden Pond, an Environmental Cantata for Mixed Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Flute, Soprano, and Narrator was premiered by the University of Illinois Concert Choir and Percussion Ensemble conducted by Harold Decker.

Subject/Index Terms

Faculty Papers
Music
Music, School of

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Robert Kelly

Acquisition Method: Donation

Related Materials: Walden String Quartet Administrative Records, 1945-1975, record series 12/05/050, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Champaign, IL


Box and Folder Listing


Series 1: MusicAdd to your cart.
Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Robert Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 1-2: "Notebook no. 1-Original Manuscripts", containing manuscript pages of opus nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Transcriptions-pianoAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Transcriptions-violin IAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: Transcriptions-violin II, viola, clarinetAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 1  "Adirondack Suite"Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 2  "Variations on a Theme by Schubert"Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 10  "Paiyatuma Ballet"Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 13  "Rounds for String Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Op. 14  "Miniature Symphony"Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Op. 15  "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"Add to your cart.
Box 2Add to your cart.
Folder 1-2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal" (a folk opera in one act)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 18  "Chorale and Fugue for Brass Choirs"Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Op. 19  "Sonata and Fugue for Tenor Trombone and Piano"Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Op. 20  "Introduction and Dialogue"Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 21  "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (for high voice)Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 22  "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (dedicated to Mary Kelly)Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 23  "Quartet no. 2 for 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 24  "Concertino for Band"Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Op. 25  "Patterns-A Cantata for Soprano and Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Op. 26  "Song Cycle" (5 poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay)Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Op. 27  "Sonata for Oboe and Harp" (ded. to Marlene and David Ledet)Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Op. 27A  "Sonata for Violin and Piano (or harp)"Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Op. 28  "Suite for Solo Cello" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Rbt. Swenson)Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Op. 29  "Quintet for Bb Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Op. 30  "The Word of God" (Cantata  for soloists, chorus, brass choir & string orch.)Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Op. 31  "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly" (for Band)Add to your cart.
Folder 18: Op. 32  "Sonata for Cello and Piano" (dedicated to Robert Swenson)Add to your cart.
Box 3Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Op. 33  "Symphony No. 2"Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Op. 34  "The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets"Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 35  "Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble"Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Op. 36  "The Torment of Job" (for narrator, men's chorus, brass, percussion & piano)Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Op. 37, no. 1  "Deus, Deus Meus"  (motet for a cappella choir)Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 38 "Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra" (to Homer Schmitt & Rbt. Swenson)Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 39  "Emancipation Symphony (Symphony no. 3)"Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 40  "Triptych for Cello and Piano"  (dedicated "to John")Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 41  "An American Diptych for Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Op. 42  "String Quartet no. 3"Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Op. 43  "Colloquy for Chamber Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Box 4Add to your cart.
Folder 1-8: Op. 44  "The White Gods" (opera in three acts)Add to your cart.
1 of 5
Box 5Add to your cart.
Folder 1: The White Gods (9 of 9)Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Conquistadors Marching Song and Three Aztec Dances (from "The White Gods")Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 45  "Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano"Add to your cart.
Folder 4-5: Op. 46  "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 47  "Wanderlust" (for soprano and piano)Add to your cart.
Folder 7-8: Op. 48  "Diacoustics for Piano and Percussion Ensemble"Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 49  "3 Expressions (Dramatic, Serene, Jovial) for Violin and Cello (or Viola)"Add to your cart.
Folder 10-11: Op. 50  "Fluctuations for Organ, Brass and Percussion"Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Op. 51  "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" (dedicated to Roger Drinkall)Add to your cart.
Box 6Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Concerto, op. 51 (2 of 2)Add to your cart.
Folder 2-3: Op. 52  "Walden Pond" (Cantata) and "Four Transitions for 'Walden Pond'"Add to your cart.
Folder 4-5: Op. 53  "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" (dedicated to Guillermo Perich)Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 54  "Concertino for Chamber Orchestra" (ded. to Texas Little Symphony)Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 55  "Tubulations" (for Solo Tuba, Winds and Perc.) (ded. to Daniel Perantoni)Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace-A Meditation for Strings" (in mem. of Fannie Kelly)Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 57  "Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Box 7Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Op. 58  "Rural Songs for Soprano and Orchestra" (ded. to Phyllis Curtin)Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Op. 59  "Shenandoah Variations" for cello (or viola) ensemble (ded. to Rbt. Ashby)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 59A  "Variations on Shenandoah" for string orchestraAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet" (A Trinity for solo trumpet, brass choir & perc.)Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Op. 61  "String Quartet no. 4 (Oriental-Occidental Quartet"Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 62  "Fantasia for Solo Harp, Alto Flute, Oboe and String Quartet"Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody" for solo flute, harp, celesta, perc. and stringsAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 64  "Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Dian Baker)Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem" (SATB with keyboard; poem by John Gracen BrownAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: Op. 66  "Variations on Five Moods" for oboe & harpAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: Op. 67  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets (Symphony no. 4)"Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Op. 67A  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets" for soprano (or tenor) and pianoAdd to your cart.
Folder 13: Op. 68  "Hungarian Scenes (Sonata no. 2)" for violin & piano (plus an incomplete attempt at orchestrating the same piece for violin and chamber orchestra)Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Op. 69  "Serenades" for saxophone quartet and percussion (dedicated "In memory of our son, Thomas J. Kelly")Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Op. 72  "Sonata no. 2 for Viola and Piano" (ded. to Anne & William Heiles)Add to your cart.
Box 8Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Op. 73  "A Sinfonia Concertante for Chamber Orchestra"Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Op. 77  "Memories" for string trio and Op. 78 "Humorous Songs" for mixed choir & piano (both in one spiral-bound manuscript notebook)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 83  "Chamber Concerto" for violin, harp and mixed choirAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: "Old State House" for speakers, narrator, mixed chorus & orchestraAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: Twenty-Third Psalm, No. 1, and choralAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: "The Bee and the Grasshopper" (score and parts)Add to your cart.
Folder 7: "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord" for SATB (unpublished manuscript)Add to your cart.
Folder 8: "O Jesu Veracisseme" for SATBBAdd to your cart.
Folder 9: "Bless You, Paul" for SATB (lyrics by Kelly, music anonymous)Add to your cart.
Folder 10: "O, Children of God" for SATBAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: "Sunset Reflections-A Song for A Retirement Village" (seems to be Kelly's last completed completed composition)Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Folder marked "Compositions in Progress"Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Printed copy of Op. 14 (with 1995 copyright notice & corrections)Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Paste-up score of Op. 19Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Originals for printing for Op. 34 & 34A, with corrections & notesAdd to your cart.
Folder 16: Originals for printing for Op. 35A, with corrections & notesAdd to your cart.
Folder 17: Composer's copy of Op. 36Add to your cart.
Folder 18: Composer's copy of Op. 37, no. 1Add to your cart.
Folder 19: Composer's copy of Op. 46AAdd to your cart.
Folder 20: Originals for printing for Op. 47, with notes & correctionsAdd to your cart.
Box 9Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Printed cello part for Op. 48Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op.55 (score & solo tuba part)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 57, with correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Examination copy of Op. 58Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Composer's copy of Op. 59A (parts)Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Composer's copy of Op. 63 (choir part)Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Composer's copy of Op. 65, with correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 66, with correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 9: Back-up originals of Op. 67 (orchestral score & parts)Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 67 (piano reduction)Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Composer's copy of Op. 69, with correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 12: Proof copy of Op. 70Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Composer's copy of Op. 71, with corrections and orchestration ideasAdd to your cart.
Box 10Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Composer's copy of Op. 73 (note on front cover: "corrected after premiere")Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op. 76 (viola part only)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 80Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Composer's copy of Op. 83, with notes & correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: Composer's copy of "A Sentimental Song", with notes & correctionsAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: Comp. copy of "Modal Variations on Two-Voice Bach Inventions", w/ ms. pagesAdd to your cart.
Folder 7: Facsimile score of "Jesus is Crucified"Add to your cart.
Folder 8: "Box No. 2, Original manuscripts, "non opus numbers"-containing several manuscripts, chiefly for vocal songs, either with no opus numbers or opus numbers later crossed outAdd to your cart.
Folder 9: "First Compositions"-containing manuscripts for pieces & songs, 1933-36, some untitledAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: "NBC"-containing manuscript score & parts for "Choral" and "Fugue" for brass choir, along with manuscripts for other pieces, including "American Dance No. 1" and "Prelude."Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Opera The White Gods, op. 44Add to your cart.
proofreading copies of the entire score and the "Four Aztec Dances"
Folder 12: Opera The White Gods, op. 44Add to your cart.
envelope marked "pentachord structure of The White Gods"
Folder 13: Opera The White Gods, op. 44Add to your cart.
typescript copy of the libretto, with corrections; and composer's (printed) copy of the libretto, with corrections
Box 11Add to your cart.
Folder 1: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copyAdd to your cart.
Folder 2: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copyAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: "Two Songs for Soprano", op. 7 no. 1 & op. 8 no. 1Add to your cart.
Folder 4: "Daybreak" (song)Add to your cart.
Folder 5: "Variations on a Theme of Schubert", op. 12Add to your cart.
Folder 6: "Quartet in E Major", op. 16Add to your cart.
Folder 7: "A Free Fugue on Two Themes", op. 18Add to your cart.
Folder 8: "String Quartet No. 2", op. 23Add to your cart.
Folder 9: "Patterns", op. 25Add to your cart.
Folder 10: "Suite for Solo Cello", op. 28Add to your cart.
Folder 11: "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly", op. 31Add to your cart.
Folder 12: "Mosaic", op. 42Add to your cart.
Folder 13: "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (song)Add to your cart.
Folder 14: "The Last Invocation" (song)Add to your cart.
Folder 15: "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), piano-vocal score with handwritten synopsisAdd to your cart.
Box 14Add to your cart.
Folder 1: "Adirondack Suite", op. 1 (2 copies)Add to your cart.
Folder 2: "Paiyatuma", op. 10 (and the ballet suite from same)Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), full scoreAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Curtis Institute Student Compositions, ca. 1939-1941Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Garden of France, op. 56A, 1987Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano, submitted to Bowdoin Competition, 1964Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Debussy, "Suite Bergamasque" transcriptions for violin, viola and celloAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Emancipation Proclamation, Washington, D.C., photographs and newspaper plates, 1961Add to your cart.
Series 2: PapersAdd to your cart.
Titles of folders correspond to titles of works unless otherwise noted. Folders contain press clippings, programs, photographs and correspondence relating to works, their premieres and other performances.
Box 12Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Op. 14  Miniature Symphony, 1969Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal", 1971-Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Op. 19  Sonata for Trombone and Piano, 1986Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Op. 25  Patterns, 1963Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Op. 32  Sonata for Alto and Piano, 1987Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Op. 33  Symphony No. 2, 1975Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Op. 35  Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, undatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Op. 39  Emancipation Symphony, 1963Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Op. 41  An American Diptych, undatedAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: Op. 44  "The White Gods", 1966Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Op. 45  Variant-includes a copy of the piece submitted to Bowdoin College's 1974 competition for new chamber works, with a letter of consolation, 1974Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Op. 46  Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, 1973Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Op. 51  Cello Concerto, 1975Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Op. 52  "Walden Pond", 1980-1992Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Op. 53  Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, 1977Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Op. 54  Concertino for Chamber Orchestra, 1977Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace"(for strings), 1980-1981Add to your cart.
Folder 18: Op. 57  Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, 1981Add to your cart.
Folder 19: Op. 58  "Rural Songs", 1980Add to your cart.
Folder 20: Op. 59A  Variations on "Shenandoah", 1986Add to your cart.
Folder 21: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet", 1988Add to your cart.
Folder 22: Op. 61  String Quartet No. 4, 1980sAdd to your cart.
Folder 23: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody", 1992Add to your cart.
Folder 24: Op. 64  Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, 1991Add to your cart.
Folder 25: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem", 1994Add to your cart.
Folder 26: Curtis Institute of Music papers, 1939-1942Add to your cart.
Folder 27: Correspondence with American Composers Alliance, 1962-1968Add to your cart.
Box 13Add to your cart.
Folder 1: David Ewen correspondence,  Comprehensive Dictionary of American Composers, 1984Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Robert Kelly's 70th birthday cards, 1986Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Biography for Brigham Young University/University of Colorado fellowship, 1990-1991Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Encyclopedia of Modern Music writings, 1968Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Listings of Robert Kelly compositions deposited at librariesAdd to your cart.
Included are listings for: American Music Center Library, American Composers Alliance rental library, Curtis Institute of Music, New York City Public Library Americana collection, MacDowell Colony library, University of Illinois Music Library
Folder 6: Music Periodicals "Track-A-Name" reports, 1979Add to your cart.
Folder 7: News ReleasesAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Listing of places and dates of premieresAdd to your cart.
Folder 9: Reviews - additional material for brochures, and publicity, 1961-1977Add to your cart.
Folder 10: "Viola brochure from PDQ [printing company based in Urbana, IL]"Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Village Voice (newsletter of Clark-Lindsey Village), issue of Mar-Apr. 2000 featuring account of premiere of Sonata no. 2 for Viola & Piano, 2000Add to your cart.