Finding Aid for Richard P Arsenty Papers, 2003-2013 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Hannah Jellen

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Collection Overview

Title: Richard P Arsenty Papers, 2003-2013

ID: 26/20/192

Primary Creator: Richard P. Arsenty (1945-2013)

Extent: 7.75 cubic feet

Arrangement: Materials are organized in four series: Series 1, Libretti, 1812-2008; Series 2, Research and Publications, 1909-2013; Series 3, Audiovisual Materials, 1931-2005. Materials in Series 1 and 2 are arranged in alphabetical order. Materials in Series 2 are in original order.

Date Acquired: 11/21/2013

Subjects: Meyerbeer, Giacomo, Opera

Languages: English, German, French, Russian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of opera librettos, drafts of libretto translations, audio and video recordings, research notes on various Italian operas and languages, copies of sources, scholarly articles, sheet music, information regarding MRF Records, and working and final drafts of Arsenty's publication, Meyerbeer: A Reader. The papers document Arsenty's opera research and his life-long work on documenting the performances, recordings, and music of Giacomo Meyerbeer.

Biographical Note

Richard P. Arsenty was born in 1945 in Woodstock, Illinois. As a young man, he attended the University of Illinois, earning degrees in both biology education and library science. He taught at the high school and collegiate levels for seven years, before working as a libretto translator for MRF Records for eight years. Following his employment with MRF, he worked as a reference librarian at Purchase College in New York. After retiring early, he continued his work with libretti, translating over 160 opera libretti for the Opera Orchestra of New York, the New York City Opera, Orfeo Records, and Opera Rara among other organizations.

Subject/Index Terms

Meyerbeer, Giacomo
Opera

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Mrs. Rogene Kyle

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Libretti],
[Series 2: Research and Publications],
[Series 3: Audiovisual Materials],
[All]

Series 2: Research and Publications

Box 9

Folder 1: Drafts of MRF indexes, undated
Folder 2: Indexes to MRF-1 through MRF-198, Chrubini Series, and BARD Series, undated
Folder 3: MRF Records information, undated
Folder 4: MRF Records, Inc.: A History and Catalog of Issued Recordings, undated
Folder 5: MRF Records, Inc.: A History and Catalog if Issued Recordings, undated
Folder 6: MRF cover pictures sources, undated
Folder 7: MRF casting information, undated
Folder 8: Meyerbeer Discography, undated
Folder 9: Meyerbeer Discography notes, undated
Folder 10: Meyerbeer discography, undated
Folder 11: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1986-1988
Folder 12: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1989
Folder 13: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1990
Folder 14: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1991
Folder 15: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1992
Folder 16: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1993
Folder 17: Meyerbeer Discography edition, 1994-1996
Folder 18: Meyerbeer Discography revision, 1997
Folder 19: Meyerbeer Discography revision, 1999
Folder 20: Meyerbeer Discography revision, 2000
Folder 21: Meyerbeer Discography revision, 2001
Folder 22: Meyerbeer Discography revision, 2004
Folder 23: Giacomo Meyerbeer: A Discography of VIntage REcordings, 1889-1955 revision, 2006
Folder 24: Articles and Discographies Relating to Meyerbeer [sic], undated: Folder 1 of 2.
Folder 25: Articles and Discographies Relating to Meyerbeer [sic], undated: Folder 2 of 2.

Box 10

Folder 1: "Discographies, Thoughts, and Ideas" [sic], undated
Folder 2: Giacomo Meyerbeer: The Non-Operatic Texts, 2007
Folder 3: Library sources of non-operatic Meyerbeer texts, 2001
Folder 4: List of Meyerbeer compositions that can't be found, Uvnukho Yomar, Denkspruch, undated
Folder 5: Meyerbeer by Juilus Kapp, undated
Folder 6: Meyerbeer: A Reader, 2007
Folder 7: Meyerbeer's Way to Mastership from The Musical Quarterly, Vol XII, undated
Folder 8: Meyerbeer Collection (short version, sans prices), undated
Folder 9: Meyerbeer List of Records in World's Encylopedia of Recorded Music, undated
Folder 10: Meyerbeer Opera Excerpts on 78 rpm Discs, undated
Folder 11: Meyerbeer non-operatic texts, undated
Folder 12: Meyerbeer non-operatic texts, original sources, undated: Folder 1 of 2.
Folder 13: Meyerbeer non-operatic texts, original sources, undated: Folder 2 of 2.
Folder 14: Meyerbeer score excerpts, undated
Folder 15: Miscellaneous Photocopied Information about Meyerbeer Operas and Songs [sic], ca. 1982
Folder 16: Musical numbers for Eight of Meyerbeer's Operas, undated
Folder 17: Scholarly articles about Meyerbeer, undated
Folder 18: Adelaide di Borgongna, undated
Folder 19: Adina libretto, undated
Folder 20: Africaine critique from Dictonnaire des Operas [sic], undated
Folder 21: The Annotated Nerone of Arrigo Boito, 2005
Folder 22: Autographed portrait, 1978
Folder 23: A Brief Biography of Thomas Alva Edison, undated
Folder 24: Brandenburger Tor photocopies of German introductory material, additional information, undated
Folder 25: Christopherus score, articles, and synopsis, undated
Folder 26: La Colomba sheet music photocopy, undated
Folder 27: Composer-Opera Handbook Project, undated: Folder 1 of 4.
Folder 28: Composer-Opera Handbook Project, undated: Folder 2 of 4.
Folder 29: Composer-Opera Handbook Project, undated: Folder 3 of 4.
Folder 30: Composer-Opera Handbook Project, undated: Folder 4 of 4.
Folder 31: Il Crociato in Egitto program, 1979
Folder 32: Death Takes a Holiday, undated
Folder 33: Early Opera Recording on Cylinders and Discs, undated
Folder 34: German Alphabet, undated
Folder 35: German grammar index, undated
Folder 36: Index to Schatz Collection of Libretti, undated: Master copy section 1-Detailed List of Libretti of All Important Composers.
Folder 37: Index to Schatz Collection of Libretti, undated: Section 2-List of Intriguing Titles.
Folder 38: Index to Schatz Collection of Libretti, undated: Master copy section 3-Complete List of Important Composers.
Folder 39: Index to the Schatz Collection of LIbretti on Microfilm, ca. 1985
Folder 40: Information about Printers and Publishers, undated
Folder 41: Illustration of manchineel tree, undated
Folder 42: Intro to Africaine (Deuxieme Parte); Huguenots (Act III, unused aria for Marcel), undated
Folder 43: Library of Congress photoduplication request, 2002
Folder 44: Lists of Opera Pieces with Key Signatures, undated
Folder 45: List of television programs and films, undated
Folder 46: Loose Leaf Motion Picture Collection Vol. II books, 1921
Folder 47: Marchand de Venise (Hahn) Acte I Vocal Score, undated
Folder 48: Marchand de Venise (Hahn) Acte II Vocal Score, undated
Folder 49: Marchand de Venise (Hahn) Acte III Vocal Score, undated

Box 11

Folder 1: Master Copies of Book Introduction and Title Pages, undated: Meyerbeer Libretti
Folder 2: Master copy of pictures for La Juieve, Salammbo, and Le Juif Errant, undated
Folder 3: Newspaper articles (1931-1993) related to musical instruments, undated
Folder 4: Opera Orchestra of New York Silver Anniversary Program, 1996
Folder 5: Opera recording cast list, 1990-1991
Folder 6: Performance cast list, undated
Folder 7: Performance list, undated: Includes list of location, date, performers, orchestra, and conductor.
Folder 8: Polydor and Deursche Grammaphon record, undated
Folder 9: Reyer Biography, pt. 2: English translation manuscript, undated: by Adolphe Jullien. Originally published by Librairie Renouard, Henri Laurens, editor. Paris, 1909.
Folder 10: Russian language appendices and participles, undated
Folder 11: Schirmer's Photoplay Series books, undated: A loose leaf collection of dramatic and descriptive musical numbers especially composed for use with motion pictures. Includes Vol. I: Violin I, Vol. 3: Violin II, Trombone, Bass, Clarinet I, Vol. 4: Harmonium, Piano, Schirmer's Special Series of Novelties for Orchestra: Piano.
Folder 12: Salammbo synopsis, pictures, photographs, and notes., undated
Folder 13: Salammbo pictures, articles, and information, undated
Folder 14: Salammbo photographs, synopsis, notes, and Punic script, undated
Folder 15: Translator's Note: Gott und die Natur, U'vnukho Yomar, undated
Folder 16: Useful Files, undated
Folder 17: University of Illinois Music and Performing Arts Library information, 2007

Box 12

Folder 1: Personal papers, 2000-2013: Folder 1 of 2.
Folder 2: Personal papers, ca. 2009-2013: Folder 2 of 2.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Libretti],
[Series 2: Research and Publications],
[Series 3: Audiovisual Materials],
[All]