Research Catalog

Title

Arthur Berger papers, 1905-2004 (bulk 1930-2003)

Author

Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Boulanger, Nadia
• Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990
• Motherwell, Robert
• Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971
• Brandeis University. Dept. of Music

Description

16.78 linear feet (45 boxes)

Summary

The Arthur Berger papers document twentieth century music from both a critic and composer's perspective. Berger's papers contain seven decades of reviews and other writings and files on many developments in the field of classical music. The other significant parts of the collection are scores for Berger's compositions and sheet music that he used throughout his career. Though the collection contains material primarily relating to Berger's professional career, there are some personal items from the first twenty years of his life, notably photographs.

Uniform Title

• Musical mercury.
• New York herald tribune.

Subject

• Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003
• Boulanger, Nadia
• Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990
• Motherwell, Robert
• Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971
• Brandeis University. Dept. of Music
• Musical mercury
• New York herald tribune
• Composers > United States > 20th century
• Music critics > United States > 20th century
• Music teachers > United States > 20th century
• Music > United States > History and criticism
• Musical criticism > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

• Clippings.
• Correspondence.
• Manuscripts.
• Photographs.
• Scores.
• Sheet music.

Location of Other Archival Materials (note)

• Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries.

Biography (note)

• Arthur Berger (1912-2003) was a critically acclaimed composer, music critic, and professor. He began writing short newspaper reviews while still a student at New York University, where he studied composition and music education. During this period, Berger joined the Young Composers Group, established by Aaron Copland. He would maintain a strong relationship with Copland throughout his life, and, in 1953, he published the first monograph on the composer. Berger continued his studies in Boston and later in France, where he spent two years under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger and became increasingly interested in the work of Igor Stravinsky. Throughout his schooling, Berger wrote articles for various periodicals. He also edited the journal, Musical Mercury, from 1934-1937. In the 1940s and early 1950s, Berger was a music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, but in 1953 he left the paper to accept a full-time teaching position at Brandeis University, where he was an instrumental figure in the founding of that school's music department. Berger's output as a composer was steady, although not prolific. Many of his works were composed during the 1940s and 1950s; later works from the 1970s-1990s revised these earlier pieces in a process that he called "collages," a term inspired by his friendship with the artist Robert Motherwell.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Call Number

JPB 04-38

OCLC

NYPG05-A10028

Author

Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003.

Title

Arthur Berger papers, 1905-2004 (bulk 1930-2003)

Biography

Arthur Berger (1912-2003) was a critically acclaimed composer, music critic, and professor. He began writing short newspaper reviews while still a student at New York University, where he studied composition and music education. During this period, Berger joined the Young Composers Group, established by Aaron Copland. He would maintain a strong relationship with Copland throughout his life, and, in 1953, he published the first monograph on the composer. Berger continued his studies in Boston and later in France, where he spent two years under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger and became increasingly interested in the work of Igor Stravinsky. Throughout his schooling, Berger wrote articles for various periodicals. He also edited the journal, Musical Mercury, from 1934-1937. In the 1940s and early 1950s, Berger was a music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, but in 1953 he left the paper to accept a full-time teaching position at Brandeis University, where he was an instrumental figure in the founding of that school's music department. Berger's output as a composer was steady, although not prolific. Many of his works were composed during the 1940s and 1950s; later works from the 1970s-1990s revised these earlier pieces in a process that he called "collages," a term inspired by his friendship with the artist Robert Motherwell.

Location of Other Archival Materials

See also Arthur Berger papers, 1948-2004, in the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries.

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material

Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Music critics.

Music teachers.

Added Author

Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003. Aaron Copland.

Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003. Reflections of an American composer.

Boulanger, Nadia.

Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990.

Motherwell, Robert.

Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971.

Brandeis University. Dept. of Music.

Added Title

Musical mercury.

New York herald tribune.

Research Call Number

JPB 04-38