Series I: Music, 1879-1998
Series
Call Number: MSS 86, Series I
Scope and Contents
More than half of the Robert Shaw Papers consists of annotated musical scores. Most major works appear in multiple versions. When Shaw returned to a piece he had performed earlier in his career, instead of using his old score, he usually obtained a clean score and marked it up from scratch. Shaw annotated his scores in exhaustive detail, using pencils in several colors, and sometimes Post-It notes as well. These scores are a unique window into Shaw's musical thinking, and they also tell us about more practical aspects of his conducting, such as his instrumental cues, and his instructions to the chorus to stand or sit. Certain scores include information about specific performances, such as dates, performers, places, and sometimes even timings.
Shaw usually worked from published editions, but a few manuscripts or manuscript copies also appear. Although this series consists chiefly of scores, it also includes parts for certain works.
Many works for chorus and orchestra are represented by both a full score and a piano-vocal score. When Shaw guest-conducted such works, his assistant often planned for the event by lending an annotated piano-vocal score to the chorus be would be conducting, with the instructions that Shaw's markings should be copied into the singers' own scores.
Shaw was not solely a conductor. He was a prolific choral arranger (usually in collaboration with Alice Parker), and these works also appear in this series, as do the arrangements that Robert Russell Bennett created for the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Shaw usually worked from published editions, but a few manuscripts or manuscript copies also appear. Although this series consists chiefly of scores, it also includes parts for certain works.
Many works for chorus and orchestra are represented by both a full score and a piano-vocal score. When Shaw guest-conducted such works, his assistant often planned for the event by lending an annotated piano-vocal score to the chorus be would be conducting, with the instructions that Shaw's markings should be copied into the singers' own scores.
Shaw was not solely a conductor. He was a prolific choral arranger (usually in collaboration with Alice Parker), and these works also appear in this series, as do the arrangements that Robert Russell Bennett created for the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Dates
- 1879-1998
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
In English.
Conditions Governing Access
From the Collection:
This collection is open for research. A number of sound recordings from this collection are available to stream online via the Gilmore Music Library's AV access system, Aviary. Links to access these recordings are provided in this finding aid. Yale users can login to Aviary using their Yale University ID, to stream these recordings without restriction. Other users are able to request access to recordings directly through Aviary.
Creator
- From the Collection: Shaw, Robert, 1916-1999
Part of the Gilmore Music Library Repository
Contact:
120 High Street
PO Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520 US
(203) 432-0497
musicspecialcollections@yale.edu
120 High Street
PO Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520 US
(203) 432-0497
musicspecialcollections@yale.edu