There are many institutions that are in the process of digitizing their collections. It can be difficult to keep track of these new collections without someone indexing them and providing one main entryway for access.
CONTENTdm is one such way to easily access these digital collections.
You can do a search just for music materials, and when you do, you will find a plethora of archival material that may be useful to you in your research.
Here are a few of the highlights from the Music results:
Templeton Digital Sheet Music Collection (Mississippi State University)
Yvar Mikhashoff Photograph Collection (Music Library State University of New York at Buffalo)
The composers include Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson, Sylvano Bussotti, Henri Dutilleux, Giacinto Scelsi, Toru Takemitsu, Frederic Rzewski, Luis de Pablo, Henry Brant, John Cage, Milton Babbitt, Conlon Nancarrow, Nils Vigeland, and Poul Ruders.
Music Department Photograph Collection (Music Library State University of New York at Buffalo)
The Music Department Photograph Collection contains 638 photographs of musicians who have participated in events of the Music Deptartment dating back to ca. 1920.The list of composers in the collection is impressive. It includes: Earle Brown, Harrison Birtwistle, Pauline Oliveros, Colin Bright, Julius Eastman, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Lejaren Hiller, Cornelius Cardew, Carlos Chavez, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss, Elliott Carter, David Del Tredici, Harold Shapero, Mauricio Kagel, Ralph Shapey, Ingolf Dahl, Henri Pousseur, Philip Glass, George Crumb, Fredric Myrow, Leon Kirchner, George Rochberg, Ned Rorem, Allen Sapp, Toru Takemitsu, Morton Subotnick, Leo Smit, and Augusta Read Thomas.
N. American New Music Festival Archive Photos (Music Library State University of New York at Buffalo)
The North American New Music Festival was founded in 1983 by Yvar Mikhashoff and Jan Williams, faculty members of the University at Buffalo Music Department and dedicated proponents of contemporary and avant-garde art music. Their aim was to produce, over a ten-day period, a concentrated series of concerts and related events at multiple Buffalo-area locations. These annual music festivals featured a wide range of modern musical styles composed and performed both by emerging creative musicians and by established composers of national and international reputation. The 173 images in the archive have been digitized to create this separate, online image collection. The original photographs include publicity stills submitted by participating musicians as well as photographs of musicians in rehearsal or performance. Notable composers represented in the collection include Milton Babbitt, Earle Brown, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Lejaren Hiller, La Monte Young, Netty Simons, Pauline Oliveros, and Frank Zappa.
Morton Feldman Photographs, 1939-1987 (Music Library State University of New York at Buffalo)
Composer Morton Feldman (1926-1987) was best known for his association with the New York School of experimentalist musicians, including composers John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown, and pianist David Tudor. In addition to composing approximately 150 works, Feldman also wrote more than three dozen articles about various aspects of music and art. Feldman was a member of the music department faculty at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1972-1987. During those years he served as Slee Professor of Music 1972-1973, Edgar Varèse Professor 1975-1987, and Director of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts, 1976-1980. He was also responsible for creating the June in Buffalo festival of contemporary music in 1975. The Morton Feldman Photographs, 1939-1987 are one component of the Morton Feldman Papers held by the Music Library. The online photograph collection consists of fifty four images, including snapshots and formal photographs. Other musicians pictured in the collection include John Cage, Barbara Monk Feldman, Nils Vigeland, Eberhard Blum, and the Kronos Quartet.
Concert Selections (IPFW Department of Music)
The Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Department of Music’s audio performances include selections from its student recitals, Faculty Artist Series, extensive Ensemble Series, and other concerts. The Ensemble Series includes the University Singers, Chamber Singers, Opera Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, IPFW Community Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and a variety of Chamber ensembles.
Happy Exploring!
