12/5/46 Guide to the Robert Kelly Music and Papers Kelly, Robert Finding Aid Authors: Noah Lenstra.

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236 Harding Band Building 1103 South 6th Street Champaign, IL, 61820-6223 URL: https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/ Email: schwrtzs@illinois.edu Phone: 217-244-93093 Fax: 217-244-8695
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Guide to the Robert Kelly Music and Papers 1933/2000 The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music Overview of the Collection Robert Kelly Music and Papers 1933-2000 12/5/46 Kelly, Robert, 1916-2007 5.00 English The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
236 Harding Band Building 1103 South 6th Street Champaign, IL, 61820-6223 URL: https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/ Email: schwrtzs@illinois.edu Phone: 217-244-93093 Fax: 217-244-8695
Biographical Information:

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: Miniature Symphony (Symphony No. 1) premiered by the Austin Symphony, Ezra Rachlin, conductor, and later with Rafael Kubelik conducting this Miniature Symphony on one of the University of Illinois Contemporary Arts Festivals. Later performances include a performance of the Miniature Symphony by the Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell conducting. Kelly's Symphony No. 2 was premiered in Tokyo, Japan by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Akeo Watanabe conducting. The Emancipation Symphony (Symphony No. 3) was premiered in Washington DC by the National Symphony in 1963, the 100th Anniversary Year of the Emancipation Proclamation. Walden Pond, an Environmental Cantata for Mixed Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Flute, Soprano, and Narrator was premiered by the University of Illinois Concert Choir and Percussion Ensemble conducted by Harold Decker.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Genre/Form of Material: Sheet music Topical Term: Faculty Papers Music Music, School of
Administrative Information Acquisition Information:

Donation

Custodial History:

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.

Related Materials:

Walden String Quartet Administrative Records, 1945-1975, record series 12/05/050, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Champaign, IL

Arrangement of Materials:

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.

Scope and Contents

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 Emancipation Symphony (Symphony No. 3) in Washington DC by the National Symphony in 1963, the 100th Anniversary Year of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Detailed List of Contents id82835 Music Scope and Contents

Consists of original manuscripts, manuscript reproductions, paste-ups and pre-publication proofs of Robert Kelly original compositions. Arranged by opus number.

id73100 1 1-2 "Notebook no. 1-Original Manuscripts", containing manuscript pages of opus nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 id73101 1 3 Transcriptions-piano id73102 1 4 Transcriptions-violin I id73103 1 5 Transcriptions-violin II, viola, clarinet id73104 1 6 Op. 1 "Adirondack Suite" id73105 1 7 Op. 2 "Variations on a Theme by Schubert" id73106 1 8 Op. 10 "Paiyatuma Ballet" id73107 1 9 Op. 13 "Rounds for String Orchestra" id73108 1 10 Op. 14 "Miniature Symphony" id73109 1 11 Op. 15 "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet" id73110 2 1-2 Op. 17  "Tod's Gal" (a folk opera in one act) id73111 2 3 Op. 18 "Chorale and Fugue for Brass Choirs" id73112 2 4 Op. 19 "Sonata and Fugue for Tenor Trombone and Piano" id73113 2 5 Op. 20 "Introduction and Dialogue" id73114 2 6 Op. 21 "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (for high voice) id73115 2 7 Op. 22 "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (dedicated to Mary Kelly) id73116 2 8 Op. 23 "Quartet no. 2 for 2 Violins, Viola and Cello" id73117 2 9 Op. 24 "Concertino for Band" id73118 2 10 Op. 25 "Patterns-A Cantata for Soprano and Orchestra" id73119 2 11 Op. 26 "Song Cycle" (5 poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay) id73120 2 12 Op. 27 "Sonata for Oboe and Harp" (ded. to Marlene and David Ledet) id73121 2 13 Op. 27A "Sonata for Violin and Piano (or harp)" id73122 2 14 Op. 28 "Suite for Solo Cello" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Rbt. Swenson) id73123 2 15 Op. 29 "Quintet for Bb Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola and Cello" id73124 2 16 Op. 30 "The Word of God" (Cantata for soloists, chorus, brass choir & string orch.) id73125 2 17 Op. 31 "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly" (for Band) id73126 2 18 Op. 32 "Sonata for Cello and Piano" (dedicated to Robert Swenson) id73127 3 1 Op. 33 "Symphony No. 2" id73128 3 2 Op. 34 "The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets" id73129 3 3 Op. 35 "Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble" id73130 3 4 Op. 36 "The Torment of Job" (for narrator, men's chorus, brass, percussion & piano) id73131 3 5 Op. 37, no. 1 "Deus, Deus Meus" (motet for a cappella choir) id73132 3 6 Op. 38 "Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra" (to Homer Schmitt & Rbt. Swenson) id73133 3 7 Op. 39 "Emancipation Symphony (Symphony no. 3)" id73134 3 8 Op. 40 "Triptych for Cello and Piano" (dedicated "to John") id73135 3 9 Op. 41 "An American Diptych for Orchestra" id73136 3 10 Op. 42 "String Quartet no. 3" id73137 3 11 Op. 43 "Colloquy for Chamber Orchestra" id73138 4 1-8 Op. 44  "The White Gods" (opera in three acts) Scope and Contents

1 of 5

id82720 5 1 The White Gods (9 of 9) id73139 5 2 Conquistadors Marching Song and Three Aztec Dances (from "The White Gods") id73144 5 3 Op. 45 "Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano" id73145 5 4-5 Op. 46  "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra" id73146 5 6 Op. 47 "Wanderlust" (for soprano and piano) id73148 5 7-8 Op. 48  "Diacoustics for Piano and Percussion Ensemble" id73149 5 9 Op. 49 "3 Expressions (Dramatic, Serene, Jovial) for Violin and Cello (or Viola)" id73150 5 10-11 Op. 50  "Fluctuations for Organ, Brass and Percussion" id73151 5 12 Op. 51 "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" (dedicated to Roger Drinkall) id82722 6 1 Concerto, op. 51 (2 of 2) id73152 6 2-3 Op. 52  "Walden Pond" (Cantata) and "Four Transitions for 'Walden Pond'" id73153 6 4-5 Op. 53  "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" (dedicated to Guillermo Perich) id73154 6 6 Op. 54 "Concertino for Chamber Orchestra" (ded. to Texas Little Symphony) id73155 6 7 Op. 55 "Tubulations" (for Solo Tuba, Winds and Perc.) (ded. to Daniel Perantoni) id73156 6 8 Op. 56 "Garden of Peace-A Meditation for Strings" (in mem. of Fannie Kelly) id73157 6 9 Op. 57 "Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra" id73158 7 1 Op. 58 "Rural Songs for Soprano and Orchestra" (ded. to Phyllis Curtin) id73159 7 2 Op. 59 "Shenandoah Variations" for cello (or viola) ensemble (ded. to Rbt. Ashby) id73160 7 3 Op. 59A "Variations on Shenandoah" for string orchestra id73161 7 4 Op. 60 "The Celestial Trumpet" (A Trinity for solo trumpet, brass choir & perc.) id73162 7 5 Op. 61 "String Quartet no. 4 (Oriental-Occidental Quartet" id73163 7 6 Op. 62 "Fantasia for Solo Harp, Alto Flute, Oboe and String Quartet" id73164 7 7 Op. 63 "A Heavenly Rhapsody" for solo flute, harp, celesta, perc. and strings id73165 7 8 Op. 64 "Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano" (ded. to Roger Drinkall & Dian Baker) id73166 7 9 Op. 65 "Christmas Poem" (SATB with keyboard; poem by John Gracen Brown id73167 7 10 Op. 66 "Variations on Five Moods" for oboe & harp id73168 7 11 Op. 67 "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets (Symphony no. 4)" id73169 7 12 Op. 67A "A Symphony of Rose Sonnets" for soprano (or tenor) and piano id73170 7 13 Op. 68 "Hungarian Scenes (Sonata no. 2)" for violin & piano (plus an incomplete attempt at orchestrating the same piece for violin and chamber orchestra) id73171 7 14 Op. 69 "Serenades" for saxophone quartet and percussion (dedicated "In memory of our son, Thomas J. Kelly") id73172 7 15 Op. 72 "Sonata no. 2 for Viola and Piano" (ded. to Anne & William Heiles) id73173 8 1 Op. 73 "A Sinfonia Concertante for Chamber Orchestra" id73174 8 2 Op. 77 "Memories" for string trio and Op. 78 "Humorous Songs" for mixed choir & piano (both in one spiral-bound manuscript notebook) id73175 8 3 Op. 83 "Chamber Concerto" for violin, harp and mixed choir id73176 8 4 "Old State House" for speakers, narrator, mixed chorus & orchestra id73177 8 5 Twenty-Third Psalm, No. 1, and choral id73178 8 6 "The Bee and the Grasshopper" (score and parts) id73179 8 7 "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord" for SATB (unpublished manuscript) id73180 8 8 "O Jesu Veracisseme" for SATBB id73181 8 9 "Bless You, Paul" for SATB (lyrics by Kelly, music anonymous) id73182 8 10 "O, Children of God" for SATB id73183 8 11 "Sunset Reflections-A Song for A Retirement Village" (seems to be Kelly's last completed completed composition) id73184 8 12 Folder marked "Compositions in Progress" id73185 8 13 Printed copy of Op. 14 (with 1995 copyright notice & corrections) id73186 8 14 Paste-up score of Op. 19 id73187 8 15 Originals for printing for Op. 34 & 34A, with corrections & notes id73188 8 16 Originals for printing for Op. 35A, with corrections & notes id73189 8 17 Composer's copy of Op. 36 id73190 8 18 Composer's copy of Op. 37, no. 1 id73191 8 19 Composer's copy of Op. 46A id73192 8 20 Originals for printing for Op. 47, with notes & corrections id73193 9 1 Printed cello part for Op. 48 id73194 9 2 Composer's copy of Op.55 (score & solo tuba part) id73195 9 3 Composer's copy of Op. 57, with corrections id73196 9 4 Examination copy of Op. 58 id73197 9 5 Composer's copy of Op. 59A (parts) id73198 9 6 Composer's copy of Op. 63 (choir part) id73199 9 7 Composer's copy of Op. 65, with corrections id73200 9 8 Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 66, with corrections id73201 9 9 Back-up originals of Op. 67 (orchestral score & parts) id73202 9 10 Composer's copy & proofs of Op. 67 (piano reduction) id73203 9 11 Composer's copy of Op. 69, with corrections id73204 9 12 Proof copy of Op. 70 id73205 9 13 Composer's copy of Op. 71, with corrections and orchestration ideas id73206 10 1 Composer's copy of Op. 73 (note on front cover: "corrected after premiere") id73207 10 2 Composer's copy of Op. 76 (viola part only) id73208 10 3 Composer's copy of Op. 80 id73209 10 4 Composer's copy of Op. 83, with notes & corrections id73210 10 5 Composer's copy of "A Sentimental Song", with notes & corrections id73211 10 6 Comp. copy of "Modal Variations on Two-Voice Bach Inventions", w/ ms. pages id73212 10 7 Facsimile score of "Jesus is Crucified" id73261 10 8 "Box No. 2, Original manuscripts, "non opus numbers"-containing several manuscripts, chiefly for vocal songs, either with no opus numbers or opus numbers later crossed out id73262 10 9 "First Compositions"-containing manuscripts for pieces & songs, 1933-36, some untitled id73263 10 10 "NBC"-containing manuscript score & parts for "Choral" and "Fugue" for brass choir, along with manuscripts for other pieces, including "American Dance No. 1" and "Prelude." id73264 10 11 Opera The White Gods, op. 44 Scope and Contents

proofreading copies of the entire score and the "Four Aztec Dances"

id73265 10 12 Opera The White Gods, op. 44 Scope and Contents

envelope marked "pentachord structure of The White Gods"

id73266 10 13 Opera The White Gods, op. 44 Scope and Contents

typescript copy of the libretto, with corrections; and composer's (printed) copy of the libretto, with corrections

id82729 11 1 The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy id82730 11 2 The White Gods, Vocal Score, proofreading copy id73269 11 3 "Two Songs for Soprano", op. 7 no. 1 & op. 8 no. 1 id73270 11 4 "Daybreak" (song) id73272 11 5 "Variations on a Theme of Schubert", op. 12 id73273 11 6 "Quartet in E Major", op. 16 id73274 11 7 "A Free Fugue on Two Themes", op. 18 id73275 11 8 "String Quartet No. 2", op. 23 id73276 11 9 "Patterns", op. 25 id73277 11 10 "Suite for Solo Cello", op. 28 id73278 11 11 "Song and Dance of a Hillbilly", op. 31 id73279 11 12 "Mosaic", op. 42 id73280 11 13 "O World, Thou Choosest Not the Better Part" (song) id73281 11 14 "The Last Invocation" (song) id73282 11 15 "Passacaglia and Fugue for Woodwind Quintet" id73283 11 16 Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), piano-vocal score with handwritten synopsis id73268 14 1 "Adirondack Suite", op. 1 (2 copies) id73271 14 2 "Paiyatuma", op. 10 (and the ballet suite from same) id73284 14 3 Tod's Gal (A Folk Opera), full score id82733 14 4 Curtis Institute Student Compositions ca. 1939-1941 id82734 14 5 Garden of France, op. 56A 1987 id82735 14 6 Variant for Violin, Cello and Piano, submitted to Bowdoin Competition 1964 id82736 14 7 Debussy, "Suite Bergamasque" transcriptions for violin, viola and cello id82737 14 8 Emancipation Proclamation, Washington, D.C., photographs and newspaper plates 1961
id82836 Papers Scope and Contents

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.

id73213 12 1 Op. 14  Miniature Symphony 1969 id73214 12 2 Op. 17  "Tod's Gal" 1971- id73215 12 3 Op. 19  Sonata for Trombone and Piano 1986 id73216 12 4 Op. 25  Patterns 1963 id73217 12 5 Op. 32  Sonata for Alto and Piano 1987 id73218 12 6 Op. 33  Symphony No. 2 1975 id73219 12 7 Op. 35  Toccata for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble undated id73220 12 8 Op. 39  Emancipation Symphony 1963 id73221 12 9 Op. 41  An American Diptych undated id73222 12 10 Op. 44  "The White Gods" 1966 id73223 12 11 Op. 45  Variant-includes a copy of the piece submitted to Bowdoin College's 1974 competition for new chamber works, with a letter of consolation 1974 id73224 12 12 Op. 46  Concerto for Violin & Orchestra 1973 id73225 12 13 Op. 51  Cello Concerto 1975 id73226 12 14 Op. 52  "Walden Pond" 1980-1992 id73227 12 15 Op. 53  Concerto for Viola and Orchestra 1977 id73228 12 16 Op. 54  Concertino for Chamber Orchestra 1977 id73229 12 17 Op. 56  "Garden of Peace"(for strings) 1980-1981 id73231 12 18 Op. 57  Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra 1981 id73232 12 19 Op. 58  "Rural Songs" 1980 id73233 12 20 Op. 59A  Variations on "Shenandoah" 1986 id73234 12 21 Op. 60  "The Celestial Trumpet" 1988 id73235 12 22 Op. 61  String Quartet No. 4 1980s id73236 12 23 Op. 63  "A Heavenly Rhapsody" 1992 id73237 12 24 Op. 64  Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano 1991 id73238 12 25 Op. 65  "Christmas Poem" 1994 id82837 12 26 Curtis Institute of Music papers 1939-1942 id73239 12 27 Correspondence with American Composers Alliance 1962-1968 id73241 13 1 David Ewen correspondence, Comprehensive Dictionary of American Composers 1984 id73242 13 2 Robert Kelly's 70th birthday cards 1986 id73243 13 3 Biography for Brigham Young University/University of Colorado fellowship 1990-1991 id73244 13 4 Encyclopedia of Modern Music writings 1968 id73245 13 5 Listings of Robert Kelly compositions deposited at libraries Scope and Contents

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

id73251 13 6 Music Periodicals "Track-A-Name" reports 1979 id73252 13 7 News Releases id73253 13 8 Listing of places and dates of premieres id73254 13 9 Reviews - additional material for brochures, and publicity 1961-1977 id73256 13 10 "Viola brochure from PDQ [printing company based in Urbana, IL]" id73258 13 11 Village Voice (newsletter of Clark-Lindsey Village), issue of Mar-Apr. 2000 featuring account of premiere of Sonata no. 2 for Viola & Piano 2000