These are materials held in RBSC that serve as examples of primary materials relating to music. Students have an opportunity to learn the proper handling of early materials. To request a class visit, please email the Curator.
These illuminated leaves, encased in mylar for safe handling, provide a glimpse into manuscript production for a variety of works from 1150 to the early 1400s.
Vellum Manuscript, ca. 1200.
Rare Oversize PA8200.A1 .V444 1200A
Italian Antiphonal leaf, ca. 1150; to demonstrate rough size of what a ms. music leaf would look like (for sharing).
This vellum manuscript, which was originally part of a binding, allows students to feel actual 13th century vellum, and to examine it close up without worry of damage to materials.
Manuscript, ca. 17--? in vellum binding.
Rare M 1740 E364 1700za
Pocket-notebook, with lyrics from 119 songs. Commonplace book? Includes notes on currency conversion as well as lyrics.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.
[Zauberflo¨te. Vocal score. Italian & German]
Die Zauberflo¨te : eine grosse heroisch comische Oper in 2 Acten von W.A. Mozart ; im vollsta¨ndigen Klavier Auszuge mit deutschem und italienischem Texte.
Wein : Chemischen Druckerei, [179-?]. 1335 Chemischen Druckerei
Rare Books Collection M1503. M877 Z3 1790za
Notes: Text by Emanuel Schikaneder.
Gift of David H. Sinason.
The American musical miscellany: a collection of the newest and most appoved [!] songs, set to music. Printed at Northampton, Massachusetts. By Andrew Wright, for Daniel Wright and company. Sold by them, and by S. Butler, in Northampton; by I. Thomas, jun. in Worcester; by F. Barker, in Greenfield: and by the principal booksellers in Boston.-- 1798.
Rare M 1628 A2 A5
This collection consists of 111 songs, numbered I-CXI. In a note "To the public" the editors state that "A general preference has been given to American productions".The music is printed from movable type. For contents cf. O. G. Sonneck, Bibl. of early secular Amer. music. 1905. Page 29-30 and Page 31-32 interchanged in binding.
Billings, William.
The New-England Psalm-Singer: or, American Chorister. Containing a number of psalm-tunes, anthems, and canons. In four and five parts.
Boston: New England. Printed by Edes and Gill, and to be sold by them at their printing office on Queen-Street… [1770].
Rare M 2116 B59 N487x
Colin de Blamont, François, 1690-1760.
Les festes grecques et romaines : ballet en musique.
Paris : Impr. J. B. C. Ballard, 1723.
Rare M 1520 C697 F4
Notes: Some errors in pagination: p. 171-76."Revû & corrigé par nous, soussignez à Paris ce quinziéme Septembre 1723": [signed in ms.] Collin de Blamont [et] Ballard.
Hastings, Thomas, 1784-1872.
Musica sacra: or Springfield and Utica collections united: consisting of psalm and hymn tunes, anthems and chants: arranged for two, three or four voices, with a figured base for the organ or piano forte. By Thomas Hastings and Solomon Warriner. 4th rev. ed. Utica, W. Williams, 1823.
Rare M2116 H35 M4
Notes: Shoemaker 12790. Combines the "Springfield collection", edited by Warriner (Springfield, 1813) and "Musica sacra", published for the Oneida musical society (Utica, 1816)
[Woodbury, I. B. (Isaac Baker), 1819-1858.] The Thanksgiving / [compiled by I.B. Woodbury].: Boston : Brown, Taggard & Chase, [185-?].
SPCOL Music Manuscript Collection M1999 T475 1850za
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix, 1809-1847.
[Sommernachtstraum] Ein Sommernachtstraum von Shakespeare. Musik von Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ; seinem Freunde Heinrich Conrad Schleinitz Zugeeignet.
Leipzig : Breitkopf & Härtel, [ca. 1850].
SPCOL Music Manuscript M 209 M5 S75 1850a
Ritson, Joseph, 1752-1803.
A select collection of English songs.
London, Printed for J. Johnson, 1783.
Rare M 1740 R6
Contents: v. 1. Preface. A historical essay on the origin and progress of national song. Love-songs.--v. 2. Drinking songs. Miscellaneous songs. Ancient ballads.--v. 3. Airs to the songs.
Skinner, Frank, d. 1968.
The man of a thousand faces : [production no.] 1844 : originals / [Frank Skinner]. [1957]
SpCol Music Ms. Coll. M 1527 S556 M36
Holograph in pencil of motion picture music for orchestra.
Anonymous gift, 1989.
Skinner, Frank, d. 1968.
Magnificent obsession : [production no.] 1749 / by Frank Skinner. Conductor”s copy.: [United States] : Skinner Music Co., c1954.
Motion picture music for orchestra. Ozalid reproduction of copyist's manuscript. Caption title.
SpCol Music Manuscript Coll. M 1527 S556 M3
Anonymous gift, 1989.
Skinner, Frank, d. 1968.
Interlude : [production no.] 1833 : originals / [Frank Skinner]. [1957]
Holograph in pencil of motion picture music for orchestra.
SPCOL Music Manuscript Coll. M 1527 S556 I5
Anonymous gift, 1989.
Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849. [Piano music. Selections.]. Compositions célèbres pour le piano / par Frédéric Chopin. S. Pétersbourg : A. Büttner, [18--]
Physical Description: 1 v. (various pagings) : music ; 32 cm.
Music Manuscript Coll. M 22 C545 P5 1800za
Benedict, Julius, Sir, 1804-1885.
Auld Robin Grey : as sung by Miss Lind / [with new accompaniment by Jules Benedict]. Farewell songs of Jenny Lind in America. [Housewright sheet music collection ; v. 13, no. 10].
Boston : Russell & Tolman, 1851.
Music Manuscript Coll. M 1619 F367 1851a
Liberty songs : for the use of Liberty choruses and community singing / State Council of Defense of Illinois.
Boston : C. C. Birchard, c1918.
Rare M 1977 C5 L534 1918a
Notes: Principally for mixed voices (SATB).Words in part printed as text. Cover title.
" A singing nation is a winning nation."--Cover.
Berlin, Irving, 1888-.
That mesmerizing Mendelssohn tune / words and music by Irving Berlin.
New York : Ted Snyder, c1909.
SpCol Music Manuscript Collection: M 1622 B47 T4 1909a
Caption title."Mendelssohn rag"
First line of text: Honey, listen to that dreamy tune they're playin'.
Botsford, George, 1874-1949.
The dance of the grizzly bear / words by Irving Berlin ; music by George Botsford.
New York : Ted Snyder, c1910.
SpCol Music Manuscript Collection: M 1622 B67 D3 1910a
First line of text: Out in San Francisco where the weather's fair.
Bowers, George H.
The sweetest girl in town / words and music by Geo. H. Bowers.
Chicago : Geo. H. Bowers, c1893.
SpCol Music Manuscript Coll: M1622.B69 S9 1893a
Notes: For voice and piano. First line of text: Last night I made a call on the sweetest girl I know." Sung by Miss Lilly Mack, contralto vocalist."
Various primary items from RG”s collection, including scores, letters, and instruction books as examples of how primary research collections can be used to tell us about working methods of particular musicians.
SpCol Raya Garbousova Collection: Box 6, folder 26; Box 12: folders 2,4,5, 7
Selected Musical Links