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

By Noah Lenstra

Email us about these papers | printer

Print this information

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 Music Manuscripts - Consists of orginal manuscripts of unpublished compositions and/or arrangements.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 Annotated Scores and Parts - consists of unpublished and published sheet music annotated by Price and/or members of the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble for performance.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 Of special note are manuscripts, non-commercial recordings, and other forms of unpublished music materials of American 20th-century composers including Lou Harrison, Michael Colgrass, and Henry Cowell, as well as works by Price himself.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 3: Unannotated Scores and Parts, ca. 1950-1980

Consists of unannotated scores and parts, in either published or reproduced manuscript form, retained because they document Paul Price's activities as a music editor and collector. Arranged alphabetically by composer's last name. Note that oversized scores and parts are at end of series.

Box 16

Folder 1: Ahlstrom, David "Theme and Eleven Variations for String Quartet, Flute and Marimba" S and P, May 1952 (revised Summer 1960): Dedicated to Glenn Robinson. Originally written in Cincinnati, Ohio; revised in Rochester, New York.
Folder 2: Ahlstrom, David "Toccatas and Passacaglias for Percussion and Speaking Voice based on the Poem 'To the Dark Tower' by Garrett Chitwood'" S and P, Winter of 1960-1961: Composed in Johnson, Vermont
Folder 3: Alexander, Josef "Gitanjali: Song Offerings for Soprano Harpsichord and Percussion" P, undated
Folder 4: Amato, Bruno "Quintets for Trombones and Percussion" S and P, undated
Folder 5: Barker, Thomas E. "Dyad: Prelude", 1978
Folder 6: Barker, Thomas E. "Instrumentarium" P, 1980
Folder 7: Bartlett, Harry "Zoo Parade" S and P, December 1956

Box 17

Folder 1: Benson, Warren "Streams", undated
Folder 2: Benson, Warren "Trio for Percussion", ca. 1960
Folder 3: Bergamo, John "Five Miniatures for Percussion Quartet" / "Four Pieces for Timpani" / "Exhibition Solo No. 1", 1960/1962/undated
Folder 4: Beyer, J.M. (et.al.) "Percussion Pieces - IV", undated
Folder 5: Brooks, M. Steven "Beating Off" with correspondence, 1977
Folder 6: Camilleri, Charles "Fantasia Concertante for Solo Percussion", undated
Folder 7: Canning, Thomas "Symphony No. 1, Classical", 1965
Folder 8: Clark, Robert Keys "Patterns for Percussion" with annotations and correspondence, 1967
Folder 9: Combs, J.C. "Shakes, Rattles and Rolls", undated
Folder 10: Connor, Philip "Enough of Too Much" with correspondence, undated
Folder 11: Dana, Ramon "6 Pe-Tesp" S and P, 1975
Folder 12: DePue, Wallace E. "Toccatina for Solo Percussion and Piano", undated

Box 18

Folder 1: Elster, Martin "Disguises" / "Flamident" / "Song and a Dance" / "Three Time Phases", ca. 1984
Folder 2: Floyd, John M. "Mobile for Percussion Ensemble", 1976
Folder 3: Frackenpohl, Arthur Roland "Duo for Woodwind and Drum Set", 1974
Folder 4: Gibb, Stan "Klangspiel", undated
Folder 5: Gibb, Stan "Second Start", undated
Folder 6: Giron, Arsenio "Cuartillo", undated
Folder 7: Glanville-Hicks, P. "Musica Antiqua, No. 1" and "Pre-Colombia Prelude and Presto", 1957
Folder 8: Glaser, Werner Wolf "Tale for Garytone Saxophone and Percussion for Linda Bangs", 1977
Folder 9: Gordon, Louis "Movements for Two Pianos and Three Percussion", undated
Folder 10: Grady, Jerry Wayne "Timbrestream for Percussion and Alto-Flute-Piccolo", undated
Folder 11: Green, Ray "Three Inventories of Casey Jones", undated
Folder 12: Harrison, Lou "Recording Piece", 1955
Folder 13: Harrison, Lou "Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra", undated

Box 19

Folder 1: Hedwall, Paul "Passacaglia for Percussion", January 7, 1961
Folder 2: Heim, Norman "Concertante for Clarinet and Percussion", 1978
Folder 3: Horst, Thomas "Essere nei guai asta solo for vibraharp", undated
Folder 4: Hodkinson, Sydney "Drawings, Set No. 1, for Percussion Quartet", 1960
Folder 5: Hodkinson, Sydney "Drawings, Set No. 3, for B-flat Soprano Clarinet and Drums", April 1961
Folder 6: Houllif, Murray "J.P. Quarte" S and P, 1976-1977: includes programs
Folder 7: Houllif, Murray "Chamber Piece for Percussion Octet" / "Duet for Trumpet and Percussion" / "Three Movements for Multi-Percussionist and Percussion Quartet" / "Octaphonics for 8 Mallet Players" / "The Piece" / "For a Percussionist" / unidentified, ca. 1974/1975
Folder 8: Howard, Bertrand "Imbrications for Solo Percussion", undated
Folder 9: Jacobsky, G. "No. 1 - Short Composition for Trio", 1959
Folder 10: Jarlkov, Ib "Skitser/Sketches", December 1965

Box 20

Folder 1: Kohan, Alan "Flight of Fancy" S and P, undated
Folder 2: Kolb, Barbara "New York - Le Havre - from Percussion Quartet" S, ca. 1968
Folder 3: Kraft, William "Suite for Weatherkings" dedicated to Remo Belli, S and P, 1958
Folder 4: Kupferman, Meyer "Sound Phantoms #5 for Percussion Orchestar" S and P, 1980: Published General Music Publishing, Company
Folder 5: Kurek, Michael "Somna: A Fantasy for Marimba", undated
Folder 6: Lacerda, Osvaldo "Suite for Xylophone and Piano" / "Ponto de Iemanja", 1968/1974
Folder 7: Lacerda, Osvaldo "Losango Caque No. 1" / "Hiroshima, Meu Amor", 1970/1968
Folder 8: La Rosa, Michael "Life Cycle Suite for Mallet Quintet" S and P, undated
Folder 9: La Rosa, Michael "Visions of the Apocalypse" S and P, undated
Folder 10: Meyer, Ramon "Sketches in Sound for Percussion - 6 Performers", undated
Folder 11: Mayer, William "Music for Percussion" S and P, undated
Folder 12: Maroney, Denman F. "If you Feel the Way I do, Why Don't You Say So?" for Bells and Chimes S, 1975
Folder 13: Mais, Chester L. "Short Suite for Percussion Quartet", Fall-Winter 1980
Folder 14: Mais, Chester L. "Some Music for King George for Solo Marimba", Summer 1982
Folder 15: Levitan, Daniel "Music for Seven Percussionists" S, 1979: with correspondence

Box 21

Folder 1: Lieberman, Glenn "Spinning Song for Three Percussionists" S, undated
Folder 2: Miller, Donald "Ten Trios for Beginning Percussionists", undated
Folder 3: Noak, Fred "Caprices and Duets", undated
Folder 4: Myers, Robert "Toccata - Movements for Percussion", 1971
Folder 5: Myers, Robert "Percussion Piece" S, 1963
Folder 6: Myers, Robert "Five Pieces for Clarinet and Percussion", November 1960
Folder 7: Moran, Robert "Electric Boogie and Bombardments No. 2", 1962-1964
Folder 8: Musser, Clair Omar and William Moersch "Music of the International Marimba Symphony Orchestra", undated
Folder 9: Missal, J. "Two Impressions for Percussion Ensemble and Piano", 1957
Folder 10: Noak, Fred W. "Percussion Orchestra Pieces" - Humoresque, Three Chicks and a Worm, Stalagmites and Stalagtites, Rondo for Timpani Solo, undated
Folder 11: O'Connor Morris, George Allan "Suite for Percussion Quartet" and "Fanfare", undated
Folder 12: Otto Ferenc "Aria es Scherzo" and "Pasztoral" with programs, 1962
Folder 13: Penner, Bruce "So Cruel, So Silent", undated
Folder 14: Penner, Bruce "Twilight Music", undated

Box 22

Folder 1: Reilly, Edward R. (Ed.) "Renaissance March Rhythms", 1963
Folder 2: Raphling, Sam "Malet Concerto", 1964
Folder 3: Raphling, Sam "Concerto for Trombone and Percussion" S and P, undated
Folder 4: Raphling, Sam "Toccata for Piano and Percussion and Concerto for Piano and Percussion", undated
Folder 5: Ramey, Philip "Four Bagatelles for Percussion", 1964
Folder 6: Perry, Julia "Homunculus, C.F. for 10 Percussionists", 1961
Folder 7: Sergey, Thomas "Surface Tension for Two Percussionists", 1978
Folder 8: Sebesky, Gerald "Concepts for Percussion" S, 1967
Folder 9: Schwartz, Elliott "Aria No. 3 for Viola and Woodblocks", 1967
Folder 10: Smith, Stuart "James Balfouri" and "Glas", undated
Folder 11: Steinberg, P. "Envelopes", undated
Folder 12: Rogers, John E. "Isorhythms for Percussion and Keyboard Instruments" S and P, 1963
Folder 13: Santoro, Claudio "Diagramus Ciclicos in Two" Piano Part, 1966/1967
Folder 14: Saperstein, David "Antiphonies for Percussion" S and P, 1972
Folder 15: Sapieyevski, Jerzy "Music Number 17", 1969

Box 23

Folder 1: Schoette, Elmer "Sonatina for Three Percussionists and One Pianist" S and P, 1959
Folder 2: Stern, Robert "Playground" S, undated
Folder 3: Stewart, Robert "Hydra III: Percussion, Piano and Brass Ensemble", ca. 1968
Folder 4: Stratton, David "Kapow!" P and S, udnated
Folder 5: Stravinsky (arr. Martin Elster) "Three Pieces for String Quartet" arranged for Hartt Percussion Ensemble, undated
Folder 6: Swift, Richard "Demains, II, op. 30 for solo percussion", February 1962
Folder 7: Takoro, Thomas "Three Anarchists for Three Percussionists", undated
Folder 8: Tanenbaum, Elias "Images II for Percussion and Tape", November 1973
Folder 9: Thome, Diane "Three Oriental Songs" S, October-December 1964
Folder 10: Tower, Joan "Percussion Quartet", February 1963
Folder 11: Uber, David "Caprice No. 1 for Piano and Percussion", 1980-1981
Folder 12: Valandingham, Larry D. "Rhapsody for Marimba" and "Tom Tom Trio, No. 1", undated
Folder 13: Vincent, Paul and David Vincent "Psalm of the Cloak of Man" S and P, 1980
Folder 14: Vincent, David W. "Toper (Timmy's Tune)" S and P, 1980

Box 24

Folder 1: Vincent, John "Suite for Percussion Ensemble" S and P, February 1, 1973
Folder 2: Whitaker, Howard "Music for Vibraphone", 1972-1974
Folder 3: Wilding-White, Raymond "For Mallets (2 Players)", 1962
Folder 4: Wilding-White, Raymond "Three Psalms for Baritone and Percussion: #43-13-93" S and P, 1965
Folder 5: Won, Yong Sook "The Moon, in the Pond, In My Glass", ca. 1975
Folder 6: Youhass, William "Variations for Percussion Quartet" S and P, undated

Box 26: Over-sized scores and parts

Folder 1: Ahlstrom, David; James Drew and Tom Constanten "Suite Number Two" "Metal Concert" and "A Giraffe of Wyne (and Thou)", 1970-1974
Folder 2: Cacioppo, George "Bestiary, No. 1, Einzong", undated
Folder 3: Kabelac, Miloslav "Eight Ricercari" S, 1979
Folder 4: Levitan, Daniel "Concerto for Marimba with Percussion Orchestra" S and P, ca. 1970
Folder 5: Lombardo, Robert "Three Short Pieces for Four Timpani", 1965
Folder 6: Mais, Chester L. "Symphony for Percussion Ensemble", Summer 1981
Folder 7: Parchman, Gen. "Percussion Pieces" S and P, ca. 1960s: Concerto, Sonate and Symphony
Folder 8: Ptaszynska, Marta "Synchrony for Percussion Trio", 1978
Folder 9: Read, Gardner "Haiku Sessions" S, undated
Folder 10: Rovics, Howard "Concerto for Trumpet and Percussion" S and P, 1975
Folder 11: Simons, Netty "Design Groups for Percussion for 1-5 Players", 1967
Folder 12: Saperstein, David "Percussion Trio" S and P, undated
Folder 13: Taylor-Perkins, Coleridge "Sonatina for Percussion, Movements 1-3" S, undated
Folder 14: Thomas, Ronald "Situations of the Craft (Piano and Percussion)", 1966
Folder 15: Thome, Diane "Los Nombres (tape/piano/percussion)" S, undated
Folder 16: Washburn, Gary "Sonatina for Solo Percussion" and "Twosome", 1972
Folder 17: Whitaker, Howard "Diversions for Two Vibes and Piano for Dennis Plies", 1972
Folder 18: Willis, Richard "Passaggi for Brass Quintet, Piano and Percussion", ca. 1960s
Folder 19: Winiarz, John "Rahamiwami" S, 1982