.
By Abena Ayisi, Kelly Cannon, Kyle Durango, Rosario Garcia, Tim Gintella, Colleen Hoke, Doxey Kamara, Taylor Moles, Chloe Rawlings, Izzy Sauer, Tyanna Waters, Zoe Wellik, Sydney Williams, Clare Zeller
Collection Overview
Title: Elizabeth "Lisa" Kliger Music and Personal Papers, 1926-2024
ID: 26/20/358
Primary Creator: Kliger, Elizabeth "Lisa" (1952-)
Extent: 6.0 cubic feet
Arrangement: Organized into three series: Series 1) Student Career, 1970-1990, Series 2) Teaching and Literary Career, 1978-2020, and Series 3) Musician Career, 1971-2011. The series are arranged in chronological order.
Date Acquired: 05/02/2025
Subjects: American folk music, Balalaika music, Banjo music, Music, Poetry, Puerto Rico
Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian, Russian
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of research papers, field notes and logs, sound recordings, pamphlets, photographs, correspondence, theatre scripts, poetry, and music documenting Kliger's career as a student, teacher, editor, and musician between the 1970s and the 2000s. This includes materials relating to her studies at the University of Illinois and University of Hawi'i, music research in Puerto Rico, teaching forthe Peace Corps in Thailand, editing and writing for publishing houses, playwriting, and other ventures.
A large portion of this collection consists of materials relating to Lisa Kliger's original musical, Noodlehead! These materials include drafts of the script, newspaper clippings, original artwork, rehearsal notes, sponsorships forms, and donations to the production of the musical in Moscow, Idaho, and correspondence.
Biographical Note
Elizabeth “Lisa” Kliger was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1952 to her musically inclined parents who inspired her interests and careers. From 1970 to 1974, Kliger was an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her degree in Independent Studies in Folk Music. While studying for her undergraduate degree, she learned the banjo and sang original songs with it at the Red Herring Coffee House. In 1975 she became a freelance folklorist for Rounder Records while in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The following year she returned to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for her Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language, which she completed in 1978. Kliger moved to Southern Thailand and was stationed as a Peace Corps volunteer in Songkhla. She taught university level English to Thai English teachers at Srinakharinwirot University. She often incorporated her banjo music into her teaching methods. At the end of her service, she married her longtime boyfriend Bruce Barnes and moved to Singapore in 1980. Kliger worked as a freelance writer and became an in-house editor and writer of children’s books and educational materials for FEP International Private Ltd (formerly McGraw-Hill). From 1986 to 1987, Kliger resided in Hilo, Hawaii for her husband’s job at the Mauna Kea Observatory. She attended the University of Hawaii to study music and theater. Her next destination was to New Mexico for her husband’s residence at the National Solar Observatory site in 1988. Kliger worked as a freelancer and edited books for publishing houses like Random House, Crown, Viking, and Penguin. She also began attending Denver Publishing Institute in 1989. Kliger moved to Ellensburg, Washington and continued her freelance publishing work while attending Central Washington University for musical education. At Central Washington University she began writing the musical Noodlehead! Noodlehead! is based on both the Russian poem “The Little Humpbacked Horse" and Lisa’s poem “Petya Noodlehead and the Pony of Light.” The hero of “The Little Humpbacked Horse" reminded her of her Ukrainian grandfather and inspired her own works. From 1996 to 2011 she had a variety of jobs working as an archivist, cataloger, and editor. In the most recent decade she has written for her community in Moscow, Idaho, where she composes poetry and letters to the editor.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Acquisition Source:
Lisa Kliger
Acquisition Method:
Gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Student Career, 1968-1990],
[
Series 2: Teaching and Literary Career, 1965-2020],
[Series 3: Musician Career, 1971-2024],
[
All]
- Series 3: Musician Career, 1971-2024
- Consists of music, notes, and scripts documenting Kliger's music career, including her performances at the Red Herring, banjo lesson notes, Noodlehead! materials (an original musical by Lisa Kliger and Carla Kaatz), Puerto Rican folk music, and time performing with the Dancing Trout Band. Arranged chronologically.
- Box 2
- Folder 16: "The Little Humpbacked Horse" by P. Yershov, 1980 edition, 1980
- A Russian fairy tale written in verse by Pyotr Yershov. Served as the basis for Kliger's poem, "Petya Noodlehead and the Pony of Light," and, subsequently, Noodlehead!.
- Folder 17: Noodlehead!, First Draft of Music, undated
- Folder 18: Noodlehead!, Correspondence and Drafts, 1984-2005
- Folder 19: Noodlehead! Script, Ensemble Information, and Music, 1993
- Noodlehead! sound recordings can be found in Box 7 and 8.
- Folder 20: Noodlehead! Original Piano/Vocal sheet music [Folder 1 of 2], 1993
- Folder 21: Noodlehead! Original Piano/Vocal sheet music [Folder 2 of 2], 1993
- Folder 22: Noodlehead! Original Vocal sheet music and role description, 1993
- Folder 23: Noodlehead! Original Script and "Petya Noodlehead and the Pony of Light" by Kliger, 1993
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Noodlehead! Scripts and Parts for Bb Clarinet, Flute, and Tenor (Voice), 1993
- Folder 2: Noodlehead! Scripts, Ellensburg, WA, 1993
- Folder 3: Scripts with notes from first reading of Noodlehead!, Ellensburg, WA, 1993 summer
- Folder 4: Noodlehead! Revisions and feedback, 1993 summer
- Folder 5: Noodlehead! Revision music, 1994 summer
- Folder 6: Noodlehead! Revision script, 1994 summer
- Folder 7: Noodlehead! Songbook and Script, 2003
- Folder 8: Noodlehead! Scores, circa 2003
- Folder 9: Noodlehead! Piano Scores, 2005
- Folder 10: Noodlehead! Parts for Flute/Piccolo, Cello, and Percussion I and II, 2005
- Folder 11: Noodlehead! Parts for Violin and Full scores, 2005
- Full scores included for songs "I Have A Plan," "He's a Nice Old Man In His Own Way," and "Old Men in the Moonlight."
- Folder 12: Noodlehead! Rehearsal Piano Scores, 1 of 2, 2005
- Folder 13: Noodlehead! Rehearsal Piano Scores, 2 of 2, 2005
- Folder 14: Noodlehead! Music for Double Bass, Clarinet, Mandolin, and Flute, 2005
- Folder 15: Noodlehead! Music for Violins, 2005
- Folder 16: Grants and Sponsors for the production of Noodlehead! Moscow, ID, 2005
- Folder 17: Noodlehead! Production notes and grant materials, casting call, newspaper clipping, Moscow, ID, 2005
- Folder 18: Noodlehead! Production notes and script, 2005
- Folder 19: Noodlehead! Working script, 2005
- Folder 20: Noodlehead! Working script with annotations by Lisa, 2005
- Folder 21: Noodlehead! Incidental music and music for harp with annotations by harpist, 2005
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Noodlehead! Correspondence, programs, and scripts with alternate endings, 1996-2024
- Contains alternate endings for Noodlehead! from the years 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2024.
- Folder 2: Noodlehead! Production Notes and Music, 1 of 2, 2005
- Folder 3: Noodlehead! Production Notes and Music, 2 of 2, 2005
- Folder 4: Noodlehead! Conductor Scores, 2009
- Folder 5: Noodlehead! Full scores, movements 25 - 28, undated
- Folder 6: Noodlehead! Full Scores, undated
- Folder 7: Noodlehead! Finalized Conductor Scores 1 of 2, undated
- Folder 8: Noodlehead! Finalized Conductor Scores 2 of 2, undated
- Folder 9: Dancing Trout Band Correspondence, set lists, music, and band notes, 1997-2011
- Folder 10: Gifilte Trout (Klezmer Band) correspondence, events, music, and notes, 2001-2010
- Folder 11: Katzenjammer Contra Dance Group setlists, correspondence, 2010-2011
- Box 7
- Item 1: "Alice in Wonderland - Lisa", ca. 1980s
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side. Index card labeled "Lisa in Thailand."
- Item 2: "American Music from festivals and friends Tape I", undated
60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
Loosely wound tape.
- Item 3: "American Music from festivals and friends Tape II", undated
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 8: Side A: "Charlie Walden Friday Night Studio St. Louis Fest. September 3-5" / Side B: "Almeda Riddle, Melicio Martinez", undated
- 90 minutes recording, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 9: "Chin", undated
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 10: "Chin", undated
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 11: "Chin's interview side 1", undated
60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
Loosely wound tape.
- Item 12: "Chin - 1978 Tape", 1978
Unknown size.
Loosely wound tape.
- Item 13: "Chirps", undated
- 90 minutes recording, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 14: To Lisa + Bruce "Buddies + various U. Utah jive", undated
- 40 minutes recording, 20 minutes per side.
- Item 23: "Fiddle Workshop Missouri Folk Fest Sept. 3-5, 1977", 1977
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side. Loosely wound tape. Artists: Tip McKinney, Larry Sugarman.
- Item 24: "Frayley Fest, Aug '74", 1974
120 minutes recording, 60 minutes per side.
Loosely wound tape.
"This side great!" written on tape under title
- Item 25: "Frayley Festival Aug 74", 1974
- 120 minutes recording, 60 minutes per side.
- Item 27: "Jim May", undated
- Side A: "At the Store, The Spring Branch" - F. Carter, Richard Kennedy "Come Again in the Spring" Uncle Charlie, Season Tickets, Horse Switching Side B: The Specialist, Cathelie Story, A Bell for Shorty 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 28: Side 1: "J. Griffin U of I" / Side 2: "U of I Nighthawks", undated
- 90 minutes recording, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 29: "Lisa also Caldwell", undated
- 90 minutes recording, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 30: "Lisa - Folksongs", undated
- 60 minutes recording, 30 minutes per side. Loosely wound tape.
- Item 31: Side 1: "Lisa Kliger & Friends featuring Piano Paul on last song" / Side 2: "For American Music 335 (final paper) Prof. Charles Hanin", undated
- 30 minutes recording, 15 minutes per side.
- Item 36: "'Clinch Mountain Back-Steppers: Mary Wings, Robin, Woody Simmons", undated
- 90 minute recording capacity, 45 minutes per side. Only B side is labeled.
- Box 8
- Item 1: "Missouri Folk Fest", September 3-5, 1977
90 minute recording, 45 minute per side.
Side A- Melcio Martinez, Silver Cloud/Side B- Silver Cloud, Missouri Folk Fest Sept 3-5, 1977
- Item 2: "Midnight Special tribute to Steve Goodman continued", Tape 2, September 22, 1984
- 30 minute recording, 15 minutes per side.
- Item 3: "Missouri Folk Festival: Bob Bovee, Almeda Riddle, J. Hutchins. Gospel", September 3-5, 1977
60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
Side A: "Bob Bovee, Missouri Folk Fest, Sept. 3-5, 1977"/Side B: Almeda Riddle, J. Hutchins, Bob Bovee (a little), Gospel"
- Item 5: "Petya Noodlehead and the Pony of Light c. 1985 by Lisa Kilger", 1985
- 60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 6: Noodlehead! by Lisa Kliger (10 minute selection demo tape), May 31, 1994
90 minute recording, 45 minutes per side.
Songs: "Sneakin' In the Night", "King High-Falutin's High-Step", "Fiona's Song", "I Wish Someone Would Listen to me Sometimes" (10 min.)
- Item 7: Noodlehead!: Demo Tape, June 2, 1994
90 minute recording, 45 minutes per side
Songs: "Prelude", "Petya's Promenade", "A Good Son", "Noodlehead's Lament", "Sneakin' in the Night", "It Could Have Been", "Three Magic Pony-Colts", "King High-falutine High-Step", "Something In The Air", "Page's Pantomime", "I won't take any more", "Wedding Waltz"
- Item 8: Noodlehead! Demo, 2005
- 60 minute recording, 30 minute per side
- Item 9: Noodlehead! (Songs for the musical play), undated
- 60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 10: Noodlehead! 1st Tape, undated
- 90 minute tape, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 11: "Petya Noodlhead and the Pony of Light", undated
- 90 minute recording, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 12: Noodlehead! Songs, undated
- 90 minute tape, 45 minutes per side.
- Item 14: Poppy Taylor: fiddle, August 9, 1977
- 60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 20: Cathy, Faces You Wouldn't Want to Hear the Lady Sing, May 19, 1975
- 60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 21: Original Music (arrangements by Lisa Kliger), 1996
- 60 minute recording, 30 minutes per side.
- Item 27: "David Bromberg", undated
- 90 minute tape, 45 minutes each side
- Item 28: "Ron Dewar 2/8/79 - Zorbo's - Urbana, Ill.", 1979
- 90 minute tape, 45 minute each side
- Item 29: Side A: "A Steve Goodman Tribute WFMT - Chicago Sep. 22 1984 Tape 1", 1984
- 90 minute tape, 45 minutes each side
- Item 30: "Alison Krauss - Too Late to Cry", undated
Rounder C-0235. Copyright 1987
Side 1: "Too Late to Cry" "Foolish Heart" "Song for Life" "Dusty Miller" "If I Give My Heart"
Side 2: "In Your Eyes" "Don't Follow Me" "Gentle River" "On the Borderline" "Forgotten Picture" "Sleep On"
- Item 31: "Waltz on the Water", undated
90 minute tape, 45 minutes each side.
355640
- Item 32: "Lisa Kliger Songs 1974, July", 1974
45 minute tape, 22 1/2 minutes each side
Side 1: "Sweet Lady Cat Rag" "Chasing Chickens" "Faces" "You Wouldn't Want to Hear the Lady Sing"
Side 2: "Waltz on the Water" "Dream Song" "Shadows of Serbia" "Backporch Song"
- Item 33: "You Wouldn't Want to Hear the Lady Sing", undated
40 minute tape, 20 minutes each side
"HCAC" 355641
- Box 9
- Item 1: "Noodlehead! 2009 Final Files, PDF Files", 2009
- CD-R "Noodlehead Final Files, PDF 2009."
- Item 2: "Noodlehead! Pics 2005", 2005
- CD-R
- Item 3: "Noodlehead! Script 2009 Final", 2009
- CD-R
- Item 4: "Noodlehead!" music demo CD, 2005
- Music demo includes 7 songs from Noodlehead! and attribution to Lisa Kliger and Carla Chandler.
- Item 5: "Noodlehead!" CD-RW, undated
- CD-RW reads "NH! Will play on computer. May play on CD player."
- Item 6: "Noodlehead! Script 2009 (Final)", 2009
- CD-R with text stating "Final Files, mp3, pdf, script in word."
- Item 7: "Noodlehead! © 2009 Lisa Kliger & Carla C. Chandler Finale Files, MP3, PDF, Script in Word", 2009
- CD-R with the following text: "Final Files, mp3, pdf, script in word."
- Item 8: "Noodlehead!" Sound Recording Zip Drive, undated
- A PC100 iomega zip drive.
- Item 9: "Neat Fall script, Noodlehead! scripts, music score, photos, files", undated
- 4GB Verbatim USB. Includes Neat Fall script, a short musical written by Kliger and Noodlehead! conductor scores, images from the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center, and the final ending written in 2024.
- Item 10: "1 side Recorded As You Remember Them 7/10/74", 1974
- 7-inch reel
- Item 11: "Cathy"/"Faces"/"You Wouldn't Want to Hear the Lady Sing"/"My Father Was a Jazzman"/"Lady's Choice"/"Sweet Lady Cat Rag," Recording date 4-18-75, 1975
- 7-inch reel
- Item 12: Unidentified item, undated
- 7-inch reel
- Item 13: Noodlehead Digital Files, 2009
- USB drive with .MUS files for Bass, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Harp, Mandolin, Percussion, Piano, Synth Harp, Violin, and Rehearsal Piano. Also includes Conductors Score, Cue Notes, and the copyright for Noodlehead!
- Box 10
- Folder 1: WM. A. Huntley's Complete School of Harmony, Embracing Chord-Construction, Modulation, etc. For the Banjo, copyright 1887
- Compiled and edited by John H. Lee
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Student Career, 1968-1990],
[
Series 2: Teaching and Literary Career, 1965-2020],
[Series 3: Musician Career, 1971-2024],
[
All]
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