Finding Aid for Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers, 1961-1982 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Noah Lenstra

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Collection Overview

Title: Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers, 1961-1982

ID: 12/5/51

Primary Creator: Price, Paul (1921-1986)

Extent: 17.0 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Organized into 5 series. Each series arranged alphabetically by last name of composer or performer, except for Series 4, which is arranged chronologically, and Series 5, which is arranged by format. Series 1. Music Manuscripts - Consists of orginal manuscripts of unpublished compositions and/or arrangements. Series 2. Annotated Scores and Parts - consists of unpublished and published sheet music annotated by Price and/or members of the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble for performance. Series 3. Unannotated Scores and Parts - Consists of reproduced manuscripts bearing no or very few annotations, retained because of their unavailability in other sources. Series 4. Papers - Personal papers of Paul Price. Series 5. Sound Recordings - including LPs, reel-to-reel tapes, and cassette tapes.

Date Acquired: 08/31/1987

Subjects: Faculty Papers, Manuscripts, Music, Music, School of

Formats/Genres: Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of percussion sheet music, sound recordings and correspondence documenting Paul Price's career as a percussion music educator, publisher and performer. Of special note are manuscripts, non-commercial recordings, and other forms of unpublished music materials of American 20th-century composers including Lou Harrison, Michael Colgrass, and Henry Cowell, as well as works by Price himself. Among the sound recordings, of special note are performances by the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble with Paul Price as conductor. Also includes correspondence file containing correspondence with 20th-century composers of percussion music. Some of the sheet music files also contain correspondence, performance programs or other additional material documenting a work's performances or publishing history.

Biographical Note

Paul William Price (b. Fitchburg, Mass., 31 July, 1910- d. New York, 1986) was a percussionist, composer, conductor, publisher of percussion music, and music educator during the four decades following the end of World War II. He studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory under George Carey and Fred Noak. In his teaching career he held faculty positions at the University of Illinois from 1949 to 1956; Boston University; Ithaca College; Newark State College and, after 1957, the Manhattan School of Music. Price also conducted the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble and began independently publishing percussion music under the titles "Music for Percussion" and "Paul Price Publications," beginning in the mid-1960s. He was also a composer of percussion music and a writer of books on percussion methodology. Through these activities he was influential in promoting the growth of the percussion ensemble movement in the United States and in stimulating interest in composing for percussion in the latter half of the 20th century.

Subject/Index Terms

Faculty Papers
Manuscripts
Music
Music, School of

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Alternate Extent Statement: 17 cubic feet

Access Restrictions: No restrictions.

Acquisition Source: Percussive Arts Society and Phyllis Price

Acquisition Method: Donation.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music Manuscripts, ca. 1950-1980],
[Series 2: Annotated Scores and Parts, ca. 1950-1980],
[Series 3: Unannotated Scores and Parts, ca. 1950-1980],
[Series 4: Papers],
[Series 5: Sound Recordings],
[All]

Series 2: Annotated Scores and Parts, ca. 1950-1980

Consists of reproduced manuscripts and published versions of sheet music parts and scores with hand-written annotations by Paul Price and his performance groups. Arranged alphabetically by composer's last name. Note that oversized scores and parts are at end of series.

Box 6

Folder 1: Ahlstrom, David "Variations for Chamber Ensemble" S and P, May 1952
Folder 2: Ajiro, Keisuke "Three Short Dances" S and P, Nov. 12, 1960
Folder 3: Bauernschmidt, Robert L. "Mesozoic Fantasy for Percussion Instruments" S and P, undated
Folder 4: Bottje, Will Gay "Variations for Percussion and Tape", 1966: Includes correspondence from composer
Folder 5: Brisman, Heskel "Concerted Music for Piano and Percussion Ensemble", 1970
Folder 6: Burt, George "Four Studies", undated
Folder 7: Camilleri, Charles "Prelude and Dance for Three Percussionists", undated
Folder 8: Carno, Zita "Sextet for Percussion", 1960
Folder 9: Chavez, Carlos "Toccata" P, ca. 1950s
Folder 10: Cohn, Arthur "Quotations in Percussion", 1958

Box 7

Folder 6: Colgrass, Michael "Chamber Music", 1954
Folder 7: Colgrass, Michael "Inventions on a Motive", undated
Folder 8: Colgrass, Michael "Adagio", 1956
Folder 9: Creston, Paul "Ceremonial, Op. 103", undated: Published version with annotations
Folder 1: Davidson, Harold G. "Hell's Bells", 1935
Folder 2: DePue, Wallace "Perpetual Motion", undated
Folder 3: DePue, Wallace E. (Ed. Thomas McMillan) "Sonata Primitif", undated
Folder 4: England, Wilber T. "Introduction and March", undated
Folder 5: Erb, David "Four for Percussion", undated
Folder 10: Feldsher, Howard "Originale", undated
Folder 11: Feldstein, Saul "Bhairva", undated
Folder 12: Fine, Vivian "Concertino for Piano and Percussion Ensemble", 1965
Folder 13: Fine, Vivian "Due for Three Timpani and Piano", undated
Folder 14: Finney, Ross Lee "Three Studies in Fours", 1974

Box 8

Folder 1: Fitz, Richard "Duet for Two Snare Drums", 1962
Folder 2: Flagello, Nicholas "Divertimento for Piano and Percussion", 1960
Folder 3: Franchetti, Arnold "4 Nocturnes", 1964
Folder 4: Frazeur, Theodore "Symphony for Percussion Ensemble of Six Players: Four Precipitations", ca. 1978
Folder 5: Glanville-Hicks, Peggy "Sonata for Piano and Percussion", 1951/1957
Folder 6: Hamilton, Iain "Dialogues for Flute and Cello with Percussion" S, 1964
Folder 7: Harrison, Lou "Symphony #13", May 14, 1941: For John and Xenia Cage
Folder 8: Harrison, Lou "Canticle #3", 1942
Folder 9: Harrison, Lou "The Song of Queztecoatl", February 6, 1941: Written in San Francisco

Box 9

Folder 1: Hoag, Charles "Inventions and Interludes for Clarinet and Marimba", ca. 1976
Folder 2: Hodkinson, Sidney "Drawings, Set No. 4, for Percussion Trio", June 1961
Folder 3: Hodkinson, Sydney "Two Structures, Adagio and Rondo, for Percussion Ensemble", December 1957
Folder 4: Hoffer, Bernard "Fantasia #1 and #2", undated
Folder 5: Hoffer, Bernard "Sketches", 1962
Folder 6: Houllif, Murray "Paragons for Solo Marimba and 5 Percussion", 1975
Folder 7: Houllif, Murray "Under Currents" S and P, 1975
Folder 8: Johnson, Thomas F. "Music for Cello and Percussion", undated
Folder 9: Kabalin, Fedor "Ritual for Percussion Ensemble" S and P, undated

Box 10

Folder 1: Kahelac, Misolav "Osm Invenci Pro Bici Nastroje" (1 of 2), 1971 (1962)
Folder 2: Kahelac, Misolav "Osm Invenci Pro Bici Nastroje" (2 of 2), 1971 (1962)
Folder 3: Keagle, Roger "Three Movements for Percussion Ensemble", undated

Box 11

Folder 1: Kitazume, Michio "Relation" P, undated
Folder 2: Klebe, Giselher "Zwei Studien fur Schlaginstrumente, Adagio and Allegro, Opus 48 and Estatico, Opus 30" S, 1966
Folder 3: Klein, Lothar "Incantations for Percussion (after Greek ceremonial rights)" S and P, undated: Includes manuscript arrangement for player 1
Folder 4: Lenom, Clement "Thirty Lessons in Solfeggio in the Form of Questions and Answers", 1925
Folder 5: Kupferman, Meyer "Prometheus for Percussion Ensemble" S and P, 1975
Folder 6: Kresky, Jeffrey "Night Music: A Serenade for Three Percussionists" CS, 1974
Folder 7: Kraft, William "There and Variations for Percussion Quartet" S with notes, 1956

Box 12

Folder 1: Lacerda, Osvaldo "Tres Miniaturas Para Percussao" S and P, 1968
Folder 2: Lanza, Alcides "Interfaces II 1967-1" CS, ca. 1969
Folder 3: MacGregor, Laurie "Intrusions," draft of "Intrusion of the Hunter" S, 1974
Folder 4: MacBride, David "Inside the Ring" S and program, ca. 1978
Folder 5: Lowes, Donald "Twelve Inventions for Percussion" S, 1965
Folder 6: Lieberman, Glenn "Ei Qui Tympanum Pulsat: In Memoriam" S Percussion Quartet, 1975
Folder 7: Miller, Edward Jay "Basho Songs: Six Songs by Matsuo Basho set to Music for Soprano Voice and Three Percussionists", April 1961
Folder 8: Moy, William C.C. "Toccata and Fugue for Piano and Percussion Instruments", February 5, 1959
Folder 9: Moy, William C.C. "Music for Piano, Xylophone, Timpani and Percussion" S and P, 1957
Folder 10: Missal, Joshua (arr. Robert W. Buggert) "Hoe-Down! for PercussioN Ensemble and Piano", 1954
Folder 11: Miller, Malloy "'Variations' for Roman Totenberg", undated
Folder 12: Miller, Malloy "Two Rituals for Percussion" S and P, undated

Box 13

Folder 1: Nobre, Marlos "Variacoes Ritmicas para Piano e Percussao Tipica Brasileira, op. 15", 1963
Folder 2: Nobre, Marlos "Rhythmetron para percussao", ca. 1970
Folder 3: Read, Gardner "Los Dios Aztecos (Los Dioses Aztecas)" MS S and P, undated
Folder 4: Raphling, Sam "Timpani Concerto" and "Three Pieces for Snare Drums and Piano", undated
Folder 5: Ptaszynska, Marta "Jeu Parti," "Scherzo" and "Invention, No. 1", 1970/1967/1969
Folder 6: Porter, Quincy "A Study of 16th Century Counterpoint" with notes, 1939
Folder 7: Pollock, Robert "Chamber Setting No. 2 for narrator and percussion" with correspondence, undated
Folder 8: Pinilla, Enrique "Quinteto" and "Satze fur Schlaginstrumente und Klauizr", undated
Folder 9: Pinilla, Enrique "Cinco Piezas Para Percussion", 1977: Lima

Box 14

Folder 1: Harvey/Garrett Phillips "Toccata for Percussion" S and P, undated
Folder 2: Schinstine, William J. "Directional Music for Percussion Ensemble" S and P, 1980
Folder 3: Shechtman, Robert "Digressiosn for Vibes and Marimba (one player)", 1967
Folder 4: Shumway, Stanley N. "Airs and Cadenzas for Percussion Ensemble and Magnetic Tape", undated
Folder 5: Roldan, Amadeo "Ritmicas No. 5" P, ca. 1967
Folder 6: Rudzinski, Zbigniew "Campanella: na Zespol Perkusyjny for percussion ensemble" S and P, ca. 1978
Folder 7: Russell, William "March Suite" MS, 1957
Folder 8: Russell, Robert "Symphony for Six: A Percussion Sextet, op. 34" S and P, ca. 1970
Folder 9: Steiner, Gitta "Quartet for Percussion", ca. 1968
Folder 10: Stewart, Robert "Voiages I, II and III, 6 percussion and piano" S and P, 1976
Folder 11: Stout, Gordon "Ode for Marimba", ca. 1978

Box 15

Folder 1: Sutcliffe, James H. "Two Pictures for Percussion" S and P, 1957
Folder 2: Ung, Chinary "Per for Five Players", 1967
Folder 3: Walcott, Ronald "Fragments for Percussion Quartet" S (old and new version), 1964/1966
Folder 4: Washburn, Gary "Percussion Sextet in Three Movements" S and P, undated
Folder 5: White, Charles L. "A Fanfare for Drums" P, undated
Folder 6: Wuorinen, Charles "Invention for Percussion Quintet" P, 1962

Box 27: Over-sized scores and parts

Folder 1: Barker, Thomas E. "Instrumentarium for Percussion Ensemble", 1980
Folder 2: Bergamo, John "Introduction and Merenge" and "Interventions for Vibraphone and Percussion", 1962/1963
Folder 3: Beyer, J.M. "Percussion, Op. 14", 1939
Folder 4: Cacioppo, George "Moves Upon Silence", undated
Folder 5: Davidovsky, Mario "Synchronisms, No. 5" S and P, 1969

Box 28: Over-sized parts and scores

Folder 1: Deschenes, Bruno "Murmurs for Five Percussion and Band" S and notes, ca. 1958
Folder 2: Drew, James "Concerto for Small Percussion Orchestra" S, 1972
Folder 3: Duckworth, William "Silent Signals for Percussion Quartet", undated
Folder 4: Ernst, David "Four and More" S, April 1968
Folder 5: Finney, Ross Lee "Three Studies in Fours", May 9, 1965
Folder 6: Fitz, Richard "Chamber Sonata for Percussion Sextet" S and P, 1963
Folder 7: Flagello, Nicholas "Electra/Synopsis" S and P, 1966
Folder 8: Harrison, Lou "Concerto for Violin with Percussion Orchestra" S and P, 1959
Folder 9: Husa, Karel fragments from "Three Dance Sketches for Percussion", ca. 1980
Folder 10: Kraft, William "Three Miniatures for Percussion and Orchestra", 1959
Folder 11: Krenek, Ernst "Marginal Sounds" S and P, with notes, 1957

Box 29: Over-sized scores and parts

Folder 1: Lambro, Phillip "Dance Barbaro" P and S, undated
Folder 2: Leseman, Frederick "Suite for Two Percussion Choirs", 1960
Folder 3: Mamlok, Ursula "Variations and Interludes for Foru Percussionists", 1971
Folder 4: Maryl, Richard "Apollo for Ten Percussion" S, ca. 1976: Published by the Johnson Corporation
Folder 5: Miller, Malloy "Ncoma Invocation and Dance for Timpani and Band", 1959
Folder 6: Phillips, Peter "Music for Percussion" S, undated
Folder 7: Pittard III, Mack W. "Escape from Paoshan for C Trumpet, Piano and Percussion" and "Trilogy for Flute, Bass Clarinet and Vibraphone", 1972
Folder 8: Read, Gardner "Xiuhtecuhtl: Dios del Fuego (God of Fire)" S, undated
Folder 9: Riley, Howard "Solo Three for Solo Percussion", 1978

Box 30: Over-sized Scores and Parts

Folder 1: Ross, Walter "Five Dream Sequences for Piano and Percussion Quartet", undated
Folder 2: Shapey, Ralph "Evocation for Violin with Percussion and Piano", 1959
Folder 3: Shechtman, Robert "The Fire of Gehenna A Cantata in Four Movements: written for Tom Siwe and his ensemble", 1974
Folder 4: Shechtman, Robert "Three Dithyramboi for Percussion Sextet" S written for the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble, 1968
Folder 5: Stern, Robert "Prelude and Dance for Percussion with Mezzo-Soprano Obbligato" S and P, ca. 1960
Folder 6: Shaffer, Sherwood "Four Quatrains for Percussion", undated
Folder 7: Thome, Joel "Prisons for Solo Percussion, Piano and Chamber Ensemble", ca. 1970
Folder 8: Trythall, Richard "Bolero for Four Percussionists", ca. 1980
Folder 9: Turok, Paul "Capriccio for Violin Solo and Four Percussionists" S, December 15, 1978
Folder 10: Wilkinson, Jane "Triangles for Three Percussionists" S, 1977
Folder 11: Worthen, Ellis C. "Percussionata for Percussion Orchestra", May 1966
Folder 12: Zukofsky, Paul "13 Poems" S and P, 1962

Oversize Portfolio Box 1

Oversize Portfolio Case 1: Fields, Robert A. "Delineations for Percussion Quartet", 1968