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Bibframe Work

Title
David Diamond papers
Type
Mixed Material
Collection
Classification
LCC: ML31 .D535 (Assigner: dlc) (Status: used by assigner)
Content
text (txt)
Note
language: Collection materials in English and Italian.
Correspondence and writings can also be found in the Leonard Bernstein Collection, Aaron Copland Collection, Lukas Foss Papers, and Serge Koussevitzky Archive
Summary
The collection includes music manuscripts, correspondence, writings, photographs, financial and legal documents, and other materials that document his private and professional life
The Correspondence series ranges from 1928 to 2000, and the most prolific correspondents were the Cuomo and Elliott families. Other significant correspondents include Diamond's sister Sabina Cohen, American scholar William Ferris, composer Francis Thorne, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
The Journals series contain leather bound diaries that Diamond used to chronicle his daily life from 1939 to 2001. Entries include his reflections and thoughts on his musical compositions and performances, religion and human nature, financial woes, and enduring friendships with Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Ciro Cuomo.
The Notebook series constitute approximately 65 years of written remarks wherein Diamond regularly tracked his stream of consciousness and random musings
The Subject Files series, which include correspondence, financial papers, programs, clippings, and broadsides, are an al-inclusive amalgam of items organized and filed by Diamond
The Writings series primarily consist of pedagogical materials Diamond prepared while serving as a professor at various institutions. Because of his extensive stay in Italy, many of his lectures are in English and Italian. In addition to academic addresses, there are also interview transcripts, eulogies he wrote for musical notables such as Peter Mennin and Bernard Rogers, and Diamond's poems as well as texts authored by others
The Libretti/Lyrics series primarily comprise texts, synopses of novels, and ballets that Diamond either scored or endeavored to do so. Approximately twenty percent of the materials are associated with the novels "Billy Budd" by Herman Melville and "Wings of the Dove" by Henry James, while Diamond's opera "The Noblest Game" makes up another third of the series.
The majority of Financial Papers series are comprised of income tax documents from 1943 to 2000. Other documents include royalty records, commissions, donations, invoices, and city and county tax forms.
The Clippings series range from the mid-1930s to the mid-2000s and is divided by decade. Each ten-year span chiefly consists of highlights from Diamond's career, but also include advertisements, current events, and other artists and musicians.
The Photographs series span the years 1917 to 2001 and are a mix of loose photos and photos bound in albums. The primary medium is black and white, and one third of these images are professional studio portraits of the composer. Other individuals that are frequently portrayed include his sister Sabina Cohen, Leonard Bernstein, Ciro Cuomo, and members of the Elliott family.
The Scrapbooks series primarily document Diamond's academic and early musical careers. The bulk of the series comprises recital programs and announcements, followed by publications lauding his compositions, award receptions, and school report cards.
In the Music series Diamond's original compositions are represented by holograph manuscript pencil score drafts, sketches, and parts. These include materials for all eleven of his symphonies and countless other symphonic, chamber, and vocal works, such as Symphony No. 4 (1945), the Grammy-nominated String Quartet No. 4 (1951), Elegy in Memory of Maurice Ravel (1938), and Rounds (1944). Many of these same works appear in a chronological run of more than forty sketchbooks dating from 1935 to 2000. Container list entries include information regarding text setting and dedication when known - works by E. E. Cummings, Herman Melville, James Joyce, and other influential poets often served as the basis for Diamond's songs. Also present within the music series are Diamond's arrangements of works by Maurice Ravel, Eric Satie, and others, as well as his early harmony exercises and a number of inscribed scores from notable composers
The Awards and Certificates series comprised of many awards and certificates Diamond received throughout his life. The certificates span 67 of the composer's 89 years, illustrating his commitment to scholarship in classical music and his perpetuation of the genre.
The Poster series feature eleven posters which primarily promoted both Diamond's teaching engagements and his musical performances
In the Autobiographical Materials series there are early drafts of Diamond's autobiography, "The Midnight Sleep." Begun in 1946 and completed in 1988, the final copy of this personal narrative is retained by the estate of David Diamond.
Origin Date(s)
1915-2003
(bulk 1935-1993)
Authorized Access Point
Diamond, David, 1915-2005 David Diamond papers
Collection Arrangement
Collection Organization: Organized in following series: I. Correspondence (1928-2000), II. Journals (1939-2001), III. Notebooks (1933-2001), IV. Subject Files (1915-2003), V. Writings (1930-1991), VI. Libretti/Lyrics (1940-1987), VII. Financial Papers (1938-2002), VIII. Clippings (1930-2000), IX. Photographs (1917-2001), X. Scrapbooks (1929-1952), XI. Music (1931-2000), subdivided: Original Compositions (1931-2000), Arrangements (1934-1993), Other Music (1934-1937), XII. Awards and Certificates (1931-1998), XIII. Posters (1948-1997), XIV. Autobiographical Material: The Midnight Sleep (1946-1972)