Finding Aid for Gordon W Binkerd Music Manuscripts, 1956-1990 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Gordon W Binkerd Music Manuscripts, 1956-1990

ID: 12/5/67

Primary Creator: Binkerd, Gordon W. (1916-2003)

Extent: 0.2 cubic feet

Arrangement: Both the original music manuscripts and published music are arranged chronologically into three distinct file folders: keyboard works, vocal works, and music by Robert Kelly. Materials within each folder are arranged chronologically and are listed in the description field of each folder.

Date Acquired: 09/29/2014. More info below under Accruals.

Consists of original music manuscripts by Gordon W. Binkerd and published music by Robert Kelly during and after Binkerd's career as a professor of composition at the University of Illinois.

Gordon Ware Binkerd (1916-2003) was born in Lynch, Nebraska. He began playing piano at an early age. Binkerd graduated from Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, South Dakota in 1937 with a degree in composition, where he studied with Gail Kubik and Russell Danburg. He finished his master's degree in composition at Eastman School of music in 1941. After the United States entered WWII, Binkerd volunteered for service with the US Navy. After WWII, Binkerd went to Harvard University, where he studied composition with Walter Piston; he would later graduate in 1952. While studying at Harvard, Binkerd accepted a position at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he taught from 1949-1971.

Binkerd's compositional style developed into many phases while at the University of Illinois. While he did explore serialist methods in the early 1950s, the majority of his pieces are tonal in nature, albeit highly chromatic. During his tenure at the University of Illinois from the mid 1950s to the 1970s, the University was developing a name for itself in the areas of experimental music, atonal music, and electronic music. Thus at the time, Binkerd was seen as a "conservative" in musical style. The majority of his musical works are vocal songs or choral pieces, but he also composed three symphonies, two string quartets, as well as a number of works for chamber ensembles and organ.

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals:

One file folder of materials was transfered to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music by the Music and Performing Arts Library. These materials were originally acquired through the Pettinga Collection by the Music and Performing Arts Library. No Deed of Gift exists for this material.

Folder 4: Piano Sonatas was donated to the Center by Holling Smith-Borne on June 28th, 2024, and processed as an addition to the ollection on July 2nd, 2024.

Acquisition Source: Materials were transfered to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music from the Music and Performing Arts Library