THELMA BIRACREE SCHNEPEL COLLECTION
SC 1995.9
RUTH T. WATANABE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
SIBLEY MUSIC LIBRARY
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
prepared by Carol M. Moen
Fall 1995
CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION
Thelma Biracree Schnepel Collection (1933-1941)
Location: M 1A, 1, 2
6 linear feet, music
Biographical Sketch
Thelma Biracree Schnepel operated the Thelma Biracree School of Ballet in Rochester, New York, in association with the Eastman School of Music during the latter’s early years. She participated in the Eastman School’s Festivals of American Music from the 1930s to 1950, as a choreographer and dance instructor for the festivals’ ballet performances.
Provenance
The collection of Thelma Biracree Schnepel’s annotated ballet scores was presented by Schnepel in 1985, with the encouragement and assistance of Elizabeth Purvis.
Scope and Content
The collection contains 34 ballet scores used as a part of Howard Hanson’s Festivals of American Music at the Eastman School of Music. Most of the scores are annotated in pencil with choreographic notes by Thelma Biracree Schnepel. The material is pertinent to the study of the history of the Institute of American Music and the study of dance and choreography.
Restrictions and Use
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection, other than the usual copyright regulations.
Associations
The collections of Sibley Music Library possess many individually cataloged scores and recordings of music performed at the Festivals of American Music. Identification of these works is possible through the printed catalog, American Composers’ Concerts and Festivals of American Music 1925-1971: Cumulative Repertoire, a copy of which has been included with this collection. In addition, the Eastman School of Music Archives contains materials of related interest including programs for the Festivals of American Music. The Library’s Special Collections and the Eastman School Archives also possess individual collections of interest, including those of Howard Hanson and Burrill Phillips.
DESCRIPTION OF SERIES
Series I: Scores
The series contains 34 ballet scores, both manuscripts and reproductions. Most are annotated with choreographic notes by Thelma Biracree Schnepel. The scores are arranged alphabetically by composer.
INVENTORY
Box 1
| folder 1 | Alter, Martha. Puritan’s Progress. reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 2 | Barlow, Wayne. The Black Madonna (1941) and Lyrical Piece for Clarinet and Strings reproduction of piano score, miniature score photostat |
| folder 3 | Barlow, Wayne. Cubist. manuscript score in ink, annotated in pencil |
| folder 4 | Bennett, Robert Russell. Endimion (1934). reproduction of piano vocal score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 5 | Bergsma, William. Gold and the Señor Commandante (1940-41). reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 6 | Carpenter, John Alden. The Birthday of the Infanta (excerpts: “The Guests,” “Guests,” “Dance of the Princess and ensemble,” “Games,” “Puppet Show,” Dance of the Girls and the Princess,” Entrance of the Toreadors and Bull Fight,” “Gypsys,” “Entrance of the Guests.”) reproduction of Wendell E. Adams’s piano reduction, annotated in pencil |
| folder 7 | De Lamarter, Eric. The Betrothal (excerpts: “Overture,” “The Veiled Sweetheart,” “Dance of the Sweethearts.”) piano score manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil, and pencil sketch |
| folder 8 | Hanson, Howard. The Forest Play (excerpt). reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 9 | Hanson, Howard. Pan and the Priest. second piano part of 2-piano arrangement, copy of composer’s manuscript, annotated in pencil |
| folder 10 | Norton, Spencer. Bourée, Op.12 no.3a. reproduction, annotated in pencil |
| folder 11 | Phillips, Burrill. Courthouse Square. holograph manuscript of piano score, annotated in pencil |
Box 2
| folder 1 | Phillips, Burrill. Katmanusha. reproduction of piano score (“no. 3”), annotated in pencil |
| folder 2 | Phillips, Burrill. Play Ball. reproduction of 2-piano score, including “general synopsis of action,” annotated in pencil |
| folder 3 | Phillips, Burrill. A Set of Three Informalities for Piano: “Blues,” “Scherzo,” “Sonatina”. reproduction, annotated in pencil |
| folder 4 | Phillips, Burrill. Step Into My Parlor. holograph score in ink, annotated in pencil; scenario by Thelma Biracree |
| folder 5 | Pugni, C. Pas de Quatre. “revised by William McDermott,” reproduction of piano score |
| folder 6 | Rogers, Bernard. The Story of a Darning Needle. from the suite Once Upon a Time, Five Fairy Tales. piano reduction, manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil |
| folder 7 | Rogers, Bernard. Three Japanese Dances (1933) and The Ride of Koschei the Deathless reproduction of score, 2 copies, annotated in pencil; manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil |
| folder 8 | Rudin, Herman. Parade. holograph manuscript of piano score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 9 | Still, William Grant. La Guiablesse. reproduction of composer’s holograph, annotated in pencil; 2 copies: Howard Hanson, Thelma Biracree |
| folder 10 | Still, William Grant. Miss Sally’s Party. reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 11 | Still, William Grant. Sahdji. reproduction of composer’s holograph of piano vocal score, annotated in pencil |
| folder 12 | Woltman, Frederick. An Incantation (1938). reproduction of 2-piano score |
| folder 13 | [unidentified composer, Wayne Barlow?]. The Big Top. This includes six scores evidently intended as a ballet suite. The other sections are Bareback Riders, Clowns, Finale, Jugglers, The Tight Rope Walker. holograph in ink, annotated in pencil |
| folder 14 | [unidentified composer, Burrill Phillips?]. Scene III – opening; Scene IV to *; Dance – “children’s carol.” manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil |
| folder 15 | [unidentified composer]. Three Satirical Fragments. piano score, pencil |
| folder 16 | American Composers’ Concerts and Festivals of American Music 1925-1971. |