George Tremblay Collection
Abstract
George Amede Tremblay (1911-1982) was a Canadian born composer and teacher who relocated to the United States in 1920, settling in Los Angeles by 1925. He is known primarily for his work as a pedagogue of the serial technique of composition. In 1965 he discovered the definitive cycle, a serial technique that he explored in his own compositions as well as in his book The Definitive Cycle of the Twelve Tone Row (NY: Criterion Music Corp., 1974). The George Tremblay Collection consists of both personal and professional papers including scores, performance reviews, correspondence, musings, recordings, and notes on the definitive cycle related to Tremblays work as a composer and teacher in the Los Angeles area, and his involvement with the American Composers Alliance, Broadcast Music Inc., and the Fleischer Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
There are no restricted files in this collection.
George Tremblay 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
George Amede Tremblay was born on January 14, 1911 in Ottawa, Canada. His early musical training came from his father who was organist and general music director at the Basilica in Ottawa. He began to improvise when he was only three-years old on a small portable reed organ. Eventually he mastered the art of improvisation, which was a skill that served him well throughout his life.
The Tremblay family moved to the United States in 1920, initially settling in Salt Lake City before moving to California in 1923, and then Los Angeles in 1925. Tremblay became an American citizen in 1939. In Los Angeles, Tremblay studied composition with David Patterson and Arnold Schoenberg, who had a decisive influence on Tremblays music. Using the twelve tone row in its simplest form, the chromatic scale, Tremblay established a definitive cycle that yielded two hundred eighty-eight related rows out of the original. He pursued this definitive cycle in his own works.
Tremblay devoted a large portion of time to his students. In 1965, he founded the School for the Discovery and Advancement of New Serial Techniques in Los Angeles. The school provided film and television composers with a center for consultation and for experimental studies. Tremblay suffered a series of illnesses: two heart attacks, cancer in 1971, and a serious liver ailment. These health problems had a significant impact on his teaching and creative schedules. George Tremblay died on July 14, 1982 in Tijuana, Mexico.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The George Tremblay Collection covers the period from 1923 to 2008; the bulk of the materials date from 1960 to 1982. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers including scores, performance reviews, correspondence, musings, recordings, and notes on the definitive cycle of the twelve tone row related to Tremblays work as a composer and teacher in the Los Angeles area and his involvement with the American Composers Alliance, Broadcast Music Inc., and the Fleischer Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Mrs. Patricia Tremblay (George Tremblays widow) gave the collection in fourteen gifts between February 2005 and August 2010, and deeded the collection to the University of Maryland in November 2010.
Processing Information
Processed by David Brenneman, May 2011
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Nicole Horstman, November 2012.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into eight series
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Scores, 1928-1982 and undated (8.50 linear feet)
This series contains bound scores, printing masters, sketches, and row information. Materials are arranged in the original order of donation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaparral Symphony, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Concert for Violoncello and Piano, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Duo for Viola and Piano, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Early Keyboard, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Epithalamium, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Fantasy and Fugue for Bassoon and Piano, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Fantasy and Two Fugues for Organ, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Five Pieces for Four Players, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Eine Kliene Orgelstu?gke, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| For Sister Gertrude, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| For Verabels Birthday, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| String Quartet: In Memoriam, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Opera Row, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Opus 1, nos. 5, 6, and 8 and Opus 4, no. 2, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Opus 2, nos. 1, 2, and 3, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Petite Etude, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Piano Sonata: To Verabel, Op. 8, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Prelude, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Prelude and Dance, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| Band Piece, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| Quartet for Piano and Strings, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| Serenade, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| Serenade, undated | series 1 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Sextet, undated | series 1 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Sonata for String Bass and Piano, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Sonata No. 3, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Pencil of God, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| String Quartet No. 1, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| String Quartet No. 2, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| String Quartet No. 3, undated | series 1 | box 5 | folder 6 | |
| String Quartet No. 4, undated | series 1 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| String Trio, undated | series 1 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| The Phoenix, undated | series 1 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| Two Piano Sonatas, undated | series 1 | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| Wind Quintet, 1940 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 5 | |
| Wind Quintet, 1950 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| Wind Quintet, 1944 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 2 | |
| Symphony in One Movement, undated | series 1 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
| Symphony No. 2, undated | series 1 | box 9 | folder 1 | |
| Symphony No. 3, undated | series 1 | box 10 | folder 1 | |
| Random Scores/Sketches, undated | series 1 | box 11 | folder 1 | |
| The Phoenix: Random sketches, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 1 | |
| The Phoenix: Duplicate sketches and various modifications, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 2 | |
| The Phoenix: Act II starts, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 3 | |
| The Phoenix: Act I sketches, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 4 | |
| String Quartet No. 4, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 5 | |
| Chaconne, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 6 | |
| Georges Sketch Pad, undated | series 1 | box 12 | folder 7 | |
| The Phoenix: Unfinished, undated | series 1 | box 13 | folder 1 | |
| The Phoenix: Sketches of acts II or III, undated | series 1 | box 13 | folder 2 | |
| Miscellaneous 1, undated | series 1 | box 13 | folder 3 | |
| Miscellaneous 2, undated | series 1 | box 13 | folder 4 | |
| 20 Issues of New Music ranging from April 1928 to July 1949, 1928-1949 | series 1 | box 14 | folder 1 | |
| 3 Issues of New Music Orchestra Series, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 2 | |
| Schoenberg: Quintet for Wind Instruments, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 3 | |
| Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 1, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 4 | |
| Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 2, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 5 | |
| Berg: Lyric Suite, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 6 | |
| Berg: Wozzeck, undated | series 1 | box 14 | folder 7 | |
Series 2: Compositions, 1938-2006 and undated (0.50 linear feet)
This series contains programs, performance reviews, and notes. Materials are arranged chronologically in order of composition.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelude and Dance, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 1 | |
| String Quartet No. 1, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 2 | |
| Two Piano Sonatas, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 3 | |
| Chaparral Symphony, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 4 | |
| Modes of Transportation, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 5 | |
| Wind Quintet No. 1, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 6 | |
| In Memoriam, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 7 | |
| String Quartet, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 8 | |
| Symphony in One Movement, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 9 | |
| Wind Quintet No. 2, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 10 | |
| Symphony No. 2, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 11 | |
| Serenade for 12 Instruments, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 12 | |
| Sonata No. 3 for Piano, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 13 | |
| Quartet for Piano and Strings, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 14 | |
| Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 15 | |
| String Quartet No. 3, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 16 | |
| Epithalamium, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 17 | |
| String Quartet No. 4, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 18 | |
| American Primitive, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 19 | |
| Five Pieces for Four Players, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 20 | |
| String Trio, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 21 | |
| Sonata for String Bass and Piano, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 22 | |
| Fantasy and Fugue, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 23 | |
| Sextet, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 24 | |
| Symphony No. 3, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 25 | |
| The Phoenix, undated | series 2 | box 15 | folder 26 | |
Series 3: Definitive Cycle, 1963-2006 and undated (0.75 linear feet)
This series contains notes on books 1 and 2 of The Definitive Cycle of the Twelve Tone Row, row information, copyright letters, and publication information. Materials are arranged in the original order of donation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book 1 Notes (1 of 2), undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 1 | |
| Book 1 Notes (2 of 2), undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 2 | |
| Building a Row, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 3 | |
| Book 1 Rows, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 4 | |
| Chromatic Row, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 5 | |
| Universal Row, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 6 | |
| Miscellaneous Row Sheets, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 7 | |
| Copyright Letters, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 8 | |
| Publication, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 9 | |
| Larry Fotine, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 10 | |
| Book 2 Notes (1 of 3), undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 11 | |
| Book 2 Notes (2 of 3), undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 12 | |
| Book 2 Notes (3 of 3), undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 13 | |
| Book 2 Students Notes, undated | series 3 | box 16 | folder 14 | |
| Book 2 Ostinato, undated | series 3 | box 17 | folder 1 | |
| Miscellaneous, undated | series 3 | box 17 | folder 2 | |
| 2 Copies of The Definitive Cycle of the Twelve Tone Row, by George Tremblay. Criterion Music Corp., 1974 | series 3 | box 17 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Correspondence, 1936-2008 and undated (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains both general and business correspondence. It has been divided into two sub-series.
Subseries 4.1: Correspondence - General, undated (26 folders)
This subseries contains letters to and from George, Patricia, the University of Maryland Libraries, the American Composers Alliance, Rashida Music, and others. It also contains notes and signatures from such composers as Aaron Copland, Edgard Varese, John Cage, and others. Materials are arranged in the original order of donation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letters, 1962 | series 4.1 | box 18 | folder 1 | |
| Letters, 1963-1964 | series 4.1 | box 18 | folder 2 | |
| Letters, circa 1970 | series 4.1 | box 18 | folder 3 | |
| Patricia and UMD Libraries, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 1 | |
| Patricia, UMD, and ACA, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 2 | |
| Modes of Transportation/Larry Fotine, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 3 | |
| Quincy Jones and Rashida Music, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 4 | |
| Symphony in One Movement, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 5 | |
| Letters, George and Patricia, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 6 | |
| Letters, Patricia and Cynthia, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 7 | |
| Identity of Letter Writers, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 8 | |
| University of California Los Angeles, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 9 | |
| California State University Long Beach, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 10 | |
| Ingolf Dahl, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 11 | |
| Bob Mallary, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 12 | |
| Arnold Schoenberg, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 13 | |
| Gilles Tremblay, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 14 | |
| Lawrence Morton, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 15 | |
| Aurelio de la Vega, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 16 | |
| Gertrude Tremblay-Baker, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 17 | |
| Lucien la Porte, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 18 | |
| Letters to George, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 19 | |
| Postcards to George, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 20 | |
| Miscellaneous Notes and Signatures, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 21 | |
| From Georges Students, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 22 | |
| Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated | series 4.1 | box 19 | folder 23 | |
Subseries 4.2: Correspondence - Business, undated (3 folders)
This subseries contains letters to and from George, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the American Music Center, Inc., the University of Southern California School of Music, and others. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letters to George, undated | series 4.2 | box 19 | folder 24 | |
| Letters from George, undated | series 4.2 | box 19 | folder 25 | |
| Letter from Patricia, undated | series 4.2 | box 19 | folder 26 | |
Series 5: Musings, 1945-2005 and undated (0.50 linear feet)
This series contains excerpts from Patricias journal and transcriptions from George and Patricias recorded morning conversations. Materials are arranged in the original order of donation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricias Journal, undated | series 5 | box 20 | folder 1 | ||
| A Life in Music, undated | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | ||
| The Composer | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 1.0 | |
| The Teacher | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 2.0 | |
| Improvisation | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 3.0 | |
| Other Composers | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 4.0 | |
| Schoenberg | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 5.0 | |
| Compositions | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 6.0 | |
| Biography | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 7.0 | |
| Definitive Cycle | series 5 | box 20 | folder 2 | item 8.0 | |
| Piano Improvisation, undated | series 5 | box 20 | folder 3 | ||
| Intro - Misc. | series 5 | box 20 | folder 3 | item 1.0 | |
| Improvisation CD | series 5 | box 20 | folder 3 | item 2.0 | |
| Performance CD | series 5 | box 20 | folder 3 | item 3.0 | |
| Articles, etc. | series 5 | box 20 | folder 3 | item 4.0 | |
| Morning Words, undated | series 5 | box 20 | folder 4 | ||
| Morning Words | series 5 | box 20 | folder 4 | item 1.0 | |
| Daily Life | series 5 | box 20 | folder 4 | item 2.0 | |
| Definitions | series 5 | box 20 | folder 4 | item 3.0 | |
Series 6: Files, 1931-2006 and undated (0.50 linear feet)
This series contains photos of the Tremblay family, biography information, contracts, and official documents from the American Composers Alliance and other professional organizations. Materials are arranged in the original order of donation.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 1 | |
| Photos, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 2 | |
| Biography/Autobiography, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 3 | |
| Books, Articles, etc., undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 4 | |
| Hans U. Schumann Bad Honeff, Germany, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 5 | |
| Magazine Articles, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 6 | |
| Schoenberg, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 7 | |
| The Composer, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 8 | |
| Compositions, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 9 | |
| The Teacher, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 10 | |
| Modes of Transportation Fotine, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 11 | |
| Students, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 12 | |
| David Raksin, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 13 | |
| ACA, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 14 | |
| BMI, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 15 | |
| American Guild of Authors and Composers, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 16 | |
| Fleischer Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 17 | |
| Contracts, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 18 | |
| Deed of Gift University of Maryland, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 19 | |
| Official Documents, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 20 | |
| Georges Death, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 21 | |
| Tape Restoration, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 22 | |
| Georges Family, undated | series 6 | box 21 | folder 23 | |
Series 7: Recordings, 1958-1982 (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains data CDs, audio CDs, cassettes, LPs, and open reels of pieces composed by George Tremblay. Materials are arranged in the original order.
The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.
Series 8: Books, 1949-1982 (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains eight books and one stamp that mention George Tremblay. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books, 1949-1982 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | ||
| American Composers Today: A Biographical and Critical Guide, compiled and edited by David Ewen. The H. W. Wilson Company, New York, 1949 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Music in the Southwest 1825-1950, by Howard Swan. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, 1952 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 2.0 | |
| Listen Here!: A Critical Essay on Music Depreciation, by Vernon Duke. Ivan Obolensky, Inc., New York, 1963 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 3.0 | |
| An Amateur at the Keyboard, by Peter Yates. Pantheon Books, New York, 1964 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 4.0 | |
| Americas Music: From the Pilgrims to the Present, Rev. 2nd edition, by Gilbert Chase. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1966 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 5.0 | |
| Twentieth Century Music, by Peter Yates. Pantheon Books, New York, 1967 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 6.0 | |
| American Composers: A Biographical Dictionary, by David Ewen. G. P. Putnams Sons, New York, 1982 | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 7.0 | |
| Methode Concertante lmentaire Pour la Musique et le Plain-Chant, by M. Choron, Paris, undated | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 8.0 | |
| 1 Stamp with Tremblays name, undated | series 8 | box 23 | folder 1 | item 9.0 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.