Finding Aid for James and Lorene Bier Sound Recording Collection, 1955-1987 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Nolan Vallier

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Collection Overview

Title: James and Lorene Bier Sound Recording Collection, 1955-1987

ID: 12/9/188

Primary Creator: Bier, James A. (1927-)

Other Creators: Bier, Lorene M.

Extent: 3.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Materials are arranged following the numerical code assigned to the recordings by the Biers, who organized their recordings by subject and by artist. The materials that were retained include the 600 (European Folk), 700 (Japanese Folk) and 800 (Pacific Island Folk) series recordings. The 800 series further breaks into the following segments: 805-811 (Hawaii), 812-825 (Ukulele), 826-837 (Brothers Cazimero), 838 (Comedy), 839-853 (Voice Female), 854-858 (Slack-Key Guitar), 859-873 (Male Voice), and 874-875 (Exotic). See appraisal note for deaccessioned items and the full recording code.

Date Acquired: 08/12/2026

Subjects: Guitar music, Hawaiian guitar, Hawaiian guitar music, Kabuki, Music -- Japan, Russian Folk Orchestra, Russian Folk Songs, Vocal music

Formats/Genres: Sound Recordings

Languages: Hawaiian, Japanese, Russian, Hungarian, Greek,Modern(1453-), English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of LP recordings, documenting James and Lorene Bier's interests in Hawaiian, Japanese, and Russian Folk music.

Biographical Note

James "Jim" A. Bier (1927- ) is a cartographer and alumn of the University of Illinois. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Bier earned a bachelor's degree in cartography from Case Western University. Although he had started as a music major, Bier changed his focus to cartography, building on skills he'd gained from mechanical drafting courses in high school. During the Korean War, Bier was drafted and served the US Army in the 29th Engineer Mapping Battalion, which was stationed in Tokyo, Japan. During his time in Japan, Bier grew to love Japanese culture, learning Japanese gardening techniques and collecting recordings of Japanese music.

Following his service, he earned his masters degree in geography in 1957. In that year, he was hired by the University to serve as a staff cartographer and in 1958 he published Atlas of Illinois Resources. He would remain in the Geography Department until his retirement in 1989. During this time, Bier produced nearly 3,000 maps and atlases. Between 1971 and 1972, he was "on loan" to the University of Hawaii, where he was tasked with charting maps of the smaller islands. Several of his maps appear in the Atlas of Hawaii and Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawaii, which were published by the University of Hawaii Press.

In 1998, Bier served as a consultant and designer of the Japan House tea garden. Bier also donated the money and the designs to the University in order to construct the tea gardens. Bier earned an Illinois Arts Legacy Award for his work on the Japanese tea garden in 2018.

Subject/Index Terms

Guitar music
Hawaiian guitar
Hawaiian guitar music
Kabuki
Music -- Japan
Russian Folk Orchestra
Russian Folk Songs
Vocal music

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: James and Lorene Bier

Acquisition Method: Gift

Appraisal Information: When the collection was acquired, it was determined that only materials from the 600, 700, and 800 series would be retained. The full collection consisted of the following numerical series: 100 (Classical, one composition), 200 (Classical, two composition), 300 (Classical, three or more compositions), 400 (Classical, solo harp, piano, guitar, harp, and flute), 500 (Vocal, classical), 600 (European Folk), 700 (Japanese Classical and Folk), 800 (Pacific Island Folk), 900 (Latin America Folk and Popular), 1001-1005 (American Folk), 1006-1100 (Country and Ragtime), 1101-1106 (Christmas Music), 1108-113 (Popular Choral), 1115-1119 (Popular Piano), 1122-1128 (Big Band), 1129-1134 (Pops Orchestra), 1135-1136 (Harp and Panpipe), 1200 (Broadway Musicals), and 1300 (Organ).

Related Materials: The James A. Bier Map Collection and Archives in the Map Library For more information please see https://www.library.illinois.edu/max/unique-collections/james-a-bier-collection-and-archives/.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: LP Recording Collection],
[All]

Series 1: LP Recording Collection

Consists of LP recordings, arranged in three sub-series: sub-series 1) Russian, Hungarian, and Greek Folk Music, sub-series 2) Japanese Music, and sub-series 3) Hawaiian Folk Music. Each sub-series is arranged following a numeric schema created by the Biers.

Sub-Series 1: Russian, Hungarian, and Greek Folk Music, 1957-1981

Arranged following the Biers' numerical schema, consists of recordings 619.1-625.1.

Box 1

Item 1: This is the Best of Bouzouki, 1981: 619.1. LP. EMI, Odeon 14C 026-71180. Featuring Th. Polikandriotis, bouzouki; B. Mallidis, arranger and conductor; B. Mallidis, editor.
Item 2: This is Hungary: Authentic Hungarian Folk Songs and Dances, 1960: 620. LP. Parliment, PLP 125.
Item 3: Paprika!: Authentic Hungarian Gypsy Folk Songs and Dances, undated: 621. LP. Columbia, WL 160. Budapest Zigeuner Orchestra.
Item 4: Gypsy!, 1966: 621.2 LP. London Phase 4, SP44086. Werner Müller and his Orchestra.
Item 5: Gypsy Passion, 1960: 621.1 LP. Columbia CL 1431. Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra.
Item 6: Great Russian Folk Dances, 1958: 622. LP. Epic, LC 3459. Moiseyev Russian Folk Ballet Company, under the direction of Sampson Galperine, and Hungarian States Folk Ensemble, under the direction of Baross Gabor.
Item 7: Dances of the Moiseyev and Beryozka Companies, 1958: 623. LP. Monitor MF311.
Item 8: This is Russia, 1961: 624. LP. Parliament, PLP 158. Featuring the Soviet Army Chorus, Piatnitsky Chorus, Sveshnikov Chorus, Orchestra of the Moiseyev Band Ensemble, and Orchestra of Folk Instruments.
Item 9: Moscow with Love, 1957: 624.1. LP. Audio Fidelity Stereo Disc 5940. Jo Basile and his Accordion Orchestra.
Item 10: The Folk Songs of Old Russia, 1974: 625. LP. Olympic Records, 6111. The Sveshknikov and Volga Choirs.
Item 11: Laras Lied aus Doktor Schiwago und Russische Volksmusik, 1968: 625.1. LP. Europa 331. Das Cinema Stage Orchestra, Das Balalaika-Orchester Michailow, and Der Aleksandar Gavanski-Choir. Album Cover in German.

Sub-Series 2: Japanese Music

Box 1

Item 12: The Columbia World Library of Folk and Primitive Music, volume 11: Japan, the Ryukyus, Formosa, and Korea, 1955: 701. LP. Columbia, KL-214. Collected and edited by Genjiro Masu for the Japanese Music Institute of Tokyo; series edited by Alan Lomax.
Item 13: To Remember Japan: Enduring Songs and Instrumental Music, undated: 702. LP. Hi-Fi, LP-3453. Recorded by the Tokyo Serenaders at the 49th State Hawaii Record Co.
Item 14: Cherry Blossoms and Days of Youth, 1971: 702.1. LP. Music of Polynesia, INC. MOP 13000. Jack De Mello and the Imperial Strings.
Item 15: The Music of the Children of Japan, undated: 702.3. LP. Music of Polynesia, INC. MOP 28000. Jack De Mello and the Victor Pops Orchestra of Tokyo.
Item 16: Japan: Its Sounds and People, undated: 703. LP. Capitol Records, T10230.
Item 17: Takarazuka Dance Theatre, undated: 704. LP. Columbia, WL-163. Directed by Ren Takahashi, guest conductor Emerson Buckley. Featuring Hikaru Kuroki, Sakura Kamo, Hisako Misuzu, Chiho Asadori, Hanayo Sumi, and Yuko Hama.
Item 18: Japan Revisited, undated: 705. LP. Capitol T10195.
Item 19: Spring Overture, 1963: 706. 10" LP. Nivico Record SLV 546. Yamaguchi Moto, arranger; Yonekawa Toshigo, Koto. Album cover in Japanese.
Item 20: Classical Music of Japan, 1964: 707. LP. Nivico Record, JL-22.
Item 21: The Azuma Kabuki Musicians: Nagauta Music and Original Music from Older Classics, ca. 1954: 708. LP. Columbia, ML 4925. Featuring music by Shiko Ozaki and Rosen Tosha.
Item 22: Classical Music of Japan, 1965: 709. LP. Electra, EKL-286. Featuring the Koto Kabuki Orchestra, Ikeda and her Co-Operatives, Heian Imperial Court Music Orchestra, Kasai Family, Kyoto Geza Band, Meianji Priests, and Staff for the Preservation Mibu Kyogen.
Item 23
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Sub-Series 3: Hawaiian Music

Box 1

Item 38
Item 39
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Box 2

Box 3

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