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Cage 475
Elizabeth Gyring
Papers, 1930-1980
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| Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 Inquiries |
Cage 475
Elizabeth Gyring
Papers, 1930-1980
The papers of Elizabeth Gyring were placed by Dr. Hans Moldenhauer, of Spokane, in the Moldenhauer Archives at Washington State University in August 1982 (MS 82-34). The papers were arranged and processed by John Mueter in November of that year.
BIOGRAPHY
Elizabeth Gyring was born in Vienna, Austria in 1909. She was
the daughter of the well-known laryngologist Leopold Rethy, himself
an amateur musician and founder/conductor of the Wiener Aertzte
Orchester. She pursued her musical studies at the State Academy
of Music in her native Vienna and graduated with distinction.
She enjoyed the encouragement of the composer Alban Berg, a friend
of the family, and of some of Vienna's leading musicians. Performances
of her works in Berlin and Vienna received favorable critical
notices. In 1939 she emigrated to the United States with her husband
Otto Geiringer and eventually became an American citizen. She
resided in New York City until her death in 1970.
Elizabeth Gyring's music utilizes the dense chromaticism of the Late Romantic style. Both versatile and prolific, with over 160 works to her credit, she composed music in nearly all traditional forms including a full-length opera, two symphonies, seven string quartets, numerous chamber music works for various combinations of instruments, concerti, cantatas, songs, choral pieces, works for solo piano, organ and other instruments. She was a member of the American Composers Alliance in New York City. A few of her works were published during her lifetime by Henri Elkan and the Boston Music Company. The bulk of her compositions were made available through the American Composers Facsimile Edition, New York. Despite a number of performances of her music in New York and Philadelphia, as well as a few radio performances, Elizabeth Gyring's music has been for the most part neglected.
ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION
The collection is arranged in two series: Music Manuscripts and Correspondence and Papers. The music manuscripts in Series I follow the alphabetical order and numbering of the BMI catalogue (folder G). About three-quarters of the compositions listed in the BMI catalogue are contained in the collection. Along with holograph scores, the series also includes photocopies and transparencies of scores. Series II, Correspondence and Papers, includes original correspondence (some are photocopies), publishing contracts, lists of compositions compiled by Elizabeth Gyring, her will, legal papers, several articles on music, biographies of the composer, printed scores, tape recordings, reviews and programs.
The numbering of the folders in the collection retains the numbering of the BMI catalogue listing. Hence, there are gaps in the sequence of folder numbers. Those items not listed in the BMI catalogue (beginning with Series I, B and continuing to Series II and the BMI catalogue itself) have been provided with consecutive letters, A through G.
CONTAINER LIST
Box Folder Description
SERIES I: Music Manuscripts
Works listed in the BMI catalogue:
1 2 Adagio for Orchestra, 1944.
10 p. full score.
12 p. photocopy, bound.
3 Adagio for Chamber Orchestra, n.d.
16 p. full score.
4 Adagio cantabile for Clarinet, with Piano, 1961
5 p. score.
5 Adagio and Rondo from Concerto for Oboe and
Strings, n.d.
Piano transcription with oboe.
12 p. photocopy.
6 Allegro for Organ, 1961
8 p. transparency.
7 Allegro for Woodwid Quartet, n.d.
Separate parts for flute, oboe, clarinet in
B flat and bassoon; each part 2 l.
10 Andante for Solo Oboe and String Orchestra, n.d.
13 p. full score.
11 Andante cantabile for French Horn and Piano,
December, 1953.
2 l. photocopy.
2 p. transparency.
Box Folder Description
1 15 Beloved Land, December 1941
Song for Baritone and String Orchestra; from a
poem by J. R. Randall.
4 p. full score.
18 Ten Canons for Two and Three Woodwinds; July, 1941.
For flute, oboe, one or two clarinets in B flat
and bassoon.
Score and parts, 11 pp.
7 p. photocopy.
20 Capriccio for 4 Clarinets in B flat, February, 1963.
6 p. photocopy of the score.
13 p. transparency; score and parts.
23 Concert Piece for Piano, 1958.
6 p. photocopy, bound.
6 p. transparency.
24 Concert Piece for Clarinet B flat and Piano, 1942.
12 p. score.
3 p. clarinet part.
25 Concert Piece for Double Bass and Piano, September
1965.
10 p. photocopy score.
5 p. double bass part.
12 p. transparency of the score and bass part.
26 Concert Piece for Oboe and Piano, n.d.
10 p. score.
27 Concertino for Clarinet, with String Quartet, 1960.
24 p. transparency of the score.
26 p. transparency of parts for clarinet and
strings.
28 Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra, n.d.
51 p. transparency of the score.
8 p. transparency of the oboe part.
29 Daffodils, n.d.
Song for soprano with piano; text by William
Wordsworth.
8 p. photocopy.
8 p. transparency.
Box Folder Description
2 30 Divertimento No. 1 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and
Strings, n.d.
16 p. photocopy.
31 p. transparency of the score and parts.
31 Divertimento No. 2 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and
Strings, n.d.
21 p. photocopy of the score.
21 p. transparency of the score.
32 Divertimento No. 3 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and
Strings, n.d.
22 p. photocopy of the score.
33-34 Duo No. 1 and Duo No. 2 for Clarinet in B flat
and Viola, 1965.
4 p. score of each duo; photocopy.
4 p. transparency for each duo.
35 The Eagle, 1942.
Text by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
2 l. score; version for solo voice and piano.
2 l. score; version for 4-part chorus and piano.
37 Three Easy Choruses, n.d.
1. A Psalm of Life (Longfellow), 2. A Tiny Trip
(J. Ashby-Sterry), 3. Bonnie Belle (Samuel
Minturn Peck).
7 p. photocopy, bound.
38 Enoch; chorus for women's voices and organ, n.d.
Text by Felicia Hemans.
10 p. photocopy.
10 p. transparency.
39 Fable, n.d.
Song for soprano and piano; text by Ralph
Waldo Emeraon.
4 p. photocopy.
40-55 Fantasies fo2@Organ, 1-16; 1957-1959.
25 items, bound photocopy scores for Fantasies
4 and 9-16.
Transparencies for Fantasies 1-16.
56 Fantasy for String Quartet, January 1959.
7 p. transparency.
58 Fugue in Old Style, n.d.
For flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat and
bassoon.
4 p. photocopy score.
Separate parts for each instrument, each 2 l.
Box Folder Description
3 59-73 Fugues, 1-16, 1962-1964.
For clarinet, violin, viola and violoncello.
Bound photocopy scores for Fugues 1-7 and 9-16.
Transparencies for all scores and individual
parts.
74 Furioso, December, 1952.
20 p. full orchestral score, photocopy, bound.
75 Happy Birthday; A Little Joke on a Familiar Theme,
n.d.
For organ.
2 p. bound photocopy.
2 p. transparency.
77 Heresy for a Classroom, 1942, 1945.
Version A for 4-part chorus; version B for
3-part chorus.
Text by Rolfe Humphries.
6 p. score (version A).
3 p. score (version B); also 5 p. photocopy and
5 p. transparency.
79 Hymn, n.d.
Song for soprano and piano; text by Joseph
Addison.
4 p. Photocopy, bound.
4 p. transparency.
80 A Hymn of Gratitude, March, 1948.
For baritone solo, 3-part women's chorus and
piano. Text from Psalms 42-72.
5 p. full score.
83 Introduction and Fugue, n.d.
For oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn in F
and string orchestra.
32 p. full score.
84 Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Gloria, November,
1955.
For mixed chorus and organ.
10 p. photocopy score.
10 p. transparency.
85 Larghetto for String Quartet, n.d.
4 p. full score photocopy.
Parts for each instrument, each 2 l.
86 Larghetto for Orchestra, August, 1944.
13 p. full score, bound.
87 Largo for Double Bass and Piano, October, 1965.
7 p. photocopy, bound.
Transparency of score and bass part, 9 pp.
88 Little Serenade for Piano, 1949.
2 p. score.
2 p. photocopy.
2 p. transparency.
90 Little Woodwind Quartet, n.d.
Parts for each instrument, each 2 l.
91 Two Marches for 2 Pianos, Timpany and Triangle, 1945.
12 p. photocopy score.
12 p. transparency.
92 Two Military Marches for Orchestra, 1943.
9 p. full score.
Box Folder Description
4 93 My Country (Symphonic Cantata), n.d.
For orchestra, soloists and chorus; text by
Russell W. Davenport.
67 p. full score (Part I); 40 p. full score
(Part II).
94 New York, 1942.
For 4-part chorus and piano; text by George
William Russell.
3 holograph scores.
2 photocopies.
2 transparencies.
95a Night at Sea and Day in Court, April, 1954.
Opera in 2 parts (12 scenes); based on the book
The Case of the Substitute Face by Erle
Stanley Gardner; adapted for the stage by the
composer.
25 p. autograph libretto.
66 p. piano transcription and vocal score,
photocopy, bound.
95b/c Night at Sea and Day in Court.
Orchestral score, photocopy of Part I (85 p.)
and Part II (164 p.), both bound.
96 Nonett, n.d.
For flute, oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn
in F, violin, viola, violoncello and
double-bass.
89 p. full score.
Also individual parts.
97 O Boys! O Boys! 1942.
Chorus for 4 voices and piano; text by Oliver
St. John Gogarthy.
6 p. score.
4 p. score.
Box Folder Description
5 98 Oktett, n.d.
For oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn, 2
violins, viola and violoncello.
85 p. full score, also individual parts.
99 Four Orchestral Pieces, n.d.
Photocopy scores: I. 51 pp., II. 22 pp., III.
26 pp., IV. 51 pp.
101 Two Piano Pieces, n.d.
3 p. transparency.
102 Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, n.d.
23 p. score.
103 Prelude for Organ, n.d.
2 p. photocopy.
2 p. transparency.
104-106 Preludes and Fugues for Organ, 1-3, 1959.
3 transparencies, 9 pp. each.
107 Two Psalms for Mixed Chorus, n.d.
3 p. photocopy; version with piano.
3 p. transparency of same.
4 p. transparency of version with organ.
4 p. transparency of voice parts.
108 String Quartet in A flat, n.d.
22 p. full score photocopy, also individual
parts.
110 String Quartet No. 2 in c minor; January, 1946.
26 p. full score, also photocopies of
individual parts.
Box Folder Description
6 111 String Quartet No. 3 in c minor, n.d.
43 p. full score.
Individual parts.
112 String Quartet No. 4, August, 1943.
22 p. full score.
20 p. photocopy score, dated 1945.
113 String Quartet No. 5, May, 1953.
26 p. photocopy score.
Also transparencies of the full score and
individual parts.
114 String Quartet No. 6, June, 1960.
28 p. transparency of the full score.
115 String Quartet No. 7, 1960.
26 p. transparency of the full score.
Also transparencies of individual parts.
116 Woodwind Quartet, November, 1952.
13 p. photocopy score, bound.
117 Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, n.d.
87 p. full score.
118 Woodwind Quintet, October, 1961.
29 p. photocopy score.
29 p. transparency of the full score.
Also transparencies of individual parts.
120 The Reign of Violence is Over, May 1943.
Cantata for chorus, string orchestra and piano;
text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
32 p. full score.
24 p. piano transcription and vocal score,
photocopy.
Typewritten copy of the text, 1 p.
Also individual parts fItrings, photocopies
and transparencies.
121 Rondo for Piano, 1949.
4 p. score.
6 p. photocopy.
6 p. transparency.
122 Rondo for Orchestra, October, 1942
49 p. full orchestral score.
35 p. photocopy.
123 Rondo giocoso, n.d.
For flute, oboe, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2
bassoons and 2 French horns.
12 p. full score.
Box Folder Description
7 125 Scherzo for Orchestra No. 1, n.d.
30 p. full score.
For 2 flutes (piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in
B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets
in C, timpani and strings.
Set of 18 parts, for each instrument,
photocopies.
Set of parts, transparencies.
126 Scherzo for Orchestra No. 2, n.d.
Photocopy parts for flute, clarinet in B flat,
trumpet, trombone, and strings.
127 The Secret of Liberty, March 1945.
Cantata for Chorus, Four Soloists and Orchestra.
28 p. piano transcription and vocal score,
photocopy.
Photocopy parts for flute and piccolo, oboe,
2 clarinets in B flat, horn in F, trumpet
in C, trombone, bassoon and strings.
Set of parts, transparencies.
128 Sextet, n.d.
For flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat, 2 bassoons
and horn in F.
41 p. full score.
Also individual parts.
129 Sextet, n.d.
For oboe, bassoon and string quartet.
55 p. full score.
30 p. piano reduction.
Also individual parts.
Box Folder Description
8 131 Five Short Pieces for B flat Clarinet and Piano,
July, 1941.
12 p. score.
132 Sinfonietta No. 1 for String Orchestra, March, 1948.
32 p. full score.
Set of parts, photocopies and transparencies.
133 Sinfonietta No. 2 for String Orchestra, July, 1948.
34 p. full score.
134 Solo for Clarinet [in B flat], November, 1952.
2 p. photocopy.
135 Sonata No. 1 for Piano and Clarinet, n.d.
19 p. photocopy score.
Transparencies of the score (19 p.) and clarinet
part (8 p).
136 Sonata for Organ No. 1, January, 1957.
21 p. transparency.
137 Sonata No. 1 for Piano, June, 1956.
19 p. photocopy, bound.
19 p. transparency.
138 Sonata No. 2 for Piano, n.d.
19 p. photocopy, bound.
19 p. transparency.
139 Sonata for Violin and Piano, n.d.
26 p. score.
140 Song from Henry the Eighth, n.d.
For soprano and string quartet. Text by William
Shakespeare.
4 p. photocopy of the piano transcription.
Set of individual parts for strings.
141 Song from The Tempest, n.d.
For soprano and string quartet. Text by William
Shakespeare.
2 p. photocopy of the piano transcription.
Set of individual parts for strings.
144 Suite for Oboe and Piano, 1942.
9 p. score.
2 p. score of the second movement.
4 p. part for oboe.
146 Symphonic Poem, n.d.
35 p. photocopy of the full score.
Box Folder Description
9 147 Symphony (No. 1), n.d.
Bound photocopy scores of movements; I (36 p.),
II and III (28 p.) and IV (30 p.).
112 p. transparency.
148 Symphony No. 2, n.d.
150 p. transparency of the full score.
149 Theme and Variations for Organ, 1959.
10 p. transparency.
150 Theme con Variazione for Pianoforte, n.d.
14 p. score.
151 Theme and Variations for Two Pianos, n.d.
18 p. photocopy score, two copies.
152 Theme, Variations and Fugue for Organ, 1959.
10 p. transparency.
153 Trio for Clarinet in A, Bassoon and Piano, 1962.
39 p. transparency of the full score.
Transparencies of the clarinet and bassoon
parts.
154 Trio for Oboe, Clarinet in B flat and Piano, May,
1951.
56 p. photocopy of the score.
Box Folder Description
10 155 Trio for Piano, Clarinet in B flat and Viola, 1964.
23 p. photocopy of the score.
23 p. transparency of the score.
Also transparencies of the clarinet and viola
parts.
157 Trio-Fantasy, February, 1954.
For violin, violoncello and piano.
11 p. photocopy of the score, bound.
Also photocopies of the violin and violoncello
parts.
159 Violin Concerto, 1941 (?).
55 p. full orchestral score.
26 p. piano reduction.
162 Waltz for Violin and Piano, n.d.
3 p. score.
2 p. violin part.
163 We Take Those Things We Gave Away, November, 1950.
Song for bass and piano; text by R. W.
Abraham Felt.
4 p. score.
Works not included in catalogue:
A Sonate fuer Klavier in 3 Saetzen, n.d.
37 p. score, fragment.
37 p. score, complete.
Box Folder Description
11 B Two Pieces for Orchestra, September, 1953.
54 p. photocopy score, bound.
[First and Second movements of the Symphony No. 1.]
C Two Scherzi for String Orchestra, n.d.
9 p. score.
10 p. score.
SERIES II: Papers, 1949-1980
Printed scores and tapes:
D Five compositions published by Henri Elkan,
Philadelphia, 1963-1964.
Waltz (for clarinet and piano).
Scherzando (for clarinet solo).
Little Serenade (for clarinet and piano).
Arabesque (for bassoon solo).
Chorale (for four clarinets).
E Two tape recordings (reel-to-reel), n.d.
Concertino for Clarinet, with String Quartet;
Scherzando for Clarinet Solo; Trio for
Piano, Clarinet and Viola.
Sonata No. 1 for Piano.
Correspondence and Papers:
F Correspondence and Papers, 1949-1980.
1 photograph of the composer, 3" x 3 3/4".
Corespondence, 25 itms.
Legal documents, 30 items.
Other papers, 40 items.
G BMI card catalogue.
164 3" x 5" cards.
Box Folder Description
Phonograph Recordings (added 3/95 W. Brandt)
12 1 Adagio Cantabile for Clarinet and Piano
2 Concertino for Clarinet and String Quartet, WNYC-FM Feb. 19, 1961
3 Two Piece for Piano: Concert Piece, Serenade and Adagio for Clarinet and
String Quartet WNYC-FM Feb. 13, 1960
4 Song Cycle: Blissful Eden. Choral Prelude for Organ, May 15, 1959
5a&b Two songs for Soprano and String Quartet, from Henry VIII and The Tempest
by Shakespeare. Two records
6 Woodwind Quartet (side one), Piece for Solo Clarinet, (side 2). Aug. 1953
7 Canons for 2 and 3 woodwinds
8 In That Blissful Eden and At the Hacienda, sung by Shirley Brandt. 2 copies
9 The Humble Bee, Little Serenade and The American Flag, n.d.
10 The American Flag and Little Serenade, n.d.
11 Piano Piece, n.d.
12 The Humble Bee, sung by Celeste Carlesimo, 2 copies, n.d.
13 The American Flag, The Coasters, and Beloved Land, n.d.
14 Concert Piece for oboe and piano. WNYC, n.d.; unidentified piece for oboe
and piano, n.d.
15 Piece for Oboe and Piano. Rondo for Piano, n.d.
16 The Coasters, sung by Shirley Brandt
17 Blissful Evening. WNYC, Feb. 19, 1953. 2 copies