Finding Aid for Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Sarah A. Long and Kelly A. Carlson

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Collection Overview

Title: Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97

ID: 12/9/25

Primary Creator: Begian, Harry (1921-2010)

Extent: 25.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1, Clinics and Conference Presentations; Series 2, Sound Recordings; Series 3, Correspondence; Series 4, Administrative Records and Research; Series 5, Teaching Notes; Series 6, Music; and Series 7, Photographs and Uniforms. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.

Date Acquired: 12/10/1995. More info below under Accruals.

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, concert recordings, program notes, convention materials, research materials, and published articles that document Harry Begian's career as a conductor, teacher, guest speaker, and scholar from 1946-2005. In addition to administrative materials from his University career, this collection contains his personal teaching materials such as class notes, lesson plans, and conducting exercises. This collection also contains two boxes of his personal arrangements for high school and University bands.

Biographical Note

Harry Begian (1921-2010), University band conductor, composer, arranger, and pedagogue, has appeared as a guest conductor and speaker for numerous high school, University, and professional concert bands throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Begian started his career as a band director during WWII at McKenzie High school in Detroit before he was drafted. After he finished serving in the war, he went on to become the director of the Cass Technical High School Symphonic Band from 1947-1964, making it one of the finest high school bands in the country.

Dr. Begian was director of bands at Wayne State University, his alma mater, from 1964-1967, and director of bands at Michigan State University from 1967-1970 before his 14 year tenure as director of bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1970-1984. After his retirement from the University of Illinois, he went on to become the director of the Purdue University Symphonic Band from 1985-1987.

In addition to being a professional conductor and composer, Dr. Begian is also widely recognized for his pedagogical techniques, and he has published 17 articles on rehearsal analysis and conducting strategies. He has also been the subject of two dissertations, as well as numerous interviews published in the Instrumentalist. Dr. Begian has been the recipient of various awards, including the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, The Edwin Franko Goldman Award, and the Notre Dame St. Cecelia Award among others.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Clinics and Conference Presentations],
[Series 2: Sound Recordings],
[Series 3: Correspondence],
[Series 4: Administrative Records and Research],
[Series 5: Teaching Notes and Scholarly Papers],
[Series 6: Music],
[Series 7: Photographs, Ephemera and Uniforms],
[Series 8: Correspondence: Church Functions and Congressional Records, 1961-1973, 1961-62, 1964-68, 1973, 1983],
[Series 9: Books],
[All]

Series 2: Sound Recordings

Box 12

Folder 16: ABA Concert I and II UofI SB, 1978
Folder 17: Pines of Rome UofI Symphonic Bands Concert
Folder 18: Grainger Dubs - UofI Band Album, 1973
Folder 19: ABA Concert III UofI Symphonic Band, 1978
Folder 20: Illini Fantasy J. Curnow UofI Large Symphonic Band, 1972
Folder 21: WJR Interview with Harry Begian re: Midwest, 1961
Folder 22: U of I Band Mastertape for China
Folder 23: TEAL at UofI, January 27th, 1979
Folder 24: Phi Mu Alpha Band Concert, 1960
Folder 25: Phi Mu Alpha Band Concert, 1961
Folder 26: Wayne State University Band - Pictures at an Exhibition, 1965
Folder 27: First Tape of Small Concert Band, 1971
Folder 28: Hindsley 75th Birthday and Rehearsal, 1980
Folder 29: UofI Bands - From the Hearts of Men, 1971
Folder 30: Wayne State University Band, 1965
Folder 31: Wayne State University
Folder 32: UofI Clarinet Choir, 1980
Folder 33: Wayne State University Rehearsal Tape, 1966

Box 13

Folder 1: Michigan State University Concert Band Clarenceville H.S. Reel 3 of 3, 1968
Folder 2: Wind Ensemble on tour S. Lake H.S., Spring 1969
Folder 3: MSU Wind Ensemble 1st Concert, 1967
Folder 4: 2044 MSU Symphonic Band, 1970
Folder 5: West Michigan Wind Ensemble, 1968
Folder 6: Wayne State University Concert Band Rec. Full Track Reel 1 of 3, 1967
Folder 7: Wayne State University Concert Band Rec. Full Track Reel 2 of 3, 1967
Folder 8: Wayne State University Concert Band Rec. Full Track Reel 3 of 3, 1967
Folder 9: Wayne State University Concert Band Spring Concert Reel 1 of 3, 1966
Folder 10: Wayne State University Concert Band Spring Concert Reel 2 of 3, 1966
Folder 11: Wayne State University Concert Band Spring Concert Reel 3 of 3, 1966
Folder 12: Wayne State University Concert and Varsity Bands Midwinter Concert Reel 1 of 3, 1966
Folder 13: Wayne State University Concert and Varsity Bands Midwinter Concert Reel 2 of 3, 1966
Folder 14: Wayne State University Concert and Varsity Bands Midwinter Concert Reel 3 of 3, 1966
Folder 15: Wayne State University Concert Band Winter Concert Reel 1 of 2, 1965
Folder 16: Wayne State University Concert Band Winter Concert Reel 2 of 2, 1965
Folder 17: Wayne State University Concert Band, 1965
Folder 18: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Spring Concert Reel 1 of 3, 1965
Folder 19: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Spring Concert Reel 2 of 3, 1965
Folder 20: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Spring Concert Reel 3 of 3, 1965
Folder 21: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Winter Concert Reel 1 of 3, 1965
Folder 22: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Winter Concert Reel 2 of 3, 1965
Folder 23: Wayne State University Concert Band Annual Winter Concert Reel 3 of 3, 1965
Folder 24: Wayne State University Concert Band at MSBOA Ann Arbor, MI Reel 1 of 2, 1965
Folder 25: Wayne State University Concert Band at MSBOA Ann Arbor, MI Reel 2 of 2, 1965
Folder 26: Michigan State University Symphonic Band, 1970
Folder 27: MSU Wind Ensemble, 1970
Folder 28: MSU Bands at Okemos, Spring 1969
Folder 29: MSU Concert Bands Winter Concert, 1969
Folder 30: Michigan State University Concert Band MSBOA Reel 1 of 4, 1969
Folder 31: Michigan State University Concert Band MSBOA Reel 2 of 4, 1969
Folder 32: Michigan State University Concert Band MSBOA Reel 3 of 4, 1969
Folder 33: Michigan State University Concert Band MSBOA Reel 4 of 4
Folder 34: MSU - The Concert Band, 1968
Folder 35: MSU - The Wind Ensemble, 1968
Folder 36: MSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble WKAR Tape 1 of 3, 1968
Folder 37: MSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble WKAR Tape 2 of 3, 1968
Folder 38: MSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble WKAR Tape 3 of 3, 1968
Folder 39: Michigan State University Concert Band Clarenceville H.S. Reel 1 of 3, 1968
Folder 40: Michigan State University Concert Band Clarenceville H.S. Reel 2 of 3, 1968