Matthew de Lacey Davidson Music and Papers

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Subject Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Music Compositions and Research

Creative Writing and Visual Art

Personal Papers



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

By Thornton Miller, Kendall McFarlin, Nolan Vallier

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Collection Overview

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

Scope and Contents of the Materials

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.

Biographical Note

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.

Subject/Index Terms

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

Administrative Information

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


Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music Compositions and Research, 1975-2025],
[Series 2: Creative Writing and Visual Art, 1929-2022],
[Series 3: Personal Papers, 1920-2024],
[All]

Series 3: Personal Papers, 1920-2024
Consists of biographical information on Davidson, including memoirs and family photographs; correspondence; concert programs, reviews, and publishing catalogs of Davidson's music; digital surrogates of biographical materials, research, creative writing, visual art, and master sibelius files of Davidson's original music compositions; and CDs from Davidson's personal collection.
Box 4
Folder 1: Biographical Notes, Concert Programs, Business Card, and Reviews, 1983-2011
Folder 2: Concert Programs, 1983-2014
Folder 3: Correspondence with William Bolcom, 1983-2002
Folder 4: Davidson's Elementary and High School Report Cards, 1969-1976
Folder 5: General Correspondence, 1990-2009
Folder 6: Letters of Recommendation, 1992-2008
Folder 7: Honeyrock Publishing Catalog, 1992
Contains an entry for Davidson's Millet Music. 
Folder 8: The (New) Graceful Ghost - CD Track Listing and Liner Notes, 2021
Folder 9: On the Highwire - CD Tracklist and Liner Notes, 2022
Folder 10: Reviews of Davidson's Books and Poems, 2018-2020
Folder 11: Reviews of Davidson's CDs and Performances, 1983-2006
Folder 12: Scrapbook of Album Covers and Correspondence, 1992-2015
Folder 13: Sugar's Nightmare - CD Tracklist and Liner Notes, ca. 1997
Folder 14: Tracklists for CDs, 2023
Includes tracklists for all CDs assigned a three-digit item code in Series 1 Sub-series 1 and 2.
Box 6
Item 15: Biography and Other Sundry Archival Materials, 2014

CD Data disc with master folder labeled "Davidson Memoirs," containing Finale files of original compositions; digital master files of compositions; digital master files of original research and writing, including memoire "My Time Has Come;" and digital surrogates of biographical memoires, photographs, and family papers.

Finale files include: Rzewski arrangement, 4 Dances 4 String Quartet, After Brahms, Bergamasques Violin Solo, Das Lied Ohne Worte, Etudes Book 1, Five Vignettes, Le Poeme Inattendu, Magyar Rondo, Menuetto, Music for Piano with Orchestra, Music for Viola and Orchestra, Nicklettes, Nicklettes (orchestra version), Papillons, Quartetto Dell-Arte, Quatre Melodies Quebecoises, Rameau, Schumann Symphony No. 5, Six Chorale Preludes, Sonatina Pastorale, Symphony No. 1, The Singing Lesson, Three Elusive Rags, Trio for Flute Viola and Harp, Trois Melodies Quebecoises, Zwei Moteten, and Love or Money.

Item 16: Doorways: The Entertainer, vol. 1. by Jeff Barnhart, CD, 2012
Item 17: Thanks for the Melody, Jeff Barnhart and Spats Langham, CD, 2017
Item 18: We Wish We Were Twins, Jeff Barnhart and Spats Langham, CD, 2015
Box 7
Folder 1: Book of Family Photographs Taken in New Zealand, ca. 1920-1984
Folder 2: Concert Programs, 1983-1999
Folder 3: Family Papers - Lew Davidson's Acting Career, 1953-2002
Folder 4: Family Photographs, 1929-1999
Folder 5: Production Photographs from Don't Let's Have a Revolution Today, V.U.W. Music Society Music Theater Work by Davidson, 1982
Box 8
Folder 1: Photo of Maternal Grandmother, ca. 1920
Item 1: Pewter Photo Frame, ca. 1920
Accession No. 2024.2620249.001.
Box 9
Folder 1: Anne de Lacey Davidson Autobiography, 2004
Folder 2: Articles, Posters, and Programs, 1981-2017
Folder 4: Contacts, 1985-2012
Folder 5: Correspondence with Friends, Relatives, and Colleagues, 1985-2019
Folder 9: Lew Davidson Autobiography, 2003
Folder 10: List of Residences, Restricted, 2006
Sealed until January 3, 2039.
Folder 17: Political Activism Correspondence, 2002-2024
Box 10
Folder 39: Master of Music Paper - The Nazi View of Creative Music, 1989
Folder 40: Correspondence from Max Morath, 1992-2008
Folder 41: Beneath the Belly of the Beast - Partial Autobiography, 2005
Folder 42: Thoughts About the Life of Poet Peter King, ca. 2023
Folder 43: Reviews and Correspondence, 2024-2025
Folder 44: Photos and Correspondence, ca. 1988-2009
Includes candid photos, scrapbook, and postcards.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music Compositions and Research, 1975-2025],
[Series 2: Creative Writing and Visual Art, 1929-2022],
[Series 3: Personal Papers, 1920-2024],
[All]

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