Robert Gray Papers, Music and Instruments

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Subject Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Personal Papers

Original/Published Music and Sound Recordings

Historical Trombones


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Finding Aid for Robert Gray Papers, Music and Instruments, 1910-2006 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Robert DeLand, Emilia Garvey, Janice Wien and Scott Schwartz

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Collection Overview

Title: Robert Gray Papers, Music and Instruments, 1910-2006View associated digital content.

ID: 12/5/40

Primary Creator: Gray, Robert (1926-2008)

Extent: 9.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is organized in three series: Series 1, Personal Papers, 1940-2006; Series 2, Music, 1929-1998; and Series 3, Historical Trombones, ca. 1910-1992. Material within each series is arranged alphabetically.

Date Acquired: 05/10/2007

Subjects: Bands, Brass Instruments, Church music, Composers, Concert tours, Conductors (Music), Faculty, Faculty Papers, Illinois Summer Youth Music, Music, Music, School of, Musical Instrument Makers - United States, Music instruction

Formats/Genres: Papers, Photographs, Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of papers, photographs, music, correspondence, teaching notes, research, and music instruments documenting Robert Gray's professional music career as a trombone professor, performer, and church music director between 1940 and 2006. Of particular interest are the papers documenting the University Wind Ensemble's 1977 tour of South America and Gray's prototype F attachment that was an attempt to modify the Conn's 8H bass trombone design but was never put into production by the manufacturer.

Biographical Note

Robert E. Gray (1926-2008) was born in Ambridge, PA on June 13, 1926 the son of William and Helen Lowary Gray. Gray graduated from Ambridge High School near Pittsburgh, PA. In 1949, he graduated with a bacheolors in music education from Muskingum College (New Concord, Ohio). While a student, Gray was a member of Phi Beta Mu. He received his Masters degree in trombone performance from the Eastman School of Music. During the Korean War, Gray served as a Musician First Class in the US Navy. In 1957, he was the first trombonist to earn a DMA at the Eastman School of Music, writing a dissertation entitled "The Treatment of Trombone in Contemporary Chamber Literature."  Following this, he taught at Duke University, the University of Arizona, and East Carolina University.

Dr. Gray joined the University of Illinois faculty in 1955, and served as professor of trombone and low brass, and director of several student wind and brass ensembles. He was also a member of the Illinois Brass Quintet, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and the Sinfonia da Camera. Gray led the wind ensemble during its 1977 tour of South America. He was one of the charter members of the Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1986 he was presented with an outstanding bandmaster award from that same organization. During his time in the brass area, Gray performed alongside faculty members like Michael Ewald, Ray Sasaki, and Mark Moore. Gray retired in 1991 after serving 36 years on the UIUC faculty.

In addition to his teaching and performance responsibilities a the University Gray served on the board of advisors for the International Trombone Association and was its president from 1984 to 1986. For most of his tenure at the University of Illinois he also taught trombone for the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp (ISYM). In addition to his teaching and research he served as the music director at Champaign, Illinois' First Presbyterian Church and concertized with his wife, organist Joan Gray, throughout his career. Robert Gray died in 2008 in Urbana, IL.

Subject/Index Terms

Bands
Brass Instruments
Church music
Composers
Concert tours
Conductors (Music)
Faculty
Faculty Papers
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Music
Music, School of
Musical Instrument Makers - United States
Music instruction

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Robert Gray

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal Papers, 1940 - 2006],
[Series 2: Original/Published Music and Sound Recordings, 1929 - 1998],
[Series 3: Historical Trombones, ca. 1910 - 1992],
[All]

Series 1: Personal Papers, 1940 - 2006View associated digital content.
Consists of correspondence, newsclippings, music catalogs, teaching and research files, awards, photographs and concert programs. Organized in five sub-series:  Sub-series 1, Student/College Reunion Papers and Early Teaching Records, 1940-2004; Sub-series 2, Professional Corresondence, 1956-2002; Sub-series 3, UI Teaching and Performance Records, 1954-2006; Sub-series 4, Research Files, 1951-1994; and Sub-series 5, First Presbyterian Church Performance Records, 1971-2001.  The documents are arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronological within each subject grouping.
Sub-Series 1: Student/College Reunion Papers and Early Teaching Records, 1940 - 2004
Box 1
Folder 1: Correspondence, programs, 1940-55
Folder 2: Programs, 1943-45
Folder 3: "Eastman School of Music, Its First Quarter Century" (book), 1948
Folder 4: Correspondence, programs, 1948-57, 1979
Folder 5: Duke University, 1950-55
Folder 6: Magnificat (Bach) with notes and programs, 1950-99
Folder 7: East Carolina College, 1951-55
Folder 8: Programs, clippings, photographs, 1951-64
Box 2
Folder 1: Muskingum College, 1952-2004
Folder 2: University of Arizona, 1952-55
Folder 3: Darius Milhaud letter, 1954
Folder 4: Bulletin of the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, 1954-55
Folder 5: Brevard Music Center, 1954-55
Folder 6: Emory Remington, 1957-80
Box 24
Item 1: Great Lakes Choir of 1000 Voices, Oct. 1944
Item is in Map Cabinet 3, Map Drawer 1, Folder 1
Item 2: 25th & 27th Regiment Choir, Nov. 1944
Item is in Map Cabinet 3, Map Drawer 1, Folder 1
Item 3: Faculty and Students of Muskingum College, New Concord, OH, Oct. 1945
Item 4: Faculty and Students of Muskingum College, New Concord, OH, Oct. 1946
Item 5: Faculty and Students of Muskingum College, New Concord, OH, Oct. 1947
MapCabinet 3
MapDrawer 1
Folder 1: Great Lakes Choir of 1000 Voices photo; 25th and 27th Regiment Choir photo; Honor al Merito Award, 1944, 1977
Sub-Series 2: Professional Correspondence, 1956 - 2002
Box 3
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1956-86
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1956-89
Folder 3: Correspondence from former students, 1964-87
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1966-2002
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1967-97
Box 4
Folder 1: Correspondence, Programs, Clippings, Photographs, 1971-2001
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1977-84
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1980-91
Folder 4: Correspondence on school retirement, 1991-92
Sub-Series 3: UI Teaching and Performance Records, 1954 - 2006
Box 5
Folder 1: American Federation of Musicians, Champaign Chapter, 1954-55, 1999-2006
Folder 2: Biographical file, 1962-95
Folder 3: Book Review - The Trombone in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, 1983-84
Folder 4: Employment Contracts, 1955-91
Folder 5: Former Trombone Students list, 1984-92
Folder 6: International Trombone Association, Trombone Workshops, 1971-88
Folder 7: Photographs, undatedView associated digital content.
Folder 8: Robert Gray Retirement, 1991
Folder 9: Robert Gray Trombone Award, donors, 1991-2001
Folder 10: Robert Gray Trombone Award, statements, programs and contracts, 1990-2002
Box 6
Folder 1: Trombone Clinics, educational materials, 1995-98
Folder 2: Trombone Curriculum Book, 1985-86
Folder 3: Trombone Method Books, 1966
Folder 4: UIUC Alumni Trombone Choir, 1996-97
Folder 5: UIUC and other venues, performance programs, 1957-90
Folder 6: Bemidji State University Summer Music Camp, 1959-70
Folder 7: Bemidji State University Summer Music Camp, 1971-84
Box 7: Music Catalogs and Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) Camp Files
Folder 1: ASCAP Symphonic Catalog, 1959
Folder 2: C. F. Peters Catalog, 1960-85
Folder 3: Fleisher Music Collection Catalog, 1955-56
Folder 4: Library of Congress, SESAC, ISCM Catalogs, 1955-58
Folder 5: Magnamusic Catalog, 1956-79
Folder 6: Russian Catalogs, 1956-95
Folder 7: Scandinavian Catalogs, 1956-87
Folder 8: Zentralarchiv Suisse Catalogs, 1956
Folder 9: Catalogs, General, Notes and Correspondence, 1965-94
Folder 10: Musical Instruments Catalogs, 1960-70
Folder 11: ISYM, 1964-88
Folder 12: ISYM, 1972-91
Folder 13: ISYM, 1990-91
Box 8
Folder 1: International Trombone Workshop, 1973-78
Folder 2: International Trombone Workshop, 1979-80
Folder 3: International Trombone Workshop, 1981-82
Folder 4: International Trombone Workshop, 1983-84
Folder 5: International Trombone Workshop, 1985
Folder 6: International Trombone Workshop, 1986-87
Folder 7: International Trombone Workshop, 1988
Folder 8: International Trombone Workshop, 1991-92, 1997
Folder 9: UIUC Wind Ensemble, personnel, clippings, 1960-80
Folder 10: UIUC Wind Ensemble, Vaclav Nelhybel - guest conductor and composer, 1960-70, 1983
Folder 11: UIUC Wind Ensemble, National Wind Ensemble Conference, 1974
Box 9
Folder 1: UIUC Wind Ensemble, Programs (1 of 3), 1959-88
Folder 2: UIUC Wind Ensemble, Programs (2 of 3), 1959-88
Folder 3: UIUC Wind Ensemble, Programs (3 of 3), 1959-88
Folder 4: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Passports and Faculty ID
Folder 5: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, auditions and programs, 1977
Folder 6: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Chile, 1977
Folder 7: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Ecuador, 1977
Folder 8: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Guatemala, 1977
Folder 9: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Guatemala photographs, 1977
Box 10
Folder 1: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Joan Gray Journal, 1977
Folder 2: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Panama, 1977
Folder 3: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Panama photographs, 1977
Folder 4: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Paraguay, 1977
Folder 5: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Paraguay award, 1977
Folder 6: Wind Ensemble South American Tour, Uruguay, 1977
Box 23
Item 1: Photo: Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Krannert Center, March 1974
Item 2: Photo: UIUC brass quintet performance photo with R. Gray, M. Ewald, K. Machala, M. Moore, and R. Sasaki, March 1991
Item 3: Photo: Concordia Band photo - Concordia, MO, Undated
Box 24
Item 6: Award: Honor al Merito, Guatemala, 1977
Item is in Map Cabinet 3, Map Drawer 1, Folder 1
Sub-Series 4: Research Files, 1951 - 1994
Box 10
Folder 7: Trombone Literature Catalog, A-F, undated
Folder 8: Trombone Literature Catalog, G-K, undated
Folder 9: Trombone Literature Catalog, L-P, undated
Folder 10: Trombone Literature Catalog, R-Z, undated
Folder 11: Research Material, Trombones, 1951-94
Box 11: Chamber Music Index Cards - Part 1 of 2, undated
Box 12: Chamber Music Index Cards - Part 2 of 2, undated
Sub-Series 5: First Presbyterian Church Performance Records, 1972 - 2001
Box 13
Folder 1: First Presbyterian Church, Choir Records, 1972-90
Folder 2: First Presbyterian Church Correspondence, 1973-2001
Folder 3: First Presbyterian Church music arranged by Theodor Duda, 1977-82
Folder 4: First Presbyterian Church Christmas Music and notes, 1983-94
Folder 5: First Presbyterian Church "A Woman and A Coin," piece commissioned for Malcolm Nygren's retirement, 1990
Folder 6: First Presbyterian Church Gray retirement programs and correspondence, 1994
Folder 7: First Presbyterian Church Trombonists, 1997-2001
Box 14
Folder 1: Brass and Organ, music and notes, 1980's
Folder 2: Trombone and Organ Programs and Correspondence, 1992-97
Folder 3: Trombone and Organ Recital Programs, 1980-2001
Series 2: Original/Published Music and Sound Recordings, 1929 - 1998
Consists of original and published music for solo trombone and brass/wind ensembles, and sound recordings of ISYM and UI wind ensemble performances directed by Gray.  Organized in three subseries: Sub-series 1, Sound Recordings, 1978-1998; Sub-series 2, Original Music, 1929-1977;  and Sub-series 3, Published Music, 1933-1990.  The material is arranged alphabetically within each sub-series and then chronologically.  The abbreviations following each title identify the format of the music (FS) full score, (CS) condensced score, (PS) piano score, and (P) parts.
Sub-Series 1: Sound Recordings, 1978 - 1998
Box 14
Folder 4: Notes to audio recordings, undated
Folder 5: 7" REEL, John Boda: Sonatina for Baritone Horn and Synth, undated
Box 15
Item 1: "1978 ISYM W.E.", 1978
Item 2: "10-19-95 Side A Telemann", 1995
Item 3: "10-24-96 Tape II", 1996
Item 4: "10-25-95 Side A: Joseph I", 1995
Item 5: "1982 Illinois Summer Youth Music", 1982
Item 6: "1986 Illinois Summer Youth Music", 1986
Item 7: "3/8/96 Joan & Robert Gray 1st L", 1996
Item 8: "4-5-98 Recital", 1998
Item 9: "Classic Solos", undated
Item 10: "Faculty Brass Recital", 1988
Item 11: "Faculty Recital / Robert Weiss, Donald Beattie", 1984
Item 12: "ISYM Senior Orchestra Wind Ensemble 6/22/1991", 1991
Item 13: "Lacrimae Lacrimae" (DAT), undated
Item 14: "Music for Trombone and Organ I", undated
Item 15: "Music for Trombone and Organ II", 1996
Item 16: "Music for Trombone and Organ II MASTER", 1996
Item 17: "ORG/TBN Better Perf's - I", undated
Item 18: "ORG/TBN Better Perf's - II", undated
Item 19: "PR-MRU", undated
Item 20: "R & J Gray Recital 10-30-94", 1994
Box 16
Item 1: "R.Gray / J.Gray 'A' ", undated
Item 2: "S. YIYATT = Meulemaab" (sic), undated
Item 3: Senior Orchestra Wind Ens. 1987, 1987
Item 4: "Skidmarks", undated
Item 5: "SRO Wind Ensemble ISYM 1983", 1983
Item 6: "Banhert:Tableaux for Trombone and Piano - Tom Vincent, tbn", 1995
Item 7: "Tape I - 4-6-95", 1995
Item 8: "Tape II - 3-27-95", 1995
Item 9: "Tape III - 4-26-95", 1995
Item 10: "TBN + ORG  Berlios", undated
Item 11: "Tear Open the Heavens", 1993
Item 12: "Trombone / IBC2 Concert 42", 1984
Item 13: "Trombone / Wind Ensemble", undated
Item 14: "Trombone and Organ MASTER", 1995
Item 15: "U. S. Marine Band - First Symphony - Knox", 1996
Item 16: "Walter C. Pelz: Our Soul...", undated
Item 17: "Wind Ens / Senior Orchestra 1989", 1989
Item 18: "Wind Ensemble / Lincolnshire Posey / Three…", undated
Item 19: "Wyatt = Otterloo 4-26-95", 1995
Sub-Series 2: Original Music, 1929 - 1977
Box 17
Folder 1: Bowman: Trio (FS, P), undated
Folder 2: Fitelberg: Capriccio (CS), 1929
Folder 3: Hovhannes: Mysterious Horse Before the Gate (P), 1964, 1970
Folder 4: Looser: Konzertante Musik (FS), 1951, 1957
Folder 5: McCulloh: Chamber Concerto (FS), 1947
Folder 6: McCulloh: Toccata (FS), 1949
Folder 7: Persichetti: Serenade #6 (FS, P), 1952
Folder 8: Starer: Concertino (PS, P), 1949
Folder 9: Tomasi: Eitre Ou Ne Pas Etre (PS, P), 1963
Folder 10: Udow: Barn Burner (PS), 1977
Box 18
Folder 1: Goeb: Quintet for Trombone and Strings (FS, P), 1952
Folder 2: Hartley: Concertino for Chamber Ensemble (FS), 1950-52
Folder 3: Hartley: Sonata da Camera for Trombone and Four Winds (FS, P), 1950
Folder 4: Hartley: Suite for Five Winds (FS, P), 1951
Folder 5: Kohan: Flight of Fancy (P), 1955
Folder 6: Premru: Concerto for Trombone and Woodwinds (FS, P), 1954
Folder 7: Sheiukman: Divertimento for Clarinet, Trumpet, and Harp (FS), 1953
Folder 8: Wyatt: Threesome (FS), 1977
Sub-Series 3: Published Music, 1933 - 1990
Box 19
Folder 1: Bach, J. S.: Magnificat (PS), undated
Folder 2: Bach (McCulloh): Three Arias from the Magnificat - J. S. Bach (McCulloh) (P), untitled
Folder 3: Barber: Untitled (PS, P), undated
Folder 4: Corelli (Marstellar - Gray): Sonata Op.5 #8 - Corelli (Marstellar - Gray) (PS, P), undated
Folder 5: Gouinguene: Concerto for Trombone - Gouinguene (PS, P), 1975
Folder 6: Grainger: The Sussex Mummer's Christmas Carol - Grainger (PS), undated
Folder 7: Handel: Sonata Op.1, #15 - Handel (PS), undated
Folder 8: Huybrechts: Concertstuk - Huybrechts (PS, P), 1944
Folder 9: Remington (Hunsberger): Remington Warm Up Exercises (P), 1980
Folder 10: Remington: Warm Up Exercises (P), undated
Folder 11: Sibelius: Romance (PS, P), c 1990
Folder 12: Sporny: Warm Up Exercises (P), undated
Folder 13: Unidentified: Warm Up Exercises (P), undated
Folder 14: Wagenseil (Janetzky): Concerto for Trombone (PS, P), c 1963
Box 20
Folder 1: Bach (Beversdorf): Haste, Ye Shepherds (PS, P), undated
Folder 2: Beeson: Music for Two Earnest Instruments - Beeson (PS, P), undated
Folder 3: Duncan: Divertimento for Trombone and String Quartet - Duncan (FS, P), 1955
Folder 4: Handel (Beversdorf): Air from Celestial Seats Descending from Hercules - Handel (Beversdorf) (PS, P), undated
Box 21
Folder 1: Huybrechts: Andante for Trombone Quartet, Suite for 3 Bassoons, Suite voor 4 Saxophones (FS), 1959
Folder 2: Wolfe: Konzert fur flote, Klarinette, Fagott, Trumbete, B. Horn, Posaune, Geige, Cello, Klavier (FS), 1933-34
Series 3: Historical Trombones, ca. 1910 - 1992
Box 22
Item 1: Original F Attachment Valve Portion from Conn 8H, ca. 1951
See also Item 1 (shelved in original case).
Item 1: C. G. Conn 8H Tenor Trombone, 1951
Note: Contains prototype f-attachment bell portion. See also Box 22 Item 1.
Accession number: 2007.120540.02
Item 2: C. G. Conn 36H tenor trombone, 1992
Accession number: 2007.120540.03
Item 3: Holton Beaufort Model tenor trombone, ca. 1910
Note: Bell Flare has been lathed off.
Accession number: 2007.120540.01

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal Papers, 1940 - 2006],
[Series 2: Original/Published Music and Sound Recordings, 1929 - 1998],
[Series 3: Historical Trombones, ca. 1910 - 1992],
[All]
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