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Igor Stravinsky Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971

Igor Fyodorovitch Stravinsky (1882-1971) was born in Russia, near St. Petersburg, grew up in a musical atmosphere , and studied with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. He had his first important opportunity in 1909, when the impresario Sergei Diaghilev heard his music, and went on to commission Stravinksy's first ballet. During World War I, Stravinsky sought refuge in Switzerland; after the armistice, he moved to France, his home until the onset of World War II, when he came to the United States. During his years in the United States, he lived outside Los Angeles, and was assisted by his young protégé, Robert Craft. In 1962 he accepted an invitation to return to Russia for a series of concerts, but remained an emigre firmly based in the West. He died in New York City on April 6, 1971, at the age of 89 and was buried in Venice on the cemetery island of San Michele. His grave is close to the tomb of his early collaborator, Diaghilev. He was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the century, and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In his 1936 autobiography, Chronicles of My Life, written with the help of Alexis Roland-Manuel, Stravinsky included his infamous statement that "music is, by its very nature, essentially powerless to express anything at all."

The collection consists of correspondence and documents relating to the Princeton commission of Requiem Canticles by Stravinsky. Correspondents include Princeton University President Robert Goheen, Joseph Lynch, Augustus P. Mack, Jr., Ricardo A. Mesters, Armine T. Montapert, and Stanley Seeger. The orchestral score, dated 1966, was dedicated to the memory of Helen Buchanan Seeger. The documents include the original and drafts of the agreement between Princeton University and Stravinsky regarding the commission of the composition. Also included is an announcement of the first performance of the requiem by Stravinsky on October 8, 1966, at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, which was conducted by Stravinsky and Robert Craft.

Arranged chronologically by year.

The papers were the gift of Stanley J. Seeger in December 9, 1992 (AM1993-84).

This collection was processed by Dina Britain on September 27, 2007. Finding aid written by Lauren Kustner on November 12, 2007. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager '2015 in 2013.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Stanley J. Seeger to Igor Stravinsky, 1964 August. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Ricardo A. Mestres to Seeger, 1964 October 7. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Stravinsky to Seeger, 1964 October 21-26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Seeger to Stravinsky, 1964 October 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Seeger to President Robert F. Goheen, 1964 October 30. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Goheen to Seeger, 1964 November 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Stravinsky to Seeger, 1964 November 5-9. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Seeger to Stravinsky, 1964 November 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Armine T. Montapert to Seeger, 1964 December 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Draft of Agreement between Princeton University and Stravinsky, prepared by Montapert, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Montapert to Joseph M. Lynch, 1965 February 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Seeger to Stravinsky, 1965 February 9-19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Stravinsky to Seeger, 1965 February 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Augustus P. Mack, Jr. of the firm of Wright, Wright, Goldwater, and Mack to Montapert, 1965 April 21. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mack to Mestres, 1965 April 21. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Draft of Agreement between Princeton University and Stravinsky and Robert Craft, prepared by Mack, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Seeger, 1965 April 14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Lynch, 1965 April 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mack to Montapert, 1965 July 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mack to Mestres, 1965 July 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Lynch, 1965 July 20. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Mack, 1965 July 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Final Agreement betweeen Princeton University and Stravinsky and Craft, signed by Mestres on behalf of Princeton University, 1965 July 20. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Lynch to Seeger, 1966 May-July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Montapert to Mack, 1966 August 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mack to Mestres, 1966 August 18. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Lynch, 1966 August 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Lynch to Seeger, 1966 August 24. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Montapert to Mack, 1966 August 27. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Lynch to Seeger, 1966 September 2. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Seeger, 1966 September 2. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Announcement of First Performance of Requiem Canticles by Igor Stravinsky in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, 1966 October 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Mestres to Seeger, 1967 January 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Goheen to Seeger, 1967 January 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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