Music History & Criticism

Sister Ray

Sister Mary Dominic Ray

In addition to the music itself, the AMRC's collections document the study and criticism of music.  The Center holds writings, oral histories, research materials, and other materials documenting an eclectic collection of music scholars from around the country.

Wesley V. Blomster papers

The Wesley V. Blomster papers comprise personal and professional materials encompassing his dual career as music critic and German language professor from 1955 to 2012. A majority of materials in this collection are arranged chronologically by year and include a wide assortment of Blomster's original newspaper article clips and memorabilia from his travels and concert- going, intermingled with letters of correspondence, binders of Daily Camera photocopies, and volumes of typewritten Daily Camera drafts; program note folders arranged alphabetically
by composer's last name within genre-specific binders; and boxes of VHS review copies of operas and historical programs. The pre-arranged organization of materials reveals Blomster's deliberate attempts to maintain a specific presentation of his materials. Some materials, such
as personal diary entries, were originally interspersed in collections of typewritten Daily Camera drafts. These and other carefully-selected materials from the collection have been restricted due to their extremely personal nature. Some items, mostly book reviews, are at times outside of the chronological order for the series. The arrangement order of materials follows Blomster's pre- arranged organization. 

David A. Brose tapes

Performances and interviews with performers collected by David A. Brose, formerly Colorado State Folklorist, approximately 1970-1979. Tapes 1-112 originally recorded on Sony L-500 HG Beta format with Sony PCM Digital Processor F-1 for sound (no picture); Tapes 113-128 recorded on a portable cassette recorder. Collection contains duplicate copies made by Harry Tuft; the originals are housed at the Library of Congress. 

Don Campbell papers

Personal papers and writings of Don G. Campbell (1946-2012), author, musician, sound therapist, student of Nadia Boulanger and author of her first English language biography, author of "The Mozart Effect," "Healing at the Speed of Sound," and other books. Includes research materials, recordings, writings, correspondence, and other personal papers. 

J. Bunker Clark papers

Writings on American music history collected by J. Bunker Clark (1931-2003), Professor of Music, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, as part of NEH-funded seminars occurring 1976-1978. 

College of Music Oral History

Consists of analog and digital sound recordings of oral history interviews dating from 1966
to 2006, conducted by University of Colorado students, volunteers, and faculty and staff. Interviewees include Nick Perito, Perry Como's arranger; Mickey Glass, Como's long-time manager; former College of Music faculty such as George Crumb, Cecil Effinger, Warner Imig and Storm Bull; and other area musicians and scholars. Includes interview transcript excerpts and summaries, interview question lists, clippings, biographical notes, and curriculum vitae for some interviewees. Interview topics include the history of the University of Colorado's College of Music, biography of the interviewees, Perry Como, music pedagogy, and the history of music in Boulder and Colorado. 

Berton Coffin papers

The Berton Coffin Papers contain professional materials on Dr. Coffin’s work as a Vocal Pedagogue from 1956 to his death in 1987. The collection contains writings and publications, including first editions of his books along with drafts and research material used and developed by him; press releases and copyright certificates for his publications; audio cassettes; and projector slides from his classes. Includes materials related to his students and collaborators; as well as posthumous memorials and celebrations of his work

Carrie M. Cramer and Grace Cramer Small collection

Song lists and notebooks from Carrie M. Cramer and Grace Cramer Small, pioneers, folk singers, folk song collectors. Includes tape recorded interview. 

Ariel Downing papers

Research materials related to the dissertation (University of Colorado, 1997) of Ariel Arden Downing, musician and music educator. 

Early country music collection

Recordings, transcriptions, and research materials collected by Joe Buzzard at the request of William Kearns, professor emeritus of music, University of Colorado, Boulder. Includes reel-to-reel tapes recorded by Buzzard from 700 hillbilly and cowboy records from the 1920s and 1930s, primarily in the Blue Ridge Mountains, northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia; duplicates of originals on Digital Audio Tape (DAT); transcriptions of recorded songs; and research materials.

Glenn Giffin interviews and writings

Writings and recorded interviews conducted by Glenn Giffin (1943-2012), Denver Post music and dance critic; graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder (B.Mus.) and the University
of Denver (Master of Library Arts); curator of the University of Denver's Carson-Brierly Dance Library; recipient of the Dance Alliance services in the field award, 2009. Includes 404 cassette tape interviews of musicians for his Denver Post column. 

John and Anna Gillespie papers

Papers of John E. "Jack" Gillespie (1921—2003), Professor of music, University of California at Santa Barbara, author, musicologist and organist, including more than five thousand pieces of photocopied sheet music collected by Dr. Gillespie and his wife Anna Gillespie, used for researching their Bibliography of Nineteenth Century American Piano Music. 

Warner Imig scrapbooks

Scrapbooks compiled by Warner Imig (1913-2005), Professor of Music (1937-1978) and Dean (1951-1978), University of Colorado Boulder College of Music; DMA honoris causa, University of Colorado, 1978. 

Karl Kroeger papers

Papers of Karl Kroeger (b. 1932), composer, musicologist, librarian; B.Mus., B.Mus.Ed., M.Mus, University of Louisville, M.S. University of Illinois, Ph.D., Brown University; Head, University
of Colorado Music Library (1982-1994); Curator, American music Collection, New York Public Library (1962-1964); Composer-in-residence, Oregon Public School System (1964-1967); Director, Moravian Music Foundation (1972-1980); Visiting Lecturer, University of Keele (1980-1981). Includes composition manuscripts, arrangements and critical editions, concert programs, and research materials related to Kroeger's numerous musicological publications. Also includes recordings and correspondence. Of related interest is the large collection of early American tune books and hymnals, housed in Special Collections, Norlin Library (list of titles available separately and in the collection).

Ben Gray Lumpkin field recordings and papers

Papers and field recordings of Ben Gray Lumpkin (1901-1982), folklorist, professor of English (1946-1969). Papers and recordings relate specifically to Lumpkin's work in collecting the folk songs of Colorado, especially in hillbilly songs; papers related to his career in the University of Colorado Department of English are housed separately in the University Archives. Includes documentation and biographical information on informants, correspondence, index files, and teaching and writing resources. 

Sister Mary Dominic Ray Library

Papers of Sister Mary Dominic Ray (1913-1994), musician, musicologist, collector; founder, American Music Research Center (Dominican College), 1967. Includes artifacts and photographs documenting the early years of the AMRC, as well as papers supporting Sister Mary's research and publications. Includes several original music sheets from the 18th and 19th centuries. Of related interest is the collection of early American tune books and hymnals. 

Virgil Thomson papers

Personal papers of Virgil Thompson (1896-1989), American composer and music critic,
writer for the Boston Transcript and New York Herald Tribune, including correspondence with numerous composers; general correspondence; travel notes and genealogy. Collection consists of photocopies of original materials held by Yale University.