The Toscanini Legacy papers
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Abstract
Arturo Toscanini was born in Parma, Italy, on March 25, 1867, and died in Riverdale, New York, on January 16, 1957. Many regard him as one of the world's greatest conductors. In addition, Toscanini's anti-Fascist stance during World War II distinguished him as a symbol of freedom and humanity. His extraordinarily long career began in 1886, when Italian orchestral conductors were still relatively few in number, and extended into the 1950s, by which time his radio and television broadcasts had transformed him into a cultural icon. The Toscanini Legacy papers form a portion of the Toscanini Legacy housed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The other major portion, of sound recordings, is housed in NYPL's Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound. The papers in the Music Division consist of music scores and orchestral parts with and without markings by Arturo Toscanini and others (including composers in some instances), correspondence, photographs, programs, clippings, books, newspapers, brochures, periodicals, scrapbooks, and medical and financial records. Subjects include the various musical organizations in Europe and the United States with which Toscanini was associated, and his anti-Fascist activities. The hundreds of correspondents include family members, composers, performers, conductors, and music critics; as well as Italian exiles, and U.S. and Italian political figures. The Toscanini Legacy papers have been organized largely according to Walter Toscanini’s original plan. Musical scores and parts have been separated from biographical and archival materials. The musical materials are divided into eleven series, based on their size, original location (Toscanini maintained homes in both New York and Italy), rarity, and the presence or absence of annotations. Series A, B, F, and H through K consist of orchestral and piano-vocal scores, quarto size and larger, while Series C, D, and G constitute miniature orchestral scores, and Series E contains instrumental parts. Scores with Toscanini’s annotations (Series A, C, H, and J) reveal the extent to which the conductor modified the orchestration and other details of the works that he performed. The Toscanini Legacy papers have been organized largely according to Walter Toscanini’s original plan. Musical scores and parts have been separated from biographical and archival materials. The musical materials are divided into eleven series, based on their size, original location (Toscanini maintained homes in both New York and Italy), rarity, and the presence or absence of annotations. Series A, B, F, and H through K consist of orchestral and piano-vocal scores, quarto size and larger, while Series C, D, and G constitute miniature orchestral scores, and Series E contains instrumental parts. Scores with Toscanini’s annotations (Series A, C, H, and J) reveal the extent to which the conductor modified the orchestration and other details of the works that he performed.
Dates / Origin
Date created: 1686