Robert Kelly Music and Papers, 1933-2000

By Noah Lenstra

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Music

Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Robert Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number.

Box 1

Folder 1-2: "Notebook no. 1-Original Manuscripts", containing manuscript pages of opus nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13

Folder 3: Transcriptions-piano

Folder 4: Transcriptions-violin I

Folder 5: Transcriptions-violin II, viola, clarinet

Folder 6: Op. 1  "Adirondack Suite"

Folder 7: Op. 2  "Variations on a Theme by Schubert"

Folder 8: Op. 10  "Paiyatuma Ballet"

Folder 9: Op. 13  "Rounds for String Orchestra"

Folder 10: Op. 14  "Miniature Symphony"

Folder 11: Op. 15  "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"

Box 2

Folder 1-2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal" (a folk opera in one act)

Folder 3: Op. 18  "Chorale and Fugue for Brass Choirs"

Folder 4: Op. 19  "Sonata and Fugue for Tenor Trombone and Piano"

Folder 5: Op. 20  "Introduction and Dialogue"

Folder 6: Op. 21  "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (for high voice)

Folder 7: Op. 22  "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (dedicated to Mary Kelly)

Folder 8: Op. 23  "Quartet no. 2 for 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"

Folder 9: Op. 24  "Concertino for Band"

Folder 10: Op. 25  "Patterns-A Cantata for Soprano and Orchestra"

Folder 11: Op. 26  "Song Cycle" (5 poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay)

Folder 12: Op. 27  "Sonata for Oboe and Harp" (ded. to Marlene and David Ledet)

Folder 13: Op. 27A  "Sonata for Violin and Piano (or harp)"

Folder 14: Op. 28  "Suite for Solo Cello" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Rbt. Swenson)

Folder 15: Op. 29  "Quintet for Bb Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"

Folder 16: Op. 30  "The Word of God" (Cantata  for soloists, chorus, brass choir & string orch.)

Folder 17: Op. 31  "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly" (for Band)

Folder 18: Op. 32  "Sonata for Cello and Piano" (dedicated to Robert Swenson)

Box 3

Folder 1: Op. 33  "Symphony No. 2"

Folder 2: Op. 34  "The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets"

Folder 3: Op. 35  "Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble"

Folder 4: Op. 36  "The Torment of Job" (for narrator, men's chorus, brass, percussion & piano)

Folder 5: Op. 37, no. 1  "Deus, Deus Meus"  (motet for a cappella choir)

Folder 6: Op. 38 "Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra" (to Homer Schmitt & Rbt. Swenson)

Folder 7: Op. 39  "Emancipation Symphony (Symphony no. 3)"

Folder 8: Op. 40  "Triptych for Cello and Piano"  (dedicated "to John")

Folder 9: Op. 41  "An American Diptych for Orchestra"

Folder 10: Op. 42  "String Quartet no. 3"

Folder 11: Op. 43  "Colloquy for Chamber Orchestra"

Box 4

Folder 1-8: Op. 44  "The White Gods" (opera in three acts)

1 of 5

Box 5

Folder 1: The White Gods (9 of 9)

Folder 2: Conquistadors Marching Song and Three Aztec Dances (from "The White Gods")

Folder 3: Op. 45  "Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano"

Folder 4-5: Op. 46  "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra"

Folder 6: Op. 47  "Wanderlust" (for soprano and piano)

Folder 7-8: Op. 48  "Diacoustics for Piano and Percussion Ensemble"

Folder 9: Op. 49  "3 Expressions (Dramatic, Serene, Jovial) for Violin and Cello (or Viola)"

Folder 10-11: Op. 50  "Fluctuations for Organ, Brass and Percussion"

Folder 12: Op. 51  "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" (dedicated to Roger Drinkall)

Box 6

Folder 1: Concerto, op. 51 (2 of 2)

Folder 2-3: Op. 52  "Walden Pond" (Cantata) and "Four Transitions for 'Walden Pond'"

Folder 4-5: Op. 53  "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" (dedicated to Guillermo Perich)

Folder 6: Op. 54  "Concertino for Chamber Orchestra" (ded. to Texas Little Symphony)

Folder 7: Op. 55  "Tubulations" (for Solo Tuba, Winds and Perc.) (ded. to Daniel Perantoni)

Folder 8: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace-A Meditation for Strings" (in mem. of Fannie Kelly)

Folder 9: Op. 57  "Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra"

Box 7

Folder 1: Op. 58  "Rural Songs for Soprano and Orchestra" (ded. to Phyllis Curtin)

Folder 2: Op. 59  "Shenandoah Variations" for cello (or viola) ensemble (ded. to Rbt. Ashby)

Folder 3: Op. 59A  "Variations on Shenandoah" for string orchestra

Folder 4: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet" (A Trinity for solo trumpet, brass choir & perc.)

Folder 5: Op. 61  "String Quartet no. 4 (Oriental-Occidental Quartet"

Folder 6: Op. 62  "Fantasia for Solo Harp, Alto Flute, Oboe and String Quartet"

Folder 7: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody" for solo flute, harp, celesta, perc. and strings

Folder 8: Op. 64  "Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Dian Baker)

Folder 9: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem" (SATB with keyboard; poem by John Gracen Brown

Folder 10: Op. 66  "Variations on Five Moods" for oboe & harp

Folder 11: Op. 67  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets (Symphony no. 4)"

Folder 12: Op. 67A  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets" for soprano (or tenor) and piano

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)

Folder 14: Op. 69  "Serenades" for saxophone quartet and percussion (dedicated "In memory of our son, Thomas J. Kelly")

Folder 15: Op. 72  "Sonata no. 2 for Viola and Piano" (ded. to Anne & William Heiles)

Box 8

Folder 1: Op. 73  "A Sinfonia Concertante for Chamber Orchestra"

Folder 2: Op. 77  "Memories" for string trio and Op. 78 "Humorous Songs" for mixed choir & piano (both in one spiral-bound manuscript notebook)

Folder 3: Op. 83  "Chamber Concerto" for violin, harp and mixed choir

Folder 4: "Old State House" for speakers, narrator, mixed chorus & orchestra

Folder 5: Twenty-Third Psalm, No. 1, and choral

Folder 6: "The Bee and the Grasshopper" (score and parts)

Folder 7: "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord" for SATB (unpublished manuscript)

Folder 8: "O Jesu Veracisseme" for SATBB

Folder 9: "Bless You, Paul" for SATB (lyrics by Kelly, music anonymous)

Folder 10: "O, Children of God" for SATB

Folder 11: "Sunset Reflections-A Song for A Retirement Village" (seems to be Kelly's last completed completed composition)

Folder 12: Folder marked "Compositions in Progress"

Folder 13: Printed copy of Op. 14 (with 1995 copyright notice & corrections)

Folder 14: Paste-up score of Op. 19

Folder 15: Originals for printing for Op. 34 & 34A, with corrections & notes

Folder 16: Originals for printing for Op. 35A, with corrections & notes

Folder 17: Composer's copy of Op. 36

Folder 18: Composer's copy of Op. 37, no. 1

Folder 19: Composer's copy of Op. 46A

Folder 20: Originals for printing for Op. 47, with notes & corrections

Box 9

Folder 1: Printed cello part for Op. 48

Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op.55 (score & solo tuba part)

Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 57, with corrections

Folder 4: Examination copy of Op. 58

Folder 5: Composer's copy of Op. 59A (parts)

Folder 6: Composer's copy of Op. 63 (choir part)

Folder 7: Composer's copy of Op. 65, with corrections

Folder 8: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 66, with corrections

Folder 9: Back-up originals of Op. 67 (orchestral score & parts)

Folder 10: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 67 (piano reduction)

Folder 11: Composer's copy of Op. 69, with corrections

Folder 12: Proof copy of Op. 70

Folder 13: Composer's copy of Op. 71, with corrections and orchestration ideas

Box 10

Folder 1: Composer's copy of Op. 73 (note on front cover: "corrected after premiere")

Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op. 76 (viola part only)

Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 80

Folder 4: Composer's copy of Op. 83, with notes & corrections

Folder 5: Composer's copy of "A Sentimental Song", with notes & corrections

Folder 6: Comp. copy of "Modal Variations on Two-Voice Bach Inventions", w/ ms. pages

Folder 7: Facsimile score of "Jesus is Crucified"

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 out

Folder 9: "First Compositions"-containing manuscripts for pieces & songs, 1933-36, some untitled

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."

Folder 11: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

proofreading copies of the entire score and the "Four Aztec Dances"

Folder 12: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

envelope marked "pentachord structure of The White Gods"

Folder 13: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

typescript copy of the libretto, with corrections; and composer's (printed) copy of the libretto, with corrections

Box 11

Folder 1: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy

Folder 2: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy

Folder 3: "Two Songs for Soprano", op. 7 no. 1 & op. 8 no. 1

Folder 4: "Daybreak" (song)

Folder 5: "Variations on a Theme of Schubert", op. 12

Folder 6: "Quartet in E Major", op. 16

Folder 7: "A Free Fugue on Two Themes", op. 18

Folder 8: "String Quartet No. 2", op. 23

Folder 9: "Patterns", op. 25

Folder 10: "Suite for Solo Cello", op. 28

Folder 11: "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly", op. 31

Folder 12: "Mosaic", op. 42

Folder 13: "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (song)

Folder 14: "The Last Invocation" (song)

Folder 15: "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"

Folder 16: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), piano-vocal score with handwritten synopsis

Box 14

Folder 1: "Adirondack Suite", op. 1 (2 copies)

Folder 2: "Paiyatuma", op. 10 (and the ballet suite from same)

Folder 3: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), full score

Folder 4: Curtis Institute Student Compositions, ca. 1939-1941

Folder 5: Garden of France, op. 56A, 1987

Folder 6: Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano, submitted to Bowdoin Competition, 1964

Folder 7: Debussy, "Suite Bergamasque" transcriptions for violin, viola and cello

Folder 8: Emancipation Proclamation, Washington, D.C., photographs and newspaper plates, 1961

Series 2: Papers

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 12

Folder 1: Op. 14  Miniature Symphony, 1969

Folder 2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal", 1971-

Folder 3: Op. 19  Sonata for Trombone and Piano, 1986

Folder 4: Op. 25  Patterns, 1963

Folder 5: Op. 32  Sonata for Alto and Piano, 1987

Folder 6: Op. 33  Symphony No. 2, 1975

Folder 7: Op. 35  Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, undated

Folder 8: Op. 39  Emancipation Symphony, 1963

Folder 9: Op. 41  An American Diptych, undated

Folder 10: Op. 44  "The White Gods", 1966

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, 1974

Folder 12: Op. 46  Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, 1973

Folder 13: Op. 51  Cello Concerto, 1975

Folder 14: Op. 52  "Walden Pond", 1980-1992

Folder 15: Op. 53  Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, 1977

Folder 16: Op. 54  Concertino for Chamber Orchestra, 1977

Folder 17: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace"(for strings), 1980-1981

Folder 18: Op. 57  Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, 1981

Folder 19: Op. 58  "Rural Songs", 1980

Folder 20: Op. 59A  Variations on "Shenandoah", 1986

Folder 21: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet", 1988

Folder 22: Op. 61  String Quartet No. 4, 1980s

Folder 23: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody", 1992

Folder 24: Op. 64  Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, 1991

Folder 25: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem", 1994

Folder 26: Curtis Institute of Music papers, 1939-1942

Folder 27: Correspondence with American Composers Alliance, 1962-1968

Box 13

Folder 1: David Ewen correspondence,  Comprehensive Dictionary of American Composers, 1984

Folder 2: Robert Kelly's 70th birthday cards, 1986

Folder 3: Biography for Brigham Young University/University of Colorado fellowship, 1990-1991

Folder 4: Encyclopedia of Modern Music writings, 1968

Folder 5: Listings of Robert Kelly compositions deposited at libraries

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, 1979

Folder 7: News Releases

Folder 8: Listing of places and dates of premieres

Folder 9: Reviews - additional material for brochures, and publicity, 1961-1977

Folder 10: "Viola brochure from PDQ [printing company based in Urbana, IL]"

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, 2000