Finding Aid for Robert Kelly Music and Papers, 1933-2000 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Noah Lenstra

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Music, 1933-1994

Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Robert Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number.

Box 1

Folder 1-2: "Notebook no. 1-Original Manuscripts", containing manuscript pages of opus nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13

Folder 3: Transcriptions-piano

Folder 4: Transcriptions-violin I

Folder 5: Transcriptions-violin II, viola, clarinet

Folder 6: Op. 1  "Adirondack Suite"

Folder 7: Op. 2  "Variations on a Theme by Schubert"

Folder 8: Op. 10  "Paiyatuma Ballet"

Folder 9: Op. 13  "Rounds for String Orchestra"

Folder 10: Op. 14  "Miniature Symphony"

Folder 11: Op. 15  "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"

Box 2

Folder 1-2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal" (a folk opera in one act)

Folder 3: Op. 18  "Chorale and Fugue for Brass Choirs"

Folder 4: Op. 19  "Sonata and Fugue for Tenor Trombone and Piano"

Folder 5: Op. 20  "Introduction and Dialogue"

Folder 6: Op. 21  "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (for high voice)

Folder 7: Op. 22  "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (dedicated to Mary Kelly)

Folder 8: Op. 23  "Quartet no. 2 for 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"

Folder 9: Op. 24  "Concertino for Band"

Folder 10: Op. 25  "Patterns-A Cantata for Soprano and Orchestra"

Folder 11: Op. 26  "Song Cycle" (5 poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay)

Folder 12: Op. 27  "Sonata for Oboe and Harp" (ded. to Marlene and David Ledet)

Folder 13: Op. 27A  "Sonata for Violin and Piano (or harp)"

Folder 14: Op. 28  "Suite for Solo Cello" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Rbt. Swenson)

Folder 15: Op. 29  "Quintet for Bb Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola and Cello"

Folder 16: Op. 30  "The Word of God" (Cantata  for soloists, chorus, brass choir & string orch.)

Folder 17: Op. 31  "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly" (for Band)

Folder 18: Op. 32  "Sonata for Cello and Piano" (dedicated to Robert Swenson)

Box 3

Folder 1: Op. 33  "Symphony No. 2"

Folder 2: Op. 34  "The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets"

Folder 3: Op. 35  "Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble"

Folder 4: Op. 36  "The Torment of Job" (for narrator, men's chorus, brass, percussion & piano)

Folder 5: Op. 37, no. 1  "Deus, Deus Meus"  (motet for a cappella choir)

Folder 6: Op. 38 "Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra" (to Homer Schmitt & Rbt. Swenson)

Folder 7: Op. 39  "Emancipation Symphony (Symphony no. 3)"

Folder 8: Op. 40  "Triptych for Cello and Piano"  (dedicated "to John")

Folder 9: Op. 41  "An American Diptych for Orchestra"

Folder 10: Op. 42  "String Quartet no. 3"

Folder 11: Op. 43  "Colloquy for Chamber Orchestra"

Box 4

Folder 1-8: Op. 44  "The White Gods" (opera in three acts)

1 of 5

Box 5

Folder 1: The White Gods (9 of 9)

Folder 2: Conquistadors Marching Song and Three Aztec Dances (from "The White Gods")

Folder 3: Op. 45  "Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano"

Folder 4-5: Op. 46  "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra"

Folder 6: Op. 47  "Wanderlust" (for soprano and piano)

Folder 7-8: Op. 48  "Diacoustics for Piano and Percussion Ensemble"

Folder 9: Op. 49  "3 Expressions (Dramatic, Serene, Jovial) for Violin and Cello (or Viola)"

Folder 10-11: Op. 50  "Fluctuations for Organ, Brass and Percussion"

Folder 12: Op. 51  "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" (dedicated to Roger Drinkall)

Box 6

Folder 1: Concerto, op. 51 (2 of 2)

Folder 2-3: Op. 52  "Walden Pond" (Cantata) and "Four Transitions for 'Walden Pond'"

Folder 4-5: Op. 53  "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" (dedicated to Guillermo Perich)

Folder 6: Op. 54  "Concertino for Chamber Orchestra" (ded. to Texas Little Symphony)

Folder 7: Op. 55  "Tubulations" (for Solo Tuba, Winds and Perc.) (ded. to Daniel Perantoni)

Folder 8: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace-A Meditation for Strings" (in mem. of Fannie Kelly)

Folder 9: Op. 57  "Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra"

Box 7

Folder 1: Op. 58  "Rural Songs for Soprano and Orchestra" (ded. to Phyllis Curtin)

Folder 2: Op. 59  "Shenandoah Variations" for cello (or viola) ensemble (ded. to Rbt. Ashby)

Folder 3: Op. 59A  "Variations on Shenandoah" for string orchestra

Folder 4: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet" (A Trinity for solo trumpet, brass choir & perc.)

Folder 5: Op. 61  "String Quartet no. 4 (Oriental-Occidental Quartet"

Folder 6: Op. 62  "Fantasia for Solo Harp, Alto Flute, Oboe and String Quartet"

Folder 7: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody" for solo flute, harp, celesta, perc. and strings

Folder 8: Op. 64  "Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Dian Baker)

Folder 9: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem" (SATB with keyboard; poem by John Gracen Brown

Folder 10: Op. 66  "Variations on Five Moods" for oboe & harp

Folder 11: Op. 67  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets (Symphony no. 4)"

Folder 12: Op. 67A  "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets" for soprano (or tenor) and piano

Folder 13: Op. 68  "Hungarian Scenes (Sonata no. 2)" for violin & piano (plus an incomplete attempt at orchestrating the same piece for violin and chamber orchestra)

Folder 14: Op. 69  "Serenades" for saxophone quartet and percussion (dedicated "In memory of our son, Thomas J. Kelly")

Folder 15: Op. 72  "Sonata no. 2 for Viola and Piano" (ded. to Anne & William Heiles)

Box 8

Folder 1: Op. 73  "A Sinfonia Concertante for Chamber Orchestra"

Folder 2: Op. 77  "Memories" for string trio and Op. 78 "Humorous Songs" for mixed choir & piano (both in one spiral-bound manuscript notebook)

Folder 3: Op. 83  "Chamber Concerto" for violin, harp and mixed choir

Folder 4: "Old State House" for speakers, narrator, mixed chorus & orchestra

Folder 5: Twenty-Third Psalm, No. 1, and choral

Folder 6: "The Bee and the Grasshopper" (score and parts)

Folder 7: "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord" for SATB (unpublished manuscript)

Folder 8: "O Jesu Veracisseme" for SATBB

Folder 9: "Bless You, Paul" for SATB (lyrics by Kelly, music anonymous)

Folder 10: "O, Children of God" for SATB

Folder 11: "Sunset Reflections-A Song for A Retirement Village" (seems to be Kelly's last completed completed composition)

Folder 12: Folder marked "Compositions in Progress"

Folder 13: Printed copy of Op. 14 (with 1995 copyright notice & corrections)

Folder 14: Paste-up score of Op. 19

Folder 15: Originals for printing for Op. 34 & 34A, with corrections & notes

Folder 16: Originals for printing for Op. 35A, with corrections & notes

Folder 17: Composer's copy of Op. 36

Folder 18: Composer's copy of Op. 37, no. 1

Folder 19: Composer's copy of Op. 46A

Folder 20: Originals for printing for Op. 47, with notes & corrections

Box 9

Folder 1: Printed cello part for Op. 48

Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op.55 (score & solo tuba part)

Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 57, with corrections

Folder 4: Examination copy of Op. 58

Folder 5: Composer's copy of Op. 59A (parts)

Folder 6: Composer's copy of Op. 63 (choir part)

Folder 7: Composer's copy of Op. 65, with corrections

Folder 8: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 66, with corrections

Folder 9: Back-up originals of Op. 67 (orchestral score & parts)

Folder 10: Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 67 (piano reduction)

Folder 11: Composer's copy of Op. 69, with corrections

Folder 12: Proof copy of Op. 70

Folder 13: Composer's copy of Op. 71, with corrections and orchestration ideas

Box 10

Folder 1: Composer's copy of Op. 73 (note on front cover: "corrected after premiere")

Folder 2: Composer's copy of Op. 76 (viola part only)

Folder 3: Composer's copy of Op. 80

Folder 4: Composer's copy of Op. 83, with notes & corrections

Folder 5: Composer's copy of "A Sentimental Song", with notes & corrections

Folder 6: Comp. copy of "Modal Variations on Two-Voice Bach Inventions", w/ ms. pages

Folder 7: Facsimile score of "Jesus is Crucified"

Folder 8: "Box No. 2, Original manuscripts, "non opus numbers"-containing several manuscripts, chiefly for vocal songs, either with no opus numbers or opus numbers later crossed out

Folder 9: "First Compositions"-containing manuscripts for pieces & songs, 1933-36, some untitled

Folder 10: "NBC"-containing manuscript score & parts for "Choral" and "Fugue" for brass choir, along with manuscripts for other pieces, including "American Dance No. 1" and "Prelude."

Folder 11: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

proofreading copies of the entire score and the "Four Aztec Dances"

Folder 12: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

envelope marked "pentachord structure of The White Gods"

Folder 13: Opera The White Gods, op. 44

typescript copy of the libretto, with corrections; and composer's (printed) copy of the libretto, with corrections

Box 11

Folder 1: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy

Folder 2: The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy

Folder 3: "Two Songs for Soprano", op. 7 no. 1 & op. 8 no. 1

Folder 4: "Daybreak" (song)

Folder 5: "Variations on a Theme of Schubert", op. 12

Folder 6: "Quartet in E Major", op. 16

Folder 7: "A Free Fugue on Two Themes", op. 18

Folder 8: "String Quartet No. 2", op. 23

Folder 9: "Patterns", op. 25

Folder 10: "Suite for Solo Cello", op. 28

Folder 11: "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly", op. 31

Folder 12: "Mosaic", op. 42

Folder 13: "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (song)

Folder 14: "The Last Invocation" (song)

Folder 15: "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet"

Folder 16: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), piano-vocal score with handwritten synopsis

Box 12

Folder 1: Op. 14  Miniature Symphony, 1969

Folder 2: Op. 17  "Tod's Gal", 1971-

Folder 3: Op. 19  Sonata for Trombone and Piano, 1986

Folder 4: Op. 25  Patterns, 1963

Folder 5: Op. 32  Sonata for Alto and Piano, 1987

Folder 6: Op. 33  Symphony No. 2, 1975

Folder 7: Op. 35  Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, undated

Folder 8: Op. 39  Emancipation Symphony, 1963

Folder 9: Op. 41  An American Diptych, undated

Folder 10: Op. 44  "The White Gods", 1966

Folder 11: Op. 45  Variant-includes a copy of the piece submitted to Bowdoin College's 1974 competition for new chamber works, with a letter of consolation, 1974

Folder 12: Op. 46  Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, 1973

Folder 13: Op. 51  Cello Concerto, 1975

Folder 14: Op. 52  "Walden Pond", 1980-1992

Folder 15: Op. 53  Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, 1977

Folder 16: Op. 54  Concertino for Chamber Orchestra, 1977

Folder 17: Op. 56  "Garden of Peace"(for strings), 1980-1981

Folder 18: Op. 57  Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, 1981

Folder 19: Op. 58  "Rural Songs", 1980

Folder 20: Op. 59A  Variations on "Shenandoah", 1986

Folder 21: Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet", 1988

Folder 22: Op. 61  String Quartet No. 4, 1980s

Folder 23: Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody", 1992

Folder 24: Op. 64  Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano, 1991

Folder 25: Op. 65  "Christmas Poem", 1994

Box 14

Folder 1: "Adirondack Suite", op. 1 (2 copies)

Folder 2: "Paiyatuma", op. 10 (and the ballet suite from same)

Folder 3: Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), full score

Folder 4: Curtis Institute Student Compositions, ca. 1939-1941

Folder 5: Garden of France, op. 56A, 1987

Folder 6: Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano, submitted to Bowdoin Competition, 1964

Folder 7: Debussy, "Suite Bergamasque" transcriptions for violin, viola and cello