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 3: Audiovisual Materials

Box 13

Item 1: Veronique, undated

Microfilm.

Item 2: Les P'Tites Michu, undated

Microfilm.

Item 3: Le Chevalier D'Harmental, undated

Microfilm.

Item 4: La Basoche, undated

Microfilm.

Item 5: La Basoche, undated

Microfilm.

Item 6: La Basoche, undated

Microfilm.

Item 7: Il Crociato in Egitto, undated

Microfilm.

Item 8: Il Crociato in Egitto, undated

Microfilm.

Item 9: Il Crociato in Egitto, undated

Microfilm.

Item 10: Il Crociato in Egitto, undated

Microfilm.

Item 11: L'Africaine, undated

Microfilm.

Item 12: Robert Le Diable, undated

Microfilm.

Item 13: Emma Di Resburgo, undated

Microfilm.

Item 14: Marguerite D'Anjou, undated

Microfilm.

Item 15: Romilda e Costanza, undated

Microfilm.

Item 16: Opera libretti and score microfilms, undated

These items were left in the box in which they arrived because the creator had organized them in a specific way, complete with an alphebetic chart. (3/21/2014)

Reel 17: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 8858-8922, undated

Reel no. 182. Microfilm.

Reel 18: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 4354-4405, undated

Reel no. 89. Microfilm.

Reel 19: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 9871-9017, undated

Reel no. 184. Microfilm.

Reel 20: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 8748-8797, undated

Reel no. 180. Microfilm.

Reel 21: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 1686-1733, undated

Reel no. 36. Microfilm.

Reel 22: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 4406-4445, undated

Reel no. 90. Microfilm.

Reel 24: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 9072-6118, undated

Reel no. 186. Microfilm.

Reel 23: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos.9018-9071, undated

Reel no. 185. Microfilm.

Reel 25: Albert Schatz Collection of Opera Librettos, Item Nos. 8923-8970, undated

Reel no. 183. Microfilm.

Reel 26: Margherita d'Anjou piano-vocal score, undated

Microfilm.

Item 27: Jephtas Gelubde, undated

German. Munich, 1812. Microfilm.

Item 28: Wirt und Gast, undated

German. Stuttgart, 1813. Microfilm.

Item 29: Romilda e Costanza, undated

Italian. Padua, 1817. Microfilm.

Item 30: Semiramide Riconosciuta, undated

Italian. Bologna, no date. Microfilm.

Item 31: Emma di Resburgo, undated

Italian. Dresden, 1820; Venice, 1819. Microfilm.

Item 32: Margherita d'Anjou, undated

Italian. Milan, 1820; Munich, 1822. Microfilm.

Item 33: L'Esule di Granata, undated

Italian. Milan, 1822. Microfilm.

Item 34: Il Crociato in Egitto, undated

Italian. Venice, 1824; Munich, 1825; Naples, 1826; Dresden, 1826; London, no date. Microfilm.

Item 35: Robert le Diable, undated

French. Paris, 1835.

German/Italian. Berlin, 1850.

Italian. Florence, 1840; Naples, 1856.

German. Munich, 1834; Vienna, 1835; Berlin, no date; no location, no date.

Microfilm.

Item 36: Les Huguenots, undated

French. Paris, 1836.

Italian. Milan, 1843; Naples, 1861; Rome, 1864; Florence, no date.

German. Cassel, 1839; Karlsruhe, 1864; Leipzeig, no date; Munich, 1838; no location, no date; Vienna, no date; Riga, 1875.

Microfilm.

Item 37: Ein Feldlager in Schlesien, undated

Berlin, 1844. Microfilm.

Item 38: Vielka, undated

German. Vienna, no date. Microfilm.

Item 39: Le Prophete, undated

French. Paris, 1850.

Italian. Florence, 1852.

German. Leipzig, 1850; Riga, 1874.

Microfilm.

Item 40: L'Etoile du Nord, undated

French. Paris, 185_; The Hague, 1853.

Italian. Milan, 1867.

German. Berlin, 1854.

Microfilm.

Item 41: Dinorah, undated

French. Paris, 1859.

Italian. Milan, 1865.

German. Vienna, 1872.

Microfilm.

Item 42: L'Africaine, undated

French. Paris, 1866.

Italian. Florence, 1866; Berlin, 1865; Boston, 1866.

Microfilm.

Box 14

Disc 1: Guillaume Tell- for OONY, 2005: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 2: Mignon- for OONY, 2004: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 3: Backup Copy of La Juive for OONY, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 4: Adelia for OONY, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 5: OONY Librettos Masnadieri Straniera, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 6: OONY Librettos, 1993-1999: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes librettos for the following: Armida, Caterina Cornaro, Giovanna D'Arco, Jerusalem, Polituo, and Puritani.
Disc 7: Il Corsari- For OONY, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 8: Donna Del Lago- For OONY, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 9: Librettos for OONY (and other miscellaneous), undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes librettos for the following: Africaine-notes, Meyerbeer arias-texts, Attila, Donna del Lago, and Juive.
Disc 10: Meyerbeer French Recordings List for Ward Martson's Project, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 11: Professional Biography, Personal Files, Letters of Recomendation, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 12: Email Correspondence Files 1-9, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 13: Letters from Various Individuals, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes letters from: Nauck, Holderidge, Riggs, and Moran.
Disc 14: Hobbies Index, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 15: Hobbies Articles for Introduction, 2002: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 16: Hobbies Backup Diskette Main Entry Sections, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 17: Hobbies Backup Diskette Index Sections, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 18: Hugenots-Early version of French text only, 1996: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 19: Hobbies Index 1931-1995, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 20: Abbreviations and Symbols used in idex, 1997-1998: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Contains many different files, title of disc taken from first file name. Files include: Artsay biography, Chronology of music events in Hobbies, Corrections submited by proof readers, Diagram/chart of hobbies precursors, fill in chart used to compile index, Gracyk article on Walsh, Holderidge letter 1 re Artsay, Holderidge letter 2 re Artsay, Index section titles (main enteries), Introductory material for index, letter to proof readers, page statistics for hobbies, page and article statistics for hobbies, progress (status of sections) on index, Wehling biography, and Wehling letter to daughter.
Disc 21: Hobbies A-Z, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 22: Hobbies Magazine layout of precursor journals, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 23: Hobbies Index, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Chronology of music events thru 1942, Introductory materials, and Outline of projected index sections.
Disc 24: Hobbies Index, 1997: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Outline of projected index sections, and previous indexes to Hobbies.
Disc 25: Hobbies Index, 1996: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 26: Hillandale Journal List and Journal Materials, 1995-1998: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: List of missing journal issues, and Victrola and 78 Journal Article (text).
Disc 27: Miscellaneous Discographical Files, 1993-1994: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Bettini catalogues, Bettini cylinders arranged by artist, bettini cylinders in private collections, Columbia cylinders, Edison 2-minute wax cylinders (list), Edison 4-minute wax cylinders (list), Edison blue Amberol cylinders (list), Edison grand opera cylinders (list), IRCC recordings list, and Miscellaneous early opera cylinders.
Disc 28: Opera Index, 1996-2001: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 29: Opera Magazine Index Enteries, 1992: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Enteries for A-Byz and Va-Vyvyan (nine total files).
Disc 30: Opera Index, Letter A, B, V, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 31: Star Trek Series, 2005: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 32: Star Trek Files, 1995-1998: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Deep Space Nine, Original Series, Statistics, The Next Generation, and Voyager.
Disc 33: Miscellaneous Files, ca. 1994: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: APM Index, Bettini Cylinders, Columbia Cylinders, Early Cylinders, Edison Cylinders, Mostly Mozart, Sorcerers Apprentice, X-mas Letter
Disc 34: Miscellaneous Files, 1993-1998: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Christmas letter, Christmas letter, CLPGS subscription letter, Recipies (low Calorie), Ukranian Artis Information, U.S. Presidents, and Weather.
Disc 35: Miscellaneous files, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files." Includes the following files: Video BioPics List and List of Opera translated.
Disc 36: Recipies and Xmas letters, undated: Flopy Disc in Box of discs labeled "Miscellaneous Libretto Diskettes, Professional Files, Star Trek, Hobbies Index, Opera Index, Personal Files."
Disc 37: Untitled Disc Box, undated: Box containing Floppy discs in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions." Includes three discs labeled "Denkspruch," Publication Version Meyerbeer Foreign Language Originals, and Publication Version Meyerbeer English Translations.
Disc 38: Das Brandenburger Tor, 2002: Box containing a single Floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 39: L'Affricane, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 40: Le Pardon de Ploermel, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 41: L'Etoile du Nord, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 42: Le Prophete, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 43: Vielka, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 44: Ein Feldlager in Schlesien, 2002-2004: Box containing two floppy discs in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 45: Les Hugenots, 2000-2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 46: Robert le Diable, 1999-2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 47: Il Crociato in Egitto, 2001: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 48: L'Esule di Granata, 2001: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 49: Margherita d'Anjou, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 50: Emma di Resburgo, 2003: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 51: Semiramide ricconosciuta, 2002: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 52: Romilda e Costanza, 2001: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 53: Wirth und Gast, 2003: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 54: Jephtas Gelubde, 2003: Box containing a single floppy disc in larger box labelled "Meyerbeer-Master Diskettes All Operas and All Non-Operatic Compositions."
Disc 55: Meyerbeer Discography Set #1, ca. 1997: Box containing three floppy discs.
Disc 56: Meyerbeer Discography-Set #2, ca. 1999: Box containing three floppy discs.
Disc 57: Unlabeled Disc, undated: Bound with four disc boxes labeled together "Older versions Do not use"
Disc 58: Nerone, Arrigo Boito, undated: Bound with three disc boxes and a single floppy disc labeled together "Older versions Do not use." Contains three unlabeled floppy discs.
Disc 59: Salambo, 2002: Bound with three disc boxes and a single floppy disc labeled together "Older versions Do not use." Contains two unlabled floppy discs
Disc 60: La Juive, Jacques F. Halevy, undated: Bound with three disc boxes and a single floppy disc labeled together "Older versions Do not use." Contains two unlabeled floppy discs.
Disc 61: Le Juif Errant, Jacques F. Halevy, 2002: Bound with three disc boxes and a single floppy disc labeled together "Older versions Do not use." Contains two unlabeled floppy discs.
Disc 62: Miscellaneous Meyerbeer Files, undated: Floppy Disc.
Disc 63: Meyerbeer, undated: Floppy Disc, contains tables for musical numbers
Disc 64: Meyerbeer libretti tables for musical numbers, undated: floppy disc
Disc 65: Translaters note and table of contents for publication of libretti, 2002: floppy disc
Disc 66: Meyerbeer libretti, undated: floppy disc
Disc 67: Meyerbeer lists of all non-operatic works, undated: floppy disc
Disc 68: Four language Translation of Meyerbeer arias, undated: floppy disc
Disc 69: Meyerbeer texts arranged by Act and Scene, 1992: floppy disc
Disc 70: Jephthas Gelubde translation, 2002: floppy disc
Disc 71: Semiramide-1819 version, undated: floppy disc
Disc 72: List of Differences between feldlager and Vielka, 2004: floppy disc
Disc 73: Atheisim Biblical contradictions, undated: Floppy disc
Disc 74: Seven Unlabeled discs, undated: Seven variously colored floppy discs
Disc 75: MRF Records index, 2008: Box containing two floppy discs.
Disc 76: Meyerbeer discography Files, undated: Floppy disc in a clear floppy disc box
Disc 77: List of Reyer operas and Arias, undated: Floppy Disc in a clear floppy disc box.
Disc 78: New Working Copy of Meyerbeer Dicography, undated: floppy disc
Disc 79: Contemporaneous Premiers List, undated: floppy disc
Disc 80: My Biography My weight fluctuations, 1960-2007: floppy disc
Disc 81: Three New Texts, undated: floppy disc
Disc 82: Continuation of Discography, undated: floppy disc
Disc 83: Personal Meyerbeer Collection, 2007: Single Floppy Disc in pink Floppy disc box.
Disc 84: Reyer Salambo, 3, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 85: Salambo Reyer, 1, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 86: Schmeles arsen, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 87: Reyer Salambo, 2, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 88: Aramburo for Arsenty, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 89: Meyerbeer vols. 1-4, undated: Compact Disc
Disc 90: Meyerbeer vols. 1-4, undated: Compact Disc

Browse by Series:

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