Scope and Contents
At this time, the Papers include a portion of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra arrangements. The parts and the scores have been organized into separate series because they were received separately. Not all of the parts have a corresponding score at this time.
Dates
- 1952 - 1987
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Extent
18 Linear Feet (30 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
At this time, the Papers include a portion of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra arrangements. The parts and the scores have been organized into separate series because they were received separately. Not all of the parts have a corresponding score at this time.
Biographical / Historical
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra was formed in 1952 by Eddie Sauter (1914-1981) and Bill Finegan (1917-2008). Sauter and Finegan were each prominent arrangers for big bands led by artists such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Finegan had studied with Stefan Wolpe and Darius Milhaud, and Sauter studied music at Columbia and Juilliard. Both were clearly influenced by classical music, and their orchestra included non-traditional big band instruments like the recorder, piccolo, English horn, and tympani.
Sauter and Finegan wrote arrangements of big band standards, but they also ventured into folk and classical music, e.g., "Doodletown Fifers", their version of "Yankee Doodle". In 1953, Sauter and Finegan put together a touring orchestra, but their venture did not prove successful. They disbanded the Orchestra in 1957, although they reunited to record an album in 1959. The Orchestra was featured in a 1960 Buick commercial, perhaps a precursor to Sauter and Finegan's involvement in writing commercial jingles for television.
In the 1980s, Bill Finegan revived the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra name for concerts in New York City at venues such as Town Hall and 92nd Street Y. The orchestra was called, "Studio Orchestra" as it was made up of highly-skilled studio musicians in New York City at the time. The Studio Orchestra was led by Harvey Estrin, one of the original members of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.
Sauter and Finegan wrote arrangements of big band standards, but they also ventured into folk and classical music, e.g., "Doodletown Fifers", their version of "Yankee Doodle". In 1953, Sauter and Finegan put together a touring orchestra, but their venture did not prove successful. They disbanded the Orchestra in 1957, although they reunited to record an album in 1959. The Orchestra was featured in a 1960 Buick commercial, perhaps a precursor to Sauter and Finegan's involvement in writing commercial jingles for television.
In the 1980s, Bill Finegan revived the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra name for concerts in New York City at venues such as Town Hall and 92nd Street Y. The orchestra was called, "Studio Orchestra" as it was made up of highly-skilled studio musicians in New York City at the time. The Studio Orchestra was led by Harvey Estrin, one of the original members of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.
Separated Materials
Original parts for the following titles have been removed for preservation reasons: "Hearts are Young," "Moonlight on the Ganges," "Nina Never Knew," "Azure-Te," "April in Paris," and "Midnight Sleighride." Photocopies of these parts remain in the collection.
- Title
- Guide to the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Finding aid written by Emily DiLeo
- Date
- May 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
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