McConnell Library Archives and Special Collections
Donald Erb Collection
SC 209
Contains scores and programs
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- McConnell Library Archives and Special Collections
- Title
- Donald Erb Collection
- ID
- SC 209
- Date [inclusive]
- 1960-1975
- Extent
- 2.0 Linear feet
- Physical Description
- Contains musical scores, program notes, LP record albums, and compact discs.
- Location
- Located in locked compact shelving, level 1, shelf 12B.
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- Contains scores, musical programs, LP records, and compact discs of American composer Donald Erb.
Preferred Citation
Donald Erb Collection, Special Collections, McConnell Library, Radford University, Radford, VA.
Biographical information
Biography of Donald Erb, from Grove Music Online:
After service in the US Navy during World War II, he attended Kent State University (BS 1950) and then studied composition with Marcel Dick at the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM 1952), Boulanger in Paris (1953) and Heiden at Indiana University, Bloomington (DMus 1964). He was appointed to the composition and theory faculty (1953–61), was composer-in-residence (1966–81), Distinguished Professor of Composition (1987–96) and became professor emeritus in 1996 at the Cleveland Institute; he was also composer-in-residence with the Dallas SO (1968–9) and professor of composition at Indiana University (1975–6, 1984–7) and Southern Methodist University, Dallas (1981–4). He was the recipient of numerous awards, prizes, fellowships and commissions.
Erb's approach to composition was mainly intuitive, but was based upon a strong foundation of musical craftsmanship. His conception of form was fundamentally organic: he frequently used a specific intervallic configuration or cell, melodic or rythmic motives, and/or sonic gestures as the basis for a whole movement or work. He employed these ‘seeds’ to generate growth through developmental processes – using varieties of textures and sonorities as well as limited aleatoricism – towards a goal-orientated succession of climaxes, analogues to the concept of variation. Although his works always have a tonal foundation, he used contemporary means, such as pitch repetition and pedal points, to establish a sequence of fluctuating tonics. His works are analogous to traditional forms and exhibit clear musical structures. His interest in incorporating improvisatory and aleatory elements in his music reflects his great interest and background in jazz.
In the 1960s, he developed his mature style based on exploring the sound capabilities of traditional instruments and electronically synthesized sound, as well as relationships between the two. Reconnaissance (1967) was one of the first compositions of its day to utilize the interaction of real-time performance with electronically generated sounds. Such works as Fallout (1964), Kyrie (1965), Fission (1968) and The Purple-Roofed Ethical Suicide Parlor (1972) reflect his response to the Cold War and the Vietnam conflict, and contain violent sonorous explosions. In the 1970s he embarked on a series of virtuoso concertos that made increased technical demands on performers.
His works from the 1980s and 90s reveal a greater emphasis on counterpoint and chromaticism than in his earlier works. Furthermore, he used chorales and hymns in such works as the Concerto for Brass and Orchestra (1986), Watchman Fantasy (1988), Children's Song (1995) and Sunlit Peaks and Dark Valleys (1995). His Ritual Observances (1991) for orchestra was written to honour the bicentennial of the death of Mozart; as a basis for this work Erb used music from the first eight bars of the ‘Lachrymosa’ of Mozart's Requiem. In all of these works the borrowed passages are seldom clearly audible and fragments are usually used as compositional germs.
Source: John G. Suess. "Erb, Donald." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 24, 2012, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/08910.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
McConnell Library Archives and Special Collections
McConnell LibraryPO Box 6881
Radford, Virginia
540-831-5692
archives@radford.edu
Restrictions to Access
An appointment for research is required. Collection is open for research. No interlibrary loan.
Custodial History
The Donald Erb Collection was donated by Radford University Music Professor Bruce Mahin, a personal friend of composer Donald Erb, and by Lucille Erb, the composers wife.. The LPs and CDs were donated by Lucille Erb, Donald Erb's widow.
Accruals
Additional accruals are expected.
Related resources in McConnell Library
McConnell LIbrary has a number of recordings and published scores by Donald Erb, which are listed in the library's online catalog.
Collection Inventory
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Box 1, 2, and 3 : Contain the following scores and programs: |
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Box 2 Folder 1: Score -"Aubade" 1985 (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) |
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Box 1 Folder1 : Score - "Aura II" 1982 |
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Box 1 Folder 2: Score - "A Book of Fanfares For Brass Quintet" |
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Box 2 Folder 2: Score - "A Book of Fanfares" 1987 |
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Box 1 Folder 3: Score - "Celebration Fanfare" 1990 |
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Box 2 Folder 3: Score - "Children's Song" April 23, 1995 |
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Box 2 Folder 4: Score - "Concerto for Brass and Orchestra" |
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Box 1: Score - "Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra" |
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Box 2 Folder 5: Score - "Conversations For Two Flutes" 1962 |
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Box 1 Folder 4: Score- "Dance, You Monster, To My Soft Song" March 17, 1999 |
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Box 2 Folder 6: Score- "Dance, You Monster, To My Soft Song" |
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Box 2 Folder 7: Score - "Diversion For Two" 1972 |
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Box 2 Folder 8: Score - "Evensong" |
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Box 2 Folder 9: Score- "Fanfare For Brass And Percussion" November 1971 (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) |
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Box 1 Folder 5: Score - “Five Red Hot Duets for Two Contrabassoons, or Bassoon and Contrabassoon, or Two Bassoons.” |
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Box 2 Folder 10: Score - “Four Duets For Trumpets” 2000 |
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Box 2 Folder 11: Score- “Four Duets for Bb Trumpets” (paper copy from microfilm) |
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Box 2 Folder 12: Score- “Four Timbre Pieces" 2000 |
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Box 2 Folder 13: Score- “God Love You Now,” August 7, 1971 |
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Box 2 Folder 14: Score- "The Last Quintet" (Score and Parts) 1984 |
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Box 2 Folder 15: Score- "Music For Mother Bear" 1975 |
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Box 2 Folder 16: Score - "New England's Prospect" (Chorus Parts and Libretto) 1974 |
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Box 2 Folder 17: Score - "Nightmusic II" (Paper copy from publication in The Piano Quarterly Fall 1979) |
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Box 2 Folder 18: Score- "The Purple Roofed Ethical Suicide Parlor" (Full Score) 1979 |
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Box 2 Folder 19: Score- "The Purple Roofed Ethical Suicide Parlor" (Score and Parts) 1979 |
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Box 2 Folder 20: Score - "Quintet" 1976 (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) |
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Box 1 Folder 6: Score- “The Rainbow Snake” (with pencil annotations) |
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Box 1 Folder 7: Score- "VII Miscellaneous" September 8, 1964) |
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Box 3 Folder 1: Score- "Mirage" (Score and Parts) 1978 |
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Box 3 Folder 2: Score- "The Rainbow Snake" (Score and Parts) 1986 |
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Box 3 Folder 3: Score - "The Seventh Trumpet" February 7, 1969 (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) |
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Box 3 Folder 4: Score- "Sonata For Clarinet and Percussion" 1980 |
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Box 3 Folder 5: Score - "Sonata for Harp" |
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Box 3 Folder 6: Score- "Sonatina for Bb Trumpet and Piano" |
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Box 3 Folder 7: Score - "Souvenir" 1972 (not a score, but a description of the multi-media work) |
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Box 1 Folder 8: Score - “Space Music,” Feb. 15, 1963 |
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Box 1 Folder 9: Score- “Stargazing” |
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Box 3 Folder 8: Score - "String Quartet no.3" |
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Box 3 Folder 9: Score- “String Quartet no. 3” (with red ink notes) |
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Box 1 Folder 10: Score - "String Trio- Violin, Electric Guitar, and Violoncello" (with pencil notes) |
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Box 3 Folder 10: Score- "Suite for Violin and Piano" 1954 |
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Box 1 Folder 11: Score - "Summermusic" 1966 (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) (photocopy) |
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Box 3 Folder 11: Score - "Symphony of Overtures" February 12, 1964 |
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Box 3 Folder 12: Score- "Three Pieces For Brass Quintet and Piano" (Score and Parts) 1973 |
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Box 1 Folder 12: Score Score- "Symphony for Winds" |
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Box 1 Folder 13: Score-“Three Pieces for Brass Quintet and Piano,” January 17, 1968 |
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Box 3 Folder 13: Score - "Three Pieces for Double Bass Alone" (Includes a small note of explanation by Donald Erb) |
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Box 1 Folder 14: Score - “Three Pieces for Harp and Percussion Ensemble” |
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Box 3 Folder 14: Score- “Three Pieces for Harp and Percussion Ensemble” |
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Box 3 Folder 15: Score- "The Towers of Silence" |
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Box 3 Folder 16: Score- "Views of Space and Time" 1987 |
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Box 4: LP records and Compact Discs |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Prismatic Variations," plus compositions by Christopher Rouse and Joan Tower. St Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, Conductor and Musical Director. Nonesuch Digital (79118-1) Recorded 1984, released 1986. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Quintet" (1976) and "The Last Quintet" (1982), plus compositions by Marvin Lamb and Jack Waldenmaier. Music For Meadows, Southern Methodist University. Redwood Records (ES-285) |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Harold's Trip to the Sky" and "Sonneries," plus compositions by Kenneth Timm and Frederick Koch. Cleveland Composers' Guild Series, Volume 1. Crystal Records S531. 1976 |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Basspiece," (1969) plus compositions by J.M. Mestres-Quadreny, Will Ogdon, and Netty Simons. Played by Bertram Turetsky, contrabass. Desto Records, DC-1728. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "St. Valentine's Day Brass Quintet," plus compositions by Jack Gallagher, Don Freund, and Byron Adams. Nashville Contemporary Brass Quintet, "Springsongs." 1985 |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Music for Instruments & Electronnic Sounds," featuring two compositions: "Reconnaissance" and "In No Strange Land." Nonesuch Records, H-71223. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Trio of Violin, Keyboards, and Percussion," plus compositions by John Rodby. Crystal Records, S505. 1981 |
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LP: Donald Erb: "The Devil's Quickstep," plus compositions by Steven Stucky, Daniel Breedon, and Lou Coyner. The Composers Consortium. Spectrum Records, SR-195. 1985. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Symphony of Overtures," "The Seventh Trumpet," and "Concerto for Solo Percussionist." Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Donald Johanos, Conductor. Turnabout Vox, TV-S 34433. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Diversion for Tow (Other than sex) (1966), "Phantasma" (1965), and "String Trio for violin, violincello, and electric guitar" (1966), plus compositions by Max Schubel. Opus One Records, Number 1. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Kyrie" (1967), "Summermusic" (1966), and "Trio for Two" (1968), plus compositions by Dorrance Stalvey and George Rochberg. Metamorphosis: Erb, Rochberg, Stalvey. Ars Nova Ars Antiqua Recordings, AN 1008. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Spatial Fanfare for Brass and Percussion," "Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra," "Christmasmusic," and "Autmnmusic." Louisville Orchestra, conductor Louis Lane. Louisville Orchestra First Edition Records, LS 772. 1980. |
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LP: Donald Erb: "Music for a Festive Occasion for electric tape with orchestra, 1975," commissioned for and appears on "The Sounds of America: 1776-1976," Cleveland Orchestra, Loren Maazel, conductor. Various other composers are also featured. Columbia Records. 1976. |
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LP: Donald Erb, arranger. Symphonic Spirtuals performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London conducted by Dr. Paul Freeman. Columbia Records, 36267. 1979. |
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CD: Donald Erb: "Symphony for Winds (1989)," plus compositions by Sydney Hodlinson, John Harbison, Leslie Bassett, and Gunther Schiller. American Music for Wines, the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble, Robert Levy, conductor. |
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CD: Donald Erb: "Sunlight Peaks and Dark Valleys" and "Dreamtime," plus compositions by Jean Guillou. Cleveland Museum of Art Highlights New Music. Musart Recordings, 71217. 2000. |
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CD: Donald Erb: "Clarinet Concerto," "Violin Concerto," and "Trombone Concerto." Grand Rapids Symphony, Catherine Comet, conductor. Koss Classics, KC-3302. 1995. |
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CD: Donald Erb" "Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra (1984)," plus compositions by Mara Richter, Erik Lundborg, and Irwin Bazelon. The London Philharmonic Celebrates American Composers, Harold Farberman, Conductor. Leonard Productions, LR 331. |
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CD: Donald Erb: "Solstice," "Evensong," "Concerto for Orchestra." New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares, conductor. Koch International Classics, 3-7417-2H1. 1998. |
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Box 5: Miscellaneous |
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Box 5 Folder 1: Program and incidental documenation - Opening Night of “New England’s Prospect,” May 17, 1974. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, James Levine, Conductor, Julian Bond, Narrator. |
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Box 5 Folder 2: Brochure |
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Box 5 Folder 3: Donald Erb Bibliography |
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Box 5 Folder 4: 3 Short Biographical Sketches of Donald Erb |
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Box 5 Folder 5: List of Donald Erb's Honors |
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Box 5 Folder 6: Lists of Donald Erb's Positions, Residencies, Performances, Professional Activities. |
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Box 5 Folder 7: Obituary |
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Box 5 Folder 8: Miscellaneous |
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