Finding Aids

Biographical Sketch

Louis Angelini, composer and music educator, was born in Utica, New York. He studied at Cornell University and at Ithaca College (B.M. in music theory, 1959) and at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (M.M. in music theory, 1960; Ph.D. in composition, 1968). At Eastman he studied composition primarily with Bernard Rogers, and also with Howard Hanson. He also elected additional studies in composition at the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood), 1962, with Witold Lutoslawski and Lucas Foss. In addition, he took tutelage in conducting under Pierre Monteux at the Domain School for Conductors, 1961.

Professionally, he has served as Assistant Professor of Music at East Texas State University (1966); as Composer-in-Residence for the Contemporary Music Project at the Lincoln Public Schools (1967-69); and as Professor of Music at Utica College of Syracuse University (1969-1999), presently an independent college. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including a Fulbright scholarship in composition for study in Italy; the Koussevitzky Prize in Composition (Tanglewood); a Ford Foundation grant for his Contemporary Music Project fellowship in composition; and he was a participant in Meet the Composer, Inc., sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts. At Utica College he received the Distinguished Teaching Award.

His compositions include solos and duos for instruments and voices, chamber music, choral music, structured improvisations, musical theater works, and orchestral works. His music has been performed by European and American professional organizations, and by college, school, and community ensembles. His music has been heard in broadcasts via radio and television. Some of his works have been published by the Contemporary Music Project. Performers and organizations performing his music have included, among others, flutist Bonita Boyd, artist-teacher at the Eastman School of Music; the Utica Symphony Orchestra; the Utica College multi-media and music theater ensembles; Nuova Consonanza (Rome, Italy); the Amici String Quartet; Steven Heyman, artist-in-residence at Colgate University and faculty member of the Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University; the Madison String Quartet; the Players Theater of Utica (New York); the Society for New Music; and the Eastman Wind Ensemble.

Dr. Angelini’s professional website

Provenance

The collection was the gift of Dr. Angelini, received in several installments in 2009 and in 2010.

Scope and Content

The Louis Angelini Collection is comprised of original works composed between 1957 and 1992. The bulk are scored for solo instrument or chamber ensemble, but two large works for orchestra are also represented. In format, the Angelini compositions are represented either in manuscript reproductions or as digitally generated printed scores. Four compositions represented herein‒Evocation; Woodwind Sextet; Two Graphs for Strings; and Hosanna‒were published by University Microfilms Ann Arbor, Michigan); the four are a part of the collection of works associated with the Contemporary Music Project, a special program of the MENC in the 1960s-70s that was funded by the Ford Foundation. (The Contemporary Music Project collection is held by the University of Maryland.) In addition, the collection also contains CD-format sound recordings of many of the Angelini compositions, as well as performances on DVD of his stage works.

Restrictions and Use

There are no restrictions on use of the collection. By permission of the composer (granted by his letter of May 13th, 2009), the Sibley Music Library may at its discretion provide reproductions of the original works herein to any party who requests them.

Associations

The Louis Angelini Collection joins the growing critical mass of manuscript collections received from alumni of the Eastman School of Music.

DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Series 1: Manuscripts

This series is comprised of manuscript reproductions and/or printed manifestations of original works by Dr. Angelini.

Series 2: Personal papers

This series is comprised of an extent of documents emanating from Dr. Angelini’s professional career, including original writings in both prose and poetry.

Series 3: Media

This series is comprised of CD-format compilations of audio recordings of performances of original works by Dr. Angelini, compiled from numerous different sources. The series also includes rehearsals and performances on DVD of Dr. Angelini’s theatrical works.

INVENTORY

Series 1: Manuscripts

Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4