Finding Aid for Matthew de Lacey Davidson Music and Papers, 1920-2024 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Matthew de Lacey Davidson Music and Papers, 1920-2024

ID: 26/20/249

Primary Creator: Davidson, Matthew de Lacey (1964 -)

Extent: 4.65 cubic feet

Arrangement: Materials are arranged in three series: Series 1) Music Compositons and Research, Series 2) Writings and Visual Art, and Series 3) Personal Papers. Series 1 is further arranged into two subseries: Sub-Series 1) Original Music Recordings and Scores and Sub-Series 2) Music Research and Manuscript Scores by Other Composers. CDs in Series 1 have been arranged first by a three-digit numeric code assigned by Davidson and alphabetically thereafter. Series 2 and 3 have been arranged alphabetically by subject.

Date Acquired: 06/26/2023. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Alumni, Canada, Cartooning, Composers, Compositions-Music, Martirano, Salvatore (1927-1995), Music, School of, Music -- New Zealand, New Zealand, Opera, Orchestra, Piano, Poetry, Ragtime Music

Formats/Genres: Experimental Music, Librettos, Papers, Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Consists of recordings and scores of original compositions, recordings of collected LPs, correspondence with composers, original research, poems and visual art, and family records documenting the life and career of Matthew de Lacey Davidson. Of note is correspondence with composers, William Bolcom and Max Morath.

Mathew de Lacey Davidson (b. 1964) is a composer and performer. Davidson was educated at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand; at the University of Toronto; and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied composition with Salvatore Martirano. His oeuvre includes works in musical theater, chamber music, solo piano music (notably rags), as well as orchestral and electronic music. He has also published articles on ragtime and early jazz, and he is a contributor to The Syncopated Times. Davidson’s interests go beyond just music, he has written poetry, novels, short stories, as well as a non-fictional novel on his experiences in social work. His cartoons have been published in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

Alumni
Canada
Cartooning
Composers
Compositions-Music
Martirano, Salvatore (1927-1995)
Music, School of
Music -- New Zealand
New Zealand
Opera
Orchestra
Piano
Poetry
Ragtime Music

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: An additional box of CDs and two scrapbooks were received from Davidson on July 20, 2023. A box of music compositions, programs, CDs, DVDs, books, unpublished short stories, and aticles were received from Davidson on March 28, 2024. An additional box of music compositions, programs, CDs, cartoons, correspondence, and contracts were received from Davidson on November 26, 2024. Additional acquisitions were received on May 30, June 26, and July 28, 2025.

Acquisition Source: Matthew de Lacey Davidson

Acquisition Method: Gift

Related Materials: Salvatore Martirano Music, Personal Papers, and Sal-Mar Construction