• Description of Collection
• Description of Series
• Inventory
• Series 1: Music
• Series 2: Programs
• Series 3: Personal Papers

Location: M1B 6, 6-7
1.75 linear feet

Arne Oldberg (July 12, 1874 - Feb. 7, 1962). He graduated from the Gottschalk Lyric School and then studied in Vienna for two years with Theodor Leschetzky. As a student of Joseph Rheinberger at Munich's Royal Academy of Art, he completed a three year composition degree in one year. Oldberg joined the Northwestern University piano faculty in 1897, was appointed professor of music in 1899, and served as professor of piano and composition and director of the graduate department of the Music School until his retirement in 1941. Professor Oldberg composed chamber music, concertos for piano, violin, or horn with orchestra, piano pieces, sonatas, and some twenty-five orchestral works, including four symphonies. He was a favorite American composer of Chicago Symphony conductor Frederick Stock, and that orchestra, among others, played his works on a regular basis. On many occasions Oldberg played his own compositions with the orchestras.

This collection of scrapbook pages, clippings, and memorabilia documenting Oldberg's career was begun by his daughter, Elsa Oldberg Zettelman, and continued by an unnamed family friend. It was donated to the Sibley Music Library by Arne Oldberg's son, Karl Oldberg, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Zettelman Goelz, over the period spanning 1982 to 1987.

The collection is of particular interest to those studying American composers in the first half of the twentieth century. It contains 49 of Oldberg's works, much of it printed: 29 with the composer's opus number and 20 others cataloged by his son, Karl Oldberg. The collection includes works for piano, orchestra, violin, 'cello, and horn. It also contains a scrapbook and newspaper clippings relating to his life and works. Also included are concert programs featuring his works.

No Restrictions.

The Arthur Farwell Collection in Sibley Library's Special Collections contains items of interest to those studying American composers, although there are no references to Oldberg in the collection. Oldberg was one of the American composers sponsored by Arthur Farwell early in the twentieth century, and some of his music was published by Farwell in the Wa-Wan Press, Newton Center, Massachusetts. Howard Hanson studied composition with Oldberg for two years at Northwestern University (1915-1916), but Sibley Library contains no materials pertaining to their association.

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Includes most of Oldberg's works arranged by opus number. Some works are bound together and in consequence may be out of order. Note: Works catalogued by Oldberg's son, Karl Oldberg, are referred to by KO number.

This series consists of concert programs in which Oldberg's music appears. Also included are programs from a few concerts Oldberg attended during his school days.

The main feature of this series is a scrapbook kept by Oldberg and containing concert programs and newspaper clippings featuring his life and works. In addition, there are similar materials in chronological files arranged by decade. Items relating to a portrait of Oldberg, obituaries of Oldberg and his wife, and a few other papers of unknown origin are included.

Three photocopies have been made of many of the clippings and programs in this collection. These have been included as a part of the collection.

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Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4

Box 5

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This page is created and maintained by Sam W. Tooley. Last updated 18 October 1996