Finding Aid for Kenneth Gaburo Papers, 1936, 1945-93 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Bethany R. Cooper and Nolan Vallier

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Collection Overview

Title: Kenneth Gaburo Papers, 1936, 1945-93

ID: 12/5/33

Primary Creator: Gaburo, Kenneth (1926-1993)

Extent: 37.7 cubic feet

Arrangement: The Kenneth Gaburo Papers are arranged into two distinct series: Series 1) Kenneth Gaburo Music and Papers, and Series 2) Larry Polansky Lingua Press Records. Series 1 was arranged and described by Bethany Cooper in 2003. Materials in Series 1 were arranged into 40 subseries and were organized first at the box level and secondarilly by material type. Series 2 was arranged and described by Nolan Vallier in 2013 and was arranged into two separate subseries: Business Records and Correspondence. Materials in Series 2 were arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 05/27/1999. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Choirs, Computer Music, Electronic Music, Faculty Papers, Multimedia Performance, Music Publishers, University of California San Diego, University of Illinois, University of Iowa

Formats/Genres: Experimental Music, Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Papers of Kenneth Gaburo (1926-93), Professor of Music (1955-68) contain correspondence, published and manuscript musical compositions, sound recordings, motion picture and video recordings, and photographs relating to his compositions and performances, Lingua Press music publishing business, and his New Music Choral Ensemble performance group, University of California San Diego Electronic Music Studio (1968-75), University of Iowa Electronic Music Studio (1970-91). This series also includes source materials, drafts, and final versions of compositions inlcuding the "Lingua I Series," "Lingua II: Maledetto," "Lingua III: In the Can," and major compositions including electronic pieces, "Lemon Drops," and "For Harry," the series of 10 "Antiphonies," incomplete "Antiphony XI," and "Testimony" videotapes from Gaburo's "Scratch" project. It also contains audio and video recordings, the conductors score, and rehearsal tapes of Harry Partch's "The Bewitched," which Gaburo conducted.

Biographical Note

Kenneth Gaburo (1929-1993) was born in Somerville New Jersey. In 1943, he began his studies in composition at the Eastman School of Music with Bernard Rodgers. In 1949, he received master's degrees in composition and piano performance from Eastman. Between 1954 and 1955 he studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with Goffredo Petrassi. Soon after he began his doctoral studies with Burrill Phillips and Hubert Kessler at the University of Illinois where he received a Doctor of Musical Arts in 1962. While completing his doctorate, he joined the faculty of the composition department at the University between 1955 and 1968. In 1967 he was named an associate fellow of the University of Illinois Institute for Advanced Study and received several grants to research the confluence between musical composition and linguistics at both the University's of Illinois and California. In the summer of 1965, Gaburo established the New Music Choral Ensemble I, a summer workshop that performed contemporary music that explored pitch, duration, timbre, indeterminacy, extended vocal techniques, and the integration of the voice and electronic instruments. In 1968, Gaburo left the University of Illinois to accept a teaching position at the University of California at San Diego, here he established the New Music Choral Ensemble II. By 1970 he had established the New Music Choral Ensemble III in order to more fully explore musical linguistics and dance. In 1972, he established the New Music Choral Ensemble IV to explore mime and acting. In 1975, Gaburo resigned from the University of California at San Diego and began touring professionally. Shortly after this, Gaburo accepted a position at the University of Iowa where he worked until his death in 1993.

While maintaining an active career as a composer, Gaburo also acted as a music publisher founding the Lingua Press in 1975, which he managed until his death in 1993. After Gaburo died the company continued to publish music under the Lingua Press title until it was changed to Frog Peak Music by Gaburo's Business Partner Larry Polansky.

Gaburo was also an active conductor and promoter of new music conducting his four New Music Choral Ensembles as well as the European premiere performance of Harry Partch's The Bewitched in 1979.

Subject/Index Terms

Choirs
Computer Music
Electronic Music
Faculty Papers
Multimedia Performance
Music Publishers
University of California San Diego
University of Illinois
University of Iowa

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: The Kenneth Gaburo Papers were initially acquired by University Archives on May 27, 1999. Additional materials were acquired from Larry Polansky by the Sousa Archives on August 9, 2013.

Acquisition Source: gift

Related Materials: See also the Experimental Studio Records, the Harry Partch Estate Archive, the Music and Performing Arts Library Harry Partch Collection, the Salvatore Martirano Papers, the Paul Martin Zonn Papers, the Scott Wyatt Papers, the William Brooks Papers, the Music Library Administrative Records, and the School of Music Audio Recordings Festival of Contemporary Arts Series. For further information about other Lejaren Hiller sound recordings and personal papers please visit the University at Buffalo's Lejaren Hiller Papers. For more information please see https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/hiller.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Kenneth Gaburo Music and Papers],
[Series 2: Larry Polansky Lingua Press Records, 1975-1991],
[All]

Series 2: Larry Polansky Lingua Press Records, 1975-1991

Consists of business invoices, expense ledgers, diaries, promotional material, graphic design elements, and correspondence from Lingua Press and Kenneth Gaburo. The series is organized into two subseries: Subseries 1. Business Records and Subseries 2. Correspondence.

Sub-Series 1: Business Records, 1975-1991

This Subseries contains the business records for Lingua Press including: invoices, expense ledgers, check registers, memo books, diaries, warehouse books, promotional material, and graphic design elements. The Subseries is arranged chronologically beginning with the invoices, which comprise the majority of the business records. The remaining business records, which begin after the invoices, are also arranged chronologically.

Box 60

Folder 1: Invoices, 1975
Folder 2: Invoices, 1976
Folder 3: Invoices, 1977
Folder 4: Invoices, 1978: Part 1 of 7
Folder 5: Invoices, 1978: part 2 of 7
Folder 6: Invoices, 1978: Part 3 of 7
Folder 7: Invoices, 1978: Part 4 of 7
Folder 8: Invoices, 1978: Part 5 of 7
Folder 9: Invoices, 1978: Part 6 of 7
Folder 10: Invoices, 1978: Part 7 of 7
Folder 11: Invoices, 1979
Folder 12: Invoices, 1980: Part 1 of 2
Folder 13: Invoices, 1980: Part 2 of 2
Folder 14: Invoices, 1981: Part 1 of 4
Folder 15: Invoices, 1981: Part 2 of 4
Folder 16: Invoices, 1981: Part 3 of 4
Folder 17: Invoices, 1981: Part 4 of 4

Box 61

Folder 1: Invoices, 1982: Part 1 of 3
Folder 2: Invoices, 1982: Part 2 of 3
Folder 3: Invoices, 1982: Part 3 of 3
Folder 4: Invoices, 1983
Folder 5: Accounting, 1983
Folder 6: Invoices, 1984
Folder 7: Invoices, 1985
Folder 8: Invoices, 1986: Part 1 of 2
Folder 9: Invoices, 1986: Part 2 of 2
Folder 10: Invoices, 1987
Folder 11: Invoices, 1988
Folder 12: Invoices, Losses, 1988
Folder 13: Invoices, 1989: Part 1 of 2
Folder 14: Invoices, 1989: Part 2 of 2
Folder 15: Invoices, 1990
Folder 16: Invoices, 1991
Folder 17: Memo Books, 1960, 1964, 1970
Folder 18: Expense Ledger, 1974-1991
Folder 19: Expense Ledger, 1991-1993
Folder 20: Check Registers, 1979-1983
Folder 21: Dups to LP Warehouse, undated: Part 1 of 2
Folder 22: Dups to LP Warehouse, undated: Part 2 of 2

Box 62

Folder 1: Testimony Project, 1986
Folder 2: Diaries and Datebooks, 1991

Box 64

Folder 1: Collected Chips (Off the Old Block), vol. 1, 1960-1977: Composer: Peter Tod Lewis
Folder 2: Collection Two Photocopies, ca. 1970s
Folder 3: Packing Lists Invoices - San Diego State University, 1976
Folder 4: "Brain: Half a Whole" and Notes, ca. 1976-1987
Folder 5: University of Keele Invoices, 1978-1981
Folder 6: SUNY at Buffalo Invoices, 1978-1990
Folder 7: Commentary for Ads, 1979-1984
Folder 8: Direct Mail Sales Brochure and Cover Letters, ca. 1980
Folder 9: Jean-Charles Francois Writings, 1980-1986
Folder 10: LP Umbrella Review, 1981
Folder 11: LP Direct Mail Discounts to Retailers, 1981
Folder 12: LP Mizelle Percussion Music Flyer, 1981
Folder 13: Massoti Invoices, 1981-1982
Folder 14: Recommendation Letters for Kenneth Gaburo, 1981-1991
Folder 15: Delay in Order Mail, 1982
Folder 16: Great Midwestern Bookshow (Pictures), 1982
Folder 17: California State University - Dominguez Hills Invoices, 1982-1989
Folder 18: Middlebury Colleges Invoices, 1982-1989
Folder 19: Packing Slips Check Lists, 1983
Folder 20: Lingua Press Price List, 1985
Folder 21: Non Printed Works and Limited Editions + Recorded Works, 1985-1990
Folder 22: New Music Choral Ensemble History, 1986
Folder 23: Kentucky State University and Blazer Library Invoices, 1986-1987
Folder 24: National Endowment for the Arts Grant Application, 1987
Folder 25: Selected Cassette Duplicating Facilities List, 1987
Folder 26: University of Lousville Invoices, 1987
Folder 27: Gaburo CV and Biography, 1987-1989
Folder 28: Samples of Work (Including Performance Notes for IX), 1988
Folder 29: Funding Sources with Interests in Music, 1988
Folder 30: Application for a Faculty Scholar Award, 1988
Folder 31: History of Experimental Music Studio, Univesity of Iowa, ca. 1988
Folder 32: Excellence in Teaching Nomination Invitation, 1988-1989
Folder 33: Application to National Endowment for the Arts and Decision Letter, 1988-1989
Folder 34: Book Project Proposal, Faculty Scholar Award Info, 1988-89
Folder 35: New Music America Festival Proposal, 1989
Folder 36: Project Grant Application Form (NEA), 1989

Box 65

Folder 1: Warsaw Autumn '89 Program, 1989
Folder 2: Collection III Shipment Notice, 1989
Folder 3: "Chris Mann and Grammar" Copy, 1989
Folder 4: U of Iowa Semester Application and Prospectus, 1989-1990
Folder 5: Work Book/ Schedule, 1989-1990
Folder 6: Publishing and Performing Arts Directories, 1989-1991
Folder 7: Past Due Notices, 1989-1991
Folder 8: Lingua Press Promotional Copy and Reviews, 1989-1992
Folder 9: Tape and Disc Directory, 1990
Folder 10: Draft-"A View from the West", 1990: Author: Eric Segura
Folder 11: "A View from the West" Master, 1990: Author: Eric Segura
Folder 12: The Shifting Foundation Grant Application, 1990
Folder 13: Society for New Music News Letter, 1990
Folder 14: The University of Chicago Library Order Request, 1990
Folder 15: Editions Shelan Publications Ad, ca. 1990
Folder 16: Open Space Leaflet, ca. 1990s
Folder 17: Baku Arts Center Info, 1991
Folder 18: NEH Fellowship Application Statement, 1991
Folder 19: Application for the Center for Advanced Study, 1991
Folder 20: Proposal to Center for Advanced Study - The Scratch Project, 1991
Folder 21: Audio-Video Graphics Invoice, 1991
Folder 22: Discovery Systems Contract, 1991
Folder 23: Lingua Press Book Price Lists, ca. 1991

Box 66

Folder 1: Vasulkas Review and Crosswinds Monthly News Letter, 1992
Folder 2: NMA Publications Original Copy, 1992
Folder 3: Logos Foundation Flyer, 1992
Folder 4: The SoundArt Foundation Flyer, 1992
Folder 5: News Letters and Book Reviews, 1992
Folder 6: Fallen Leaf Press Advertisement, October 1, 1992
Folder 7: Perspectives of New Music Contact List and Memo, 1992
Folder 8: Bernard Rogers 100th Anniversary Info, 1992
Folder 9: Contact Phone Numbers, ca. 1992
Folder 10: McGill University Catalog Submission, September 9, 1992
Folder 11: The University of Wisconsin Press Submission, 1992
Folder 12: Lingua Press Price and Discount Lists, undated
Folder 13: Fonts Designs, undated
Folder 14: "A Journal of Text as Sound Experiment" Flyer, undated
Folder 15: Frog Peak Music Supplemental Catalog, undated
Folder 16: Publisher-Author Contract Master Copy, undated
Folder 17: Sample Response to LP Inquiries, undated
Folder 18: Lingua Press Ad Masters, undated
Folder 19: Notebook, undated
Folder 20: Design Copy for Glenn Block, undated
Folder 21: Composition Notes, undated
Folder 22: Flyer #88, undated
Folder 23: Experimental Music Publication Print-out, undated
Folder 24: LP Past Due Reminder, undated

Box 67

Folder 1: From "Sneden's Landing Variation" (Frank O'Hara) by Virgil Thomson, 1972
Folder 2: Lingua Press Collection Two Catalogue, 1977
Folder 3: IMI NEWS (Israel Music Institute), 1992
Folder 4: Mounted Publicity Image - The Percussion Group, undated

Sub-Series 2: Correspondence, 1979-1991

This subseries contains three types of correspondance held within the Lingua Press records with varrying date ranges. The subseries is arranged according to the orgininal order.

Box 62

Folder 3: Personal, Not Urgent, 1983-1990
Folder 4: Professional, Not Urgent, 1978-1990: Part 1 of 2
Folder 5: Professional, Not Urgent, 1978-1990: Part 2 of 2
Folder 6: Professional, Priority, 1979-1991: Part 1 of 2
Folder 7: Professional, Priority, 1979-1991: Part 2 of 2

Box 66

Folder 25: The Universiy of Iowa Correspondence, March 20, 1989
Folder 26: National Endorcement for the Arts Correspondence, 1989
Folder 27: Elaine Barkin Correspondence, 1992
Folder 28: Fallen Leaf Press Correspondence, 1992
Folder 29: Paul Smoker Correspondence, March 2, 1992
Folder 30: Louis Zoellar Bickett Correspondence, May 7 and 12, 1992
Folder 31: Gary Verkade Correspondence, October 7, 1992
Folder 32: Jim Boros Correspondence, October 23, 1992
Folder 33: Alex Lubet Correspondence, November 9, 1992
Folder 34: Two-Eighteen Press Correspondence, 1992
Folder 35: Radio Tangerine Wave, 1992
Folder 36: Tenaya Lake Postcard from Candace, 1992
Folder 37: Sound Encounters Festival Correspondence, 1993
Folder 38: SoundArt Foundation, Inc. Correspondence, undated
Folder 39: Correspondence-note from Herbert (Brun?), undated

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Kenneth Gaburo Music and Papers],
[Series 2: Larry Polansky Lingua Press Records, 1975-1991],
[All]