Frank Bencriscutto Collection
Abstract
Dr. Frank Peter Anthony Bencriscutto was known as a conductor, educator, and composer. A longtime Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Bencriscutto and the band toured the USSR for seven weeks in 1969, with a final performance at the White House. An avid jazz musician, performing on saxophone and clarinet, he is also credited with introducing jazz into the music curriculum at the University of Minnesota. After retiring in 1993, Dr. Bencriscutto soon joined the faculty at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan as a visiting professor and conductor of the wind ensemble until 1996. He was posthumously awarded the 1997 Medal of Honor by the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. The collection consists of programs, articles, compositions, and recordings related to Bencriscutto's career.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
Frank Bencriscutto Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Dr. Frank Peter Anthony Bencriscutto was known as a conductor, educator, and composer. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Bencriscutto joined the University of Minnesota faculty as Director of Bands and Professor of Music after receiving his Doctorate of Musical Arts. He was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in 1966. As part of a cultural exchange program, the University of Minnesota band toured the USSR for seven weeks in 1969, with a final performance at the White House. Dr. Bencriscutto was an avid jazz musician, performing on saxophone and clarinet, and is credited with introducing jazz into the music curriculum at the University of Minnesota. He retired as Director of Bands in 1993 and soon joined the faculty at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan as a visiting professor and conductor of the wind ensemble until 1996. Dr. Bencriscutto was posthumously awarded the 1997 Medal of Honor by the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Frank Bencriscutto Collection covers the period from 1972 to 1997. The collection consists of programs, articles, compositions, and recordings related to Bencriscutto's work as a conductor, educator and composer at the University of Minnesota and at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
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Processing Information
Caitlyn Callahan and Sally Roberts, June 2007
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Colleen McKnight, August 2007, and edited by Nicole Horstman, November 2012.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection has been organized into six series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Biographical Information, undated (6 items)
This series contains three photographs along with several biographies, all undated. The biographies provide details about Dr. Bencriscuttos personal life and professional career.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Information, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Photograph, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Photograph, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 2.0 | |
| Photograph, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 3.0 | |
| Biography and List of Honors and Awards, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 4.0 | |
| The Frank and Jean Bencriscutto Family, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 5.0 | |
| Dr. Frank A. Bencriscutto, by Jean Bencriscutto, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 6.0 | |
Series 2: Programs, 1985-1997 (10 items)
This series contains programs from 1985 to 1997, arranged chronologically. These include his 25th Anniversary Concert and the Memorial Concert, held after his death in 1997.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programs, 1985-1997 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | ||
| University of Minnesota: Dr. Bens 25th Anniversary Celebration, 1985 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 1.0 | |
| University of Minnesota: The University Jazz Ensemble, 1987 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 2.0 | |
| Kanagawa University: Symphonic Band, 1990 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 3.0 | |
| Shobi Wind Ensemble Special Performance Tour to America, 1990 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 4.0 | |
| University of Minnesota: Centennial Celebration Concert, 1992 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 5.0 | |
| Japan: The World of Dr. Frank Bencriscutto, 1995 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 6.0 | |
| Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble, 1995 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 7.0 | |
| Concordia College Band: Concert Season, 1995 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 8.0 | |
| University of Minnesota: A Celebration of Dr. Ben and his Music, 1997 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 9.0 | |
| Western International Band Clinic, 1997 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 10.0 | |
Series 3: Articles, 1979-1997 (1 folder)
This series contains articles written about Dr. Bencriscutto from 1979 to 1997, arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles, 1979-1997 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Correspondence, 1987-1997 (1 folder)
This series contains letters collected by Dr. Bencriscutto from 1987 to 1997, arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence, 1987-1997 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
Series 5: Writing, 1972-1993 (1 folder)
This series contains three folders of material written by Dr. Bencriscutto, from 1972 to 1993, arranged by type of publication. The first folder, titled Published Articles, contains journal articles published in The Instrumentalist and The School Musician. The second folder, titled Jazz Handouts, contains all the notes from Jazz Class for Jazz Lovers presented by Dr. Bencriscutto and John Zdechlik. The third folder, titled Philosophy, contains position statements and Dr. Bencriscuttos thoughts relating to teaching music.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing- Published Articles, 1972-1993 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | ||
| The Instrumentalist: The Cultural Exchange- A Force for Peace, April 1972 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 1.0 | |
| The School Musician: Lets Put It All Together, November 1979 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 2.0 | |
| The School Musician: Creative Involvement- The Role of The Concert Band, June/July 1981 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 3.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Lets Not Forget Music, January 1984 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 4.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Develop Creative Musicians, May 1985 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 5.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Lets Get Involved with Our Future, May 1987 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 6.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Frank Bencriscutto- Raising Standards, November 1987 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 7.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Jazz- Its Own Worst Enemy, October 1993 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 8.0 | |
| The Instrumentalist: Developing Creativity Through Improvisation, October 1993 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 9.0 | |
| Intonation- A New Approach, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 10.0 | |
| Writing- Jazz Class Handouts, 1972-1993 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 6 | ||
| Writing- Philosophy, 1972-1993 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | ||
| ABA Position Statement, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 1.0 | |
| MBDA Position Statement, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 2.0 | |
| Getting Results With Your Musical Group, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 3.0 | |
| Making it Happen, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 4.0 | |
| Motive for Music, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 5.0 | |
| Participation, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 6.0 | |
| The Band, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 7.0 | |
| Creativity and Music Education, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 8.0 | |
| The Precarious Position of Music, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 9.0 | |
| Music, Religion and Life, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 10.0 | |
| The Role of the Listener, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 11.0 | |
| Festival Improvement, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 12.0 | |
| The American Band Program- Proper Focus, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 13.0 | |
| Marching Band, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 14.0 | |
| Things I Find Myself Saying and Doing to Get Results Wherever I Guest Conduct, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 15.0 | |
| Your Musicianship, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 16.0 | |
| You and Your Childs Music Study, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 17.0 | |
Series 6: Compositions, undated (1 folder)
This series contains six scores, several lists of Bencriscuttos compositions, and one copy of the Conductors Score for Total Musicianship.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compositions, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | ||
| Concertino for Tuba and Band, Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 1.0 | |
| Jazz March- A Brazilian Percussion Feature, Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 2.0 | |
| Serenade for Solo Alto Saxophone and Band, Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 3.0 | |
| Dialogue for Solo Clarinet and Band, Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 4.0 | |
| Visions of Childhood from Metamorphosis, Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 5.0 | |
| Centennial Festival Overture, Sample Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 6.0 | |
| Kjos Music Company Brochure for The Music of Frank Bencriscutto (2), undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 7.0 | |
| Catalog of Music For Percussion, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 8.0 | |
| List of Works, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 9.0 | |
| Kjos Music Company Brochure for Total Musicianship (2), undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 10.0 | |
| Total Musicianship, Conductor Score, undated | series 6 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 11.0 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.