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Robert Kelly was born September 26, 1916, at Clarksburg, WV and died in 2007 in Urbana, Illinois. He studied violin at an early age and later majored in violin at the Juilliard School of Music under Samuel Gardner. He studied composition with Rosario Scalero at The Curtis Institute of Music where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition. Much later he continued studies with Herbert Elwell at the Eastman School of Music where he received his Master of Music Degree in Composition.
From 1946-76 he was Professor of Composition and Theory at the University of Illinois School of Music, Urbana, Illinois. Many of his compositions were composed and performed in this period. Notable ones include:
This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Donation
Transferred from Music and Performing Arts Library to Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, October 27, 2010 and re-housed according to accepted archival standards.
Walden String Quartet Administrative Records, 1945-1975, record series 12/05/050, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Champaign, IL
Organized into two series: Series 1: Music. Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number, with original manuscripts followed by holograph reproductions, paste-ups and publication proofs. Series 2: Papers. Maintained in original order as received. Titles of folders correspond to titles of works unless otherwise noted. Folders contain press clippings, programs, photographs and correspondence relating to works, their premieres and other performances.
Consists of original manuscripts, holograph manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and proofs of compositions, programs, correspondences, photographs and clippings documenting Robert Kelly's career as a violinist, composer and professor of Music Composition and Theory at the University of Illinois. Of special note are photographs and newspaper clippings from the premiere of the
Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Robert Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number.
1 of 5
proofreading copies of the entire score and the "Four Aztec Dances"
envelope marked "pentachord structure of The White Gods"
typescript copy of the libretto, with corrections; and composer's (printed) copy of the libretto, with corrections
Titles of folders correspond to titles of works unless otherwise noted. Folders contain press clippings, programs, photographs and correspondence relating to works, their premieres and other performances.
Included are listings for: American Music Center Library, American Composers Alliance rental library, Curtis Institute of Music, New York City Public Library Americana collection, MacDowell Colony library, University of Illinois Music Library