Collection ID: MC3
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Summary

Creator:
Kaufmann, Walter, 1907-1984
Abstract:
Materials of composer, conductor, musicologist, and professor at Indiana University, Walter Kaufmann (1907-1984). Contains original manuscripts (scores and parts), as well as copies of manuscripts, working drafts and sketches, published editions, and reel-to-reel sound recordings of Kaufmann's compositions. Materials also include notes and drafts of lectures, articles, and books written by Kaufmann, as well as some of his published writings. Other materials include lecture papers by students, correspondence, concert programs and reviews, photographs, and monographs about the musics of Asia that were the subjects of much of his research.
Extent:
30 Boxes, 78 Files, and 427 Items
Language:
Materials are in English and German.
Preferred citation:

[item], Walter Kaufmann Archives, Collection MC3, William & Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Walter Kaufmann was born in Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary), Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, on April 1, 1907, and died in Bloomington, Indiana, on September 9, 1984. His musical career was varied, with extensive accomplishments as a composer, conductor, musicologist and teacher. He attended the Staatsrealgymnasium in Karlsbad from 1918 to 1926. In 1926, he matriculated at the Staatlich Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he studied with Franz Schreker and Curt Sachs, and graduated in 1930. He furthered his musical studies at Prague (German) University from 1930 to 1934, where he studied with Gustav Becking and Paul Nettl. Although he completed the requirements for a Ph. D. in Musicology, as a political statement he refused to accept the degree because the Ordinarius (Becking) was the leader of the Nazi youth group in Prague.

Kaufmann held many positions during the course of his musical career. From 1927 to 1933, he conducted summer seasons of opera in Berlin, Karlsbad, and Eger (Cheb), Bohemia. He spent eleven years (1935-1946) in India, where he held a number of positions simultaneously. From 1935 to 1937, he was the composer for Bhavnani Films and for Information Films of India, and was the Musical Director of the Bombay Chamber Music Society. From 1937 to 1946, he was Director of Music for All India Radio in Bombay, and lectured at Bombay University (Sophia College). He spent a year (1946-1947) in England, where he was a guest conductor at the BBC in London, and a composer and conductor at Arthur Rank Films. In 1947, he was named Head of the Piano Department and Professor of Piano and Composition at the Halifax Conservatory of Music, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. From 1948 to 1957, Kaufmann was the Musical Director and Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In 1957, Kaufmann moved permanently to the United States where he joined the School of Music faculty at Indiana University in Bloomington, as Professor of Music in the department of Musicology. He became an American citizen in 1964.

While in India, Kaufmann devoted a great deal of time to the study of the Hindu systems of musical composition, which influenced many of his compositions, resulting in a mixture of Eastern and Western influences. Kaufmann was a prolific composer of operas, orchestral music, and chamber music. He also composed other stage works such as ballets and incidental music, and vocal, choral, and keyboard works. Kaufmann's written publications include books, articles, and reviews of books and sound recordings. Investigations that he began in India into Hindu and other Eastern musics resulted in a remarkable series of books on Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese music that are widely recognized as outstanding scholarly achievements.

Scope and Content:

Contains original manuscripts(scores and parts), as well as copies of manuscripts, working drafts and sketches, published editions, and reel-to-reel sound recordings of Kaufmann's compositions. Materials also include notes and drafts of lectures, articles, and books written by Kaufmann, as well as some of his writings in published form. Other materials include lecture papers by students, correspondence, concert programs and reviews, photographs, and monographs about the musics of Asia that were the subjects of much of his research. These materials are divided into five series.

Information in the annotations in the inventory is in most instances taken directly from the items in the collection. Information shown in [ brackets ] is from secondary sources, principally the books and articles listed in the bibliography in this finding aid.

Acquisition information:
The library of the late Walter Kaufmann was acquired by the Indiana University Music Library upon his death in 1984.
Processing information:

Processed by Staff.

Completed in 1998

Arrangement:

Materials are organized in eight series:

  1. I. Works
  2. II. Correspondence
  3. III. Writings
  4. IV. Papers
  5. V. Concert Programs
  6. VI. Newspaper Clippings
  7. VII. Photographs
  8. VIII. Miscellanea
Bibliography:

Altindien. Musikgeschichte in Bildern, Bd. 2; Musik des Alterums, Lfg. 8. Leipzig: Deutscher Verlag für Musik, 1981. Musical Notations of the Orient: Notational Systems of Continental, East, South and Central Asia. Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 60. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1967. Musical References in the Chinese Classics. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1976. The Ragas of North India. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1968. The Ragas of South India: A Catalogue of Scalar Material. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1976. Selected Musical Terms of Non-Western Cultures: A Notebook-Glossary. Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography, no. 65. Warren, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 1990. Tibetan Buddhist Chant: Musical Notations and Interpretations of a Song Book by the Bkah Brgyud Pa and Sa Skya Pa Sects.Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 70. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975. Baker, Theodore. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Completely revised by Nicholas Slonimsky. 8th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., G. Schirmer, 1992. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter." Kallmann, Helmut, ed.Catalogue of Canadian Composers. Revised and enlarged edition. Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1952. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter." Kaufmann, Walter. Resume in folio of biographical materials. Special Collections, Walter Kaufmann Archive, The William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Mueller von Asow, Hedwig und E.H. Kürschners deutscher Musiker-Kalender 1954. Zweite Ausgabe des Deutschen Musiker-Lexikons. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1954. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter." Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. "Kaufmann, Walter" by Paul Nettl. New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter." Noblitt, Thomas, ed. Music East and West: Essays in Honor of Walter Kaufmann. Thompson, Oscar, editor in chief. The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians. 11th edition edited by Bruce Bohle. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1985. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Altindien. Musikgeschichte in Bildern, Bd. 2; Musik des Alterums, Lfg. 8. Leipzig: Deutscher Verlag für Musik, 1981.Musical Notations of the Orient: Notational Systems of Continental, East, South and Central Asia. Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 60. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1967.Musical References in the Chinese Classics. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1976.The Ragas of North India. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1968.The Ragas of South India: A Catalogue of Scalar Material. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1976.Selected Musical Terms of Non-Western Cultures: A Notebook-Glossary. Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography, no. 65. Warren, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 1990.Tibetan Buddhist Chant: Musical Notations and Interpretations of a Song Book by the Bkah Brgyud Pa and Sa Skya Pa Sects.Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 70. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.

Baker, Theodore.<em> Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians.</em> Completely revised by Nicholas Slonimsky. 8th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., G. Schirmer, 1992. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Kallmann, Helmut, ed.<em>Catalogue of Canadian Composers.</em> Revised and enlarged edition. Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1952. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Kaufmann, Walter. Resume in folio of biographical materials. Special Collections, Walter Kaufmann Archive, The William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Mueller von Asow, Hedwig und E.H.<em> Kürschners deutscher Musiker-Kalender 1954.</em> Zweite Ausgabe des Deutschen Musiker-Lexikons. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1954. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. "Kaufmann, Walter" by Paul Nettl.New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Noblitt, Thomas, ed. <em> Music East and West: Essays in Honor of Walter Kaufmann.</em>

Thompson, Oscar, editor in chief.<em> The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians.</em> 11th edition edited by Bruce Bohle. New York: Dodd, Mead &amp; Company, 1985. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Altindien. Musikgeschichte in Bildern, Bd. 2; Musik des Alterums, Lfg. 8. Leipzig: Deutscher Verlag für Musik, 1981.Musical Notations of the Orient: Notational Systems of Continental, East, South and Central Asia. Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 60. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1967.Musical References in the Chinese Classics. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1976.The Ragas of North India. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1968.The Ragas of South India: A Catalogue of Scalar Material. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1976.Selected Musical Terms of Non-Western Cultures: A Notebook-Glossary. Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography, no. 65. Warren, Mich.: Harmonie Park Press, 1990.Tibetan Buddhist Chant: Musical Notations and Interpretations of a Song Book by the Bkah Brgyud Pa and Sa Skya Pa Sects.Indiana University Humanities Series, no. 70. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.

Baker, Theodore.<em> Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians.</em> Completely revised by Nicholas Slonimsky. 8th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., G. Schirmer, 1992. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Kallmann, Helmut, ed.<em>Catalogue of Canadian Composers.</em> Revised and enlarged edition. Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1952. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Kaufmann, Walter. Resume in folio of biographical materials. Special Collections, Walter Kaufmann Archive, The William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Mueller von Asow, Hedwig und E.H.<em> Kürschners deutscher Musiker-Kalender 1954.</em> Zweite Ausgabe des Deutschen Musiker-Lexikons. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1954. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. "Kaufmann, Walter" by Paul Nettl.New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Noblitt, Thomas, ed. <em> Music East and West: Essays in Honor of Walter Kaufmann.</em>

Thompson, Oscar, editor in chief.<em> The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians.</em> 11th edition edited by Bruce Bohle. New York: Dodd, Mead &amp; Company, 1985. S.v. "Kaufmann, Walter."

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Access to this collection is limited to visitors of the Cook Music Library.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], Walter Kaufmann Archives, Collection MC3, William & Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
William & Gayle Cook Music Library
200 South Eagleson Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-2970
libmus@iu.edu