Victor Babin Collection
Abstract
Victor Babin (1908-1972), pianist and composer, was part of a two-pianist performing duo with his wife, Vitya Vronsky. He was also active as a teacher and administrator. This collection consists of scores of pieces he performed written both by him and other composers, recordings of his works and his performances on reel-to-reel tapes, and two miscellaneous publications.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
There are no restricted files in this collection.
Victor Babin Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Summary: Victor Babin was born in Russia and met his wife/performing partner, Vitya Vronsky, in Berlin. He served as Director at the Aspen Music School (1951-1954), and at the Cleveland Institute of Music (1961-1972). Babin also taught at Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood, and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Babin died in 1972.
Full History: Victor Babin was born in Russia and met his wife/performing partner, Vitya Vronsky, while studying with Artur Schnabel in Berlin. Vronsky also studied with Alfred Cortot and with Egon Petri. Babin and Vronsky embarked upon a career as a duo that took them all over the world. Their recordings were issued by RCA Victor, Columbia, Decca and EMI. Despite a break from performance during World War II (during which Babin served in the Armed Forces as a Private in the U.S. Army, and Vronsky worked with war casualties in Washington D.C. hospitals), the duo still managed to perform well over 1200 concerts in North America alone. From 1951-1954, Babin taught at the Aspen Music School, where he was the director and a member of the Festival Quartet along with Szymon Goldberg, William Primrose and Nikolay Graudan. From 1961 until his death, Babin was Director of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where both he and Vronsky served on the Institute's faculty. In addition, Babin taught at Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood, and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Babin died in 1972 and Vronsky died in 1992.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Victor Babin Collection covers the years 1946 to 1978, with the bulk of material from 1952-1970. The collection consists of compositions by Babin, reel-to-reel tapes, published and unpublished works by other composers, and Babins miscellaneous publications. This collection contains Babins and other composers piano solos, as well as scores for piano concertos, piano duets, chamber music, and arrangements for two pianos. Vronsky, who plays on recordings with Babin, is featured in the collection, and some major composers in this collection include Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, Stravinsky, and Debussy. The collection features Babins performances at the Library of Congress, with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, at the Carnegie Lecture Hall, and at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Materials were received on June 11th, 1998. Donation of the Victor Babin Collection to IPAM was made possible through the good offices of Paul Schenly, a former student of Victor Babin.
Processing Information
Processed by Max Brown.
EAD markup was created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Elizabeth J. Mason, January 2013.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized as 3 series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Scores, 1914-1971, and Undated (4.00 Linear Feet)
This series contains published and unpublished works by Victor Babin and by other composers. Materials are arranged alphabetically.
Subseries 1.1: Works by Victor Babin, 1965-1971, and Undated (2.00 Linear Feet)
This subseries includes original compositions for piano solo, piano duet, chamber music, piano concerto, and two pianos, and arrangements for two pianos.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Cadenzas for Mozart's Concertos, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Cadenzas for Mozart's Concertos, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 2 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Cadenzas for Mozart's Concertos, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 3 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Cadenzas and Concerto No.2, 1956-1961 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 4 | ||
| Concerto No. 2 for Two Pianos and OrchestraManuscript, 1961 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 1.0 | |
| Concerto No. 2 for Two Pianos and OrchestraManuscript, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 2.0 | |
| Concerto No. 2 for Two Pianos and OrchestraManuscript with Piano Score, 1956 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 3.0 | |
| Concerto No. 2 for Two Pianos and OrchestraManuscript with Piano Score, 1956 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 4.0 | |
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera No. 2 for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 5 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto No. 1 for Two Pianos and Orchestra-Orchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | ||
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 1.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 2.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 3.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 1.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 2.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 3.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 4.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 5.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 6.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 7.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 8.0 | |
| Concerto no. 1 for 2 Pianos and OrchestraOrchestral Reduction, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 9.0 | |
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Piano Duet and String Orchestra, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 7 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Piano Duet and String Quintet, 1965 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 8 | ||
| Concerto da Camera for Piano Duet and String Quintet, 1965 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 1.0 | |
| Concerto da Camera for Piano Duet and String Quintet, 1965 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 2.0 | |
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Piano Duet and String Quintet, 1965 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 9 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 10 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 11 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 12 | ||
| Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 1.0 | |
| Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 2.0 | |
| Concerto da Camera for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, and Piano Duet, 1967 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 3.0 | |
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- D, 1940, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 13 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Piano Solo, Piano Concerto, 2 Pianos and Piano Duet -- D, 1940, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 14 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- D-Q, 1947-1953, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 15 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- D-Q, 1947-1953, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 16 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- D-Q, 1947-1953, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 17 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- Sun Shafts, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 18 | ||
| Sun Shafts, 1st Movement Early Rays: Ten Songs for Tenor, Bb Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Bb Bass Clarinet, Tenor Trombone, Cello and Piano, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 18 | item 1.0 | |
| Sun Shafts, 1st Movement Early Rays: Ten Songs for Tenor, Bb Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Bb Bass Clarinet, Tenor Trombone, Cello and Piano, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 18 | item 2.0 | |
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- Twelve Variations on a Theme by Henry Purcell, 1945 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 19 | ||
| Original Compositions -- Chamber, Other -- Trio, 1953 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 20 | ||
| Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, 1953 | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 20 | item 1.0 | |
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- G-Swan, 1943-1964, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 21 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- G-Swan, 1943-1964, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 22 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- G-Swan, 1943-1964, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 23 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- G-Swan, 1943-1964, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 24 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- Trois Mouvements de Petrouchka, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 25 | ||
| Stravinsky: Trois Mouvements de Pétrouchka, Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 25 | item 1.0 | |
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- Tchaikovsky Waltzes, 1960, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 26 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- Tchaikovsky Waltzes, 1960, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 27 | ||
| Arrangements -- 2 pianos, piano 4 hands -- Tchaikovsky Waltzes, 1960, and Undated | series 1.1 | box 1 | folder 28 | ||
Subseries 1.2: Published Works by Other Composers, 1914-1967, and Undated
This subseries includes published works by Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Moussorgsky, and Kalomiris.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalomiris, Manolis -- Preludes for Piano (Michel Gaetanos), Undated | series 1.2 | box 2 | folder 1 | ||
| Kalomiris, Manolis: Preludes for Piano (Michel Gaetanos), Undated | series 1.2 | box 2 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Moussorgsky, M. -- Pictures From an Exhibition -- Edward B. Marks Corporation, 1951 Undated | series 1.2 | box 2 | folder 2 | ||
| Schoenberg, Arnold -- Pierrot Lunaire op. 21 -- Universale Edition, 1914 1914 | series 1.2 | box 2 | folder 3 | ||
| Stravinsky, Igor -- Requiem Canticles -- Boosey & Hawkes, 1967 | series 1.2 | box 2 | folder 4 | ||
Subseries 1.3: Unpublished Works by Other Composers, 1914-1971, and Undated
This subseries includes recordings of unpublished works for piano solo, piano and orchestra, two pianos, and the Webern Cello pieces.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piano Solos, 1971, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 5 | ||
| Piano Solos, 1971, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 6 | ||
| Piano Solos, 1971, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 7 | ||
| Piano and Orchestra Pieces, 1962-1965, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 8 | ||
| Piano and Orchestra Pieces, 1962-1965, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 9 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- B-L, 1964, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 10 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- B-L, 1964, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 11 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- B-L, 1964, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 12 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 13 | ||
| Lopatnikoff, Nikolai: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 13 | item 1.0 | |
| 2 Pianos -- V-W, 1940-1950, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 14 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- V-W, 1940-1950, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 15 | ||
| 2 Pianos -- V-W, 1940-1950, and Undated | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 16 | ||
| Webern Cello Pieces, 1914 1914 | series 1.3 | box 2 | folder 17 | ||
Series 2: Miscellaneous Publications, Undated (2 Folders)
This series contains a publication on the tenth anniversary of Babins death and a critical commentary of him playing Chopins Ballades. Materials are arranged alphabetically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Victor Babin" -- Publication commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of Victor Babin -- Cleveland Institute of Music, Undated Undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Chopin Ballades -- Critical Commentary, Undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
Series 3: Recordings (Reel-to-Reel Tapes), 1946-1978, and Undated (2.00 Linear Feet)
This series includes reel-to-reel tapes of Babin performing both by himself and with Vronsky at the Library of Congress and the Cleveland Institute of Music, among other places.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recordings (Reel-to-Reel Tapes), 1946-1978, and Undated | series 3 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Bibliography
- Babin, V. (1971). Concerto da camera no. 3: for timpani, percussion ensemble (3 players), and piano duet. Dedicated in admiration to Cloyd Duff and Richard Weiner. Unpublished score, two copies.
- Strauss, R. (n.d.). Der Rosenkavalier Waltz. Arranged by Victor Babin for two pianos. Unpublished score.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Babin, Victor, 1908-1972
- Composers -- United States
- Pianists -- United States