Harold Brown Collection
Abstract
Harold Brown was a composer and violist/violinist born in New York in 1909. He attended Columbia College where he studied Composition and Conducting under many notable pedagogues including Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Bernard Wagenaar, and Leon Barzin. He also studied with Nadia Boulanger at Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris as part of the Mosenthal Fellowship. Brown became a well-loved teacher at both the high school and college level. He taught many things including Composition, Orchestration, Music Theory, and Chorus as well as working as a freelance string player. This collection contains a selection of his compositions for Choir, Orchestra, String Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, and Piano.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
There are no restricted files in this collection.
Harold Brown 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. Please make an appointment with the curator: Vincent J. Novara Tel: 301.405.9220, Email: vnovara@umd.edu
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Harold Brown (October 31, 1909-September 26, 1979) was a composer and violist/violinist born in New York. He attended Columbia College where he studied Composition and Conducting under many notable pedagogues including Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Bernard Wagenaar, and Leon Barzin. He also studied with Nadia Boulanger at Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris as part of the Mosenthal Fellowship. Brown became a well-loved teacher at both the high school and college level. He taught many things including Composition, Orchestration, Music Theory, and Chorus as well as working as a freelance string player.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Harold Brown collection contains a selection of his compositions for many different ensemble types spanning from 1935 to 1952. There are pieces for Chorus, Orchestra, String Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, and Solo Piano including a piano reduction made by Brown of a Friscobaldi Orchestral Fugue.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Harold Brown collection was given to the American Composers Alliance at the University of Maryland by Sig Rosen. The collection has since been separated from the ACA into its own collection at UMD SCPA by Sig Rosen.
Processing Information
Processed by Alex Boatright, November 2012
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Nicole Horstman, January 2013.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is arranged into four series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Orchestral Music, 1937-1945 and undated (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains orchestral compositions (5) by Harold Brown. It has been arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suite for String Orchestra [Score and parts], 1937 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Symphony No. 1 [Score and string parts for only the first movement], 1938 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Orchestral Suite No. 1 [Score and parts], 1940 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Divertimento for Small Orchestra [Score and Parts], 1945 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Four Symphonic Movements [Score], 1950 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
Series 2: Piano Music, undated (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains piano compositions (2) by Harold Brown. It has been arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Little Preludes for Piano Solo [Score], 1935 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Prima Parte Friscobaldi Fuga for Piano [Score], 1952 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
Series 3: Chamber Music, 1935 and undated (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains chamber compositions (4) by Harold Brown. It has been arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quintet for Strings [Score and parts], 1935 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Three Songs for Soprano and Piano [Score], 1947 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| String Quartet no 1 [Score], 1952 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Two Experiments for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon [Score], 1952 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
Series 4: Choral Music, 1935 and undated (1.00 linear foot)
This series contains choral compositions (1) by Harold Brown. It has been arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choral Setting no. 1, 1940 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
Related Material
The American Composers Alliance Archives and Score Collection are available for research at Special Collections in Performing Arts.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.