{"id":7392,"date":"2021-03-04T10:01:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T15:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/?page_id=7392"},"modified":"2024-04-02T13:16:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T17:16:44","slug":"awilder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/","title":{"rendered":"ALEC WILDER ARCHIVE"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1603809181644{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1615917352602{margin-top: -30px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections<br \/>\nSibley Music Library<br \/>\nEastman School of Music<br \/>\nUniversity of Rochester<\/p>\n<p>A revision of the original finding aid, prepared by Colleen V. Fernandez<br \/>\nFall 2017<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/files\/Alec-Wilder-Archive.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ALEC WILDER ARCHIVE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"Contents\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>CONTENTS<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Descrip\">Description of Collection<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Series\">Description of Series<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Inventory<\/li>\n<li>Series 1: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1\">Music Manuscripts (MS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 2: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S2\">Printed Music<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 3: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3\">Recordings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 4: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S4\">Correspondence<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 5: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S5\">Personal Papers<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 6: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6\">Ephemera<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 7: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S7\">Photographs<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Series 8: <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S8\">General\/Oversized<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"Descrip\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION<\/h3>\n<p>Shelf location: M8A 5,1\u20136,7 and 7,2<br \/>\nPhysical extent: 38 linear feet<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_media_grid style=&#8221;pagination&#8221; items_per_page=&#8221;1&#8243; element_width=&#8221;12&#8243; gap=&#8221;0&#8243; arrows_design=&#8221;vc_arrow-icon-arrow_08_left&#8221; loop=&#8221;yes&#8221; item=&#8221;masonryMedia_SlideWithTitleAndCaption&#8221; grid_id=&#8221;vc_gid:1625077230928-b7f420d3-5ee5-8&#8243; include=&#8221;7428,7429,7430&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1615475808451{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1616435007041{margin-top: -10px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Biographical Sketch<\/h4>\n<p>Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder was born in Rochester, New York, on February 16, 1907. He received private instruction in counterpoint and composition from Herbert Inch and Edward Royce at the Eastman School of Music but was mostly self-taught as a composer. Wilder was a vagabond with only three suitcases of belongings; he was constantly traveling and only resided with any regularity at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. He was respected by many of his friends for his innovative compositional style and artistic integrity, which was unaffected by popular musical trends. Most notably, Wilder utilized elements of jazz, American popular song and classical forms throughout his works, while also employing uncommon instrumentations to create a distinct, innovative sound.<\/p>\n<p>Wilder got his start after he moved to New York City in 1932. During the 1930s and early 1940s, Wilder wrote many of his most popular songs, including \u201cI\u2019ll Be Around\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s So Peaceful in the Country.\u201d He also wrote popular octets, with such titles as <em>The Neurotic Goldfish<\/em> and <em>The Amorous Poltergeist<\/em>, which Charles W. Fox, musicologist and Eastman professor, once described as \u201cso individual that they cannot be pigeon-holed.\u201d Throughout his life, Wilder composed in many different forms including sonatas, suites, concertos, operas, ballets, art songs, woodwind quintets, brass quintets, jazz suites\u2014and hundreds of popular songs. He also composed for several commercials and film scores. Additionally, Wilder enjoyed writing music for children and produced hundreds of easy study pieces for children, children\u2019s songs for television productions and records, and an album titled <em>A Child\u2019s Introduction to the Orchestra;<\/em> he also wrote the children\u2019s songs included in the book <em>Lullabies and Night Songs<\/em> illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Aside from composing, Wilder also wrote hundreds of poems and dozens of short stories.<\/p>\n<p>Wilder was open about his deep distrust of institutions and often shied away from publicity and recognition. As a result, many of his works have escaped public notice. Wilder omitted his own celebrated popular songs from his well-known book, <em>American Popular Song: The Great Innovators 1900-1950; <\/em>the omission further diminished his own musical presence within the American popular song genre. Instead, many of Wilder\u2019s friends were responsible for introducing his music to the public; Mitch Miller organized historic recordings of his works including the octets, , and Frank Sinatra conducted a series of Wilder\u2019s works on the LP <em>Sinatra Conducts Music of Alec Wilder<\/em>. Other champions of Wilder\u2019s music have included Gunther Schuller, Marian McPartland, John Barrows, David Diamond, and many others.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the efforts of his friends, Wilder detested celebrity and said he\u00a0wrote music because it was the only thing that could content his spirit. He declared, \u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0do well in terms of financial reward or recognition. But that was never the point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alec Wilder died of lung cancer on December 24, 1980, in Gainesville, Florida.<\/p>\n<h4>Scope and Content<\/h4>\n<p>The Alec Wilder Archive constitutes a large collection of manuscripts, printed music, recordings, literary works, correspondence, photographs, and other materials documenting the life and work of composer Alec Wilder.<\/p>\n<p>The extensive series of music manuscripts, which includes sketches, drafts, fair copies, reproductions, and performance parts, and published scores of works from diverse genres and instrumentations, attest to Wilder\u2019s prolific and eclectic compositional career. The collection also contains numerous recordings, both commercially-produced and private, of Wilder\u2019s compositions and more than 40 reel-to-reel tapes of programs for his Peabody Award-winning radio series <em>American Popular Song with Alec Wilder and Friends<\/em> produced for NPR (1976\u20131978).<\/p>\n<p>Wilder\u2019s writings are also well-represented in the archive via hundreds of handwritten and typed versions of poems, drafts of Wilder\u2019s published and unpublished memoirs, and several drafts of essays on a wide range of topics. Additionally, the archive contains more than 200 letters, various publicity and press items, concert programs from performances of Wilder\u2019s compositions, photographs, biographical material and memorials, artifacts, and other personal and professional papers.<\/p>\n<h4>Provenance<\/h4>\n<p>Alec Wilder did not often keep his own materials and often presented his original copies to his friends. Therefore, most of the materials in the Alec Wilder Archive have been generously donated by the friends of Alec Wilder including Marian McPartland, Louis Ouzer, David Diamond, Glenn Bowen, Judy Bell, Joseph Taubman, Gunther Schuller and Margun Music, Thomas Hampson and countless others.<\/p>\n<h4>Restrictions and Use<\/h4>\n<p>There are no restrictions on the Alec Wilder Archive. In regards to any reproduction of any of the contents, the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (1976) and its revisions do apply. The written permission of the Depositor must be obtained for citation and for photocopying.<\/p>\n<h4>Associations<\/h4>\n<p>Given Alec Wilder\u2019s close friendships and professional associations with Marian McPartland, Louis Ouzer, and Bob Brookmeyer, the <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/mmcpartland\/\">Marian McPartland Collection<\/a>, Louis Ouzer Archive, and Bob Brookmeyer Collection may be of interest to researchers. Whereas the Ouzer and Brookmeyer Collections contain relatively limited material directly related to Wilder (namely, photographs from Wilder\u2019s several visits to Eastman and copies of Brookmeyer\u2019s album <em>7 x Wilder, <\/em>respectively), the <a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/mmcpartland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marian McPartland Collection<\/a> preserves some additional published music by Wilder, essays about Wilder written by Ms. McPartland, and several recordings of compositions by Wilder.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, RTWSC holds two collections of Eastman composer alumni whose careers, like that of Alec Wilder, traversed popular and classical music idioms: the Walter Mourant Collection (BM 1935, MM 1936) and the Joseph Scianni Collection (MM 1953, DMA 1959).<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the department, Alec Wilder\u2019s published output is well-represented in the Sibley Music Library\u2019s circulating collection and the library\u2019s recordings stacks through nearly 250 published scores and more than 200 recordings of compositions and arrangements by Wilder.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1625077271843{margin-top: -20px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Series\" name=\"Series\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>DESCRIPTION OF SERIES<\/h3>\n<h4>Series 1: Manuscripts (MS)<\/h4>\n<p>This series is comprised of manuscript materials, including sketches, working drafts, fair copies, and manuscript reproductions. The materials are arranged in accession order, so there are discrepancies between the sequence of scores within each series and the numeric box and folder order.<\/p>\n<p>The series is subdivided into thirteen sub-series according to genre and instrumentation as indicated below:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s1\">Sub-series 1: Large instrumental ensemble<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s2\">Sub-series 2: Vocal or instrumental solo with large ensemble<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s3\">Sub-series 3: Instrumental solos, with or without accompaniment<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s4\">Sub-series 4: Chamber music<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s5\">Sub-series 5: Vocal chamber&#8211;voice(s) as part of chamber ensemble<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s6\">Sub-series 6: Keyboard&#8211;two or more hands<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s7\">Sub-series 7: Vocal solo<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s8\">Sub-series 8: Vocal soloist ensemble with or without accompaniment<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s9\">Sub-series 9: Choral with or without soloists and accompaniment<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s10\">Sub-series 10: Stage works<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s11\">Sub-series 11: Films Scores<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s12\">Sub-series 12: Commercial music<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser1-2\/#S1s13\"><em>Sub-series 13: Sketches<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Series 2: Printed Music<\/h4>\n<p>This series includes published copies of Wilder\u2019s works. It is intellectually organized by the same sub-series classification as series 1, but is also in accession order only.<\/p>\n<h4>Series 3: Recordings<\/h4>\n<p>This series includes professional, commercial, and casual recordings of Wilder&#8217;s works. Casual recordings were received in an existing numbered sequence, which has been retained. The recordings are organized into six sub-series by format:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s1\">Sub-series 1: Reel-to-reel<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s2\"><em>Sub-series 2: NPR recordings<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em>This sub-series consists of NPR broadcasts of Wilder&#8217;s <em>American Popular Song<\/em> program, which have been retained as received.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s3\">Sub-series 3: Discs<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s4\">Sub-series 4: Cassettes<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s5\">Sub-series 5: Video cassettes<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S3s6\"><em>Sub-series 6: CD&#8217;s<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Series 4: Correspondence<\/h4>\n<p>This series consists of Wilder&#8217;s correspondence with friends and business associates.<\/p>\n<h4>Series 5: Personal Papers<\/h4>\n<p>This series consists of the literary works by Wilder and is divided into two sub-series, poetry and prose.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S5s1\">Sub-series 1: Poetry<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser3-5\/#S5s2\"><em>Sub-series 2: Prose<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Series 6: Ephemera<\/h4>\n<p>This series consists of a variety of materials pertaining to the life and works of Alec Wilder. It is sub-divided into five sub-series:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6s1\">Sub-series 1: Biographical material<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6s2\">Sub-series 2: Programs from performances of Wilder&#8217;s works<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6s3\"><em>Sub-series 3: Listserv content, <\/em>printed from the Internet listserv on Wilder.<\/a><br \/>\n<em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6s4\">Sub-series 4: Ancillary materials of various kinds<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/specialcollections\/findingaids\/awilder\/ser6-8\/#S6s5\"><em>Sub-series 5: Artifacts relating to Wilder\u2019s life<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Series 7: Photographs<\/h4>\n<p>This series consists of photographs relating to Wilder, the majority being photographs of Wilder.<\/p>\n<h4>Series 8: General<\/h4>\n<p>This is not a distinct series but is used to house oversized items from all other series.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1603809181644{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1615917352602{margin-top: -30px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}&#8221;] Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Sibley Music Library Eastman School of Music University of Rochester A revision of the original finding aid, prepared by Colleen V. Fernandez Fall 2017 &nbsp; ALEC WILDER ARCHIVE &nbsp; CONTENTS Description of Collection [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":276,"featured_media":7428,"parent":400,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"finding-aid","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[],"coauthors":[3],"class_list":["post-7392","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/276"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7392\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7392"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/sibley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}