The special collections at Trinity's Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts include manuscripts and archive material. The research collections are continually developing, mainly through gifts and bequests. Recent acquisitions include the autograph manuscript of Malcolm Arnold's film score The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958). In addition to the following named collections, the Jerwood Library holds collections of autograph manuscripts by Richard Arnell and Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji. Please contact the library and make an appointment to view any material from the special collections.
Music Preserved
Formerly known as the Music Performance Research Centre, the
Jerwood Library is one of two sites where this outstanding
collection of live historic recordings to be heard. The collection
consists mainly of off-air recordings, many originally recorded
illegally, but now made legal for listening in a designated centre
through a special dispensation from the Secretary of State (1990).
A grant from the heritage Lottery Fund enabled the original
recordings, many on reel-to-reel tape, to be copied for archival
purposes. The resulting CDs (and a few videos) may be heard by
members of the public by appointment. Please note that, owing to
copyright restrictions, further copying of any Music Preserved
recording is not permitted.
Antonio de Almeida Collection
Consisting of the personal printed music library of the French
conductor of Portuguese origin Antonio de Almeida (1928-1997) and
incorporating some scores acquired by him from the collections of
Charles Munch and Pierre Monteux, this collection totals 5,456
volumes. The collection reflects Almeida's personal enthusiasms,
but it is also comprehensive and wide-ranging; works by Beethoven,
Mozart and Stravinsky sit alongside scores by Carlos Chavez, André
Grétry, Howard Hanson, Hans Pfitzner and Henri Serpette. Many of
the full scores are scarce in this country. A hand list is
available on request.
Blackheath Halls Archive
The historic archive of the Blackheath Halls was deposited in
the Jerwood Library following Trinity College of Music's
acquisition of the Halls in 2003. It includes papers of the
original group which led to the foundation of the Blackheath
Concert Hall Company Limited (1894-1978), the Company's core
records, minutes, financial records, shares records, licences,
legal agreements, membership and staff records, estate documents,
plans and correspondence, and papers and correspondence of the
Blackheath Concert Hall Action Group (1974-1983), the Blackheath
Preservation Trust (1975-) and the Blackheath Halls (1983-2003).
There is also material relating to events, although much is in
facsimile. A hand list of the
Blackheath Halls Archive is available.
Sir Frederick Bridge Library
This is the historical library of Trinity College of Music and
consists of over 1,000 volumes, mainly of printed music. In 1924
the collection was renamed in memory of Sir Frederick Bridge
(1844-1924), the first Chairman of Trinity's Board of Governors.
The library contains many important 18th century
editions such as Lully's Roland (1711), a number of
John Walsh's early Handel editions, collections of late
18th century English catches and glees, and several
rare French opera scores. Other highlights include the
19th century library of Jullien's 'Royal Conservatory
of Music', publications of the Musical Antiquarian Society, and the
library of the National Federation of Music Societies which
previously belonged to Alan Kirby, founder of the Croydon
Philharmonic choir.
The Jerwood
Library's online catalogue can be used to access details of the
majority of items in this collection. To only search for Bridge
collection items, choose 'Bridge collection' in the Location list
before carrying out your search.
Alan Cave Collection
The Alan Cave collection consists of around 2000 sets of chamber
music parts. The collection principally consists of wind chamber
music in various combinations, but also includes music for wind and
strings or brass. Parts are available for loan to Trinity Laban
students and staff as well as external users. Please enquire of the
library for further details. A catalogue
of the Alan Cave collection is available.
Mander & Mitchenson Theatre Collection
The Mander and Mitchenson Collection is now part of the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.
Community and Youth Music (CYM) Library
The Community and Youth Music (formerly Centre for Young
Musicians) Library contains a comprehensive collection of sets of
vocal scores, band parts and orchestral parts, which are available
for hire to schools, amateur choirs and orchestras. Use of the CYM
Library is free to Trinity Laban members.
The
CYM Library is located at Hornsey Library, Haringey Park,
London N8 9JA.
For further information please visit the CYM Library
website.
Other Research Collections
Brian Ashby Archive
This archive holds the papers of Brian Ashby, including
manuscript preparations for his two-stave transcription of Bach's
Chorale Preludes for piano. Of particular significance are the many
letters from the Bach scholars Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) and
William Gillies Whittaker (1876-1944). This collection was donated
to the college by Nick Milner-Gulland, a close friend of Brian
Ashby. There is no hand list available at present.
Sir John Barbirolli Collection
Bequeathed by Sir John Barbirolli (1899-1970), this
collection consists mainly of conducting scores, some with his
markings (including the score of Elgar's Symphony no.1). Barbirolli
studied the cello at Trinity College of Music from 1911 to 1912,
and from 1929 to 1936 was chief conductor of the College Orchestra.
In 1937 he succeeded Toscanini as conductor of the New York
Philharmonic, then returned to England in 1942 to become conductor
of the Hallé. Later in life he was Trinity's President. A hand list of the
Barbirolli Collection is available.
Stanley Black Collection
Stanley Black's (1913-2002) arrangements of film music are
legendary. He has worked on over a hundred films, as score arranger
or musical director and, in many cases, as both. His credits
include It Always Rains on Sunday (1948), The
Long and The Short and The Tall (1961), the Cliff Richard
musicals The Young Ones (1961) and Summer
Holiday (1962) and all of the late Mario Zampi's screwball
comedies, including Laughter in Paradise (1951),
The naked truth (1957) and Too Many
Crooks (1958). The Jerwood Library is building a
comprehensive collection of Stanley Black's autograph scores.
Details of all the items in this collection are listed on the library's online catalogue - to browse,
choose Stanley Black collection from the
source option.
Carey Blyton Collection
A collection of around 75 autograph manuscripts of compositions
by the composer Carey Blyton (1932-2002), most of which are
unpublished. Blyton was a student at Trinity College of Music,
winning the Granville Bantock Prize for composition. He later
returned as a professor of harmony, counterpoint and
orchestration. Details of all the items in this collection are
listed on the library's online catalogue - to browse,
choose Carey Blyton collection from the source
option.
British Music Society Archive
The Jerwood Library is the repository for the archives of
the British Music
Society, which exists to promote the music of British
composers. The Archive includes the Society's administrative
records, including minutes of meetings, all its publications and
recordings, documents associated with promotional concerts and
events and ephemera relating to a wide selection of composers,
including copies of John Ireland's correspondence with Marjorie
Walde. A collection of Robert Still's manuscripts has recently been
added. A hand list of the
BMS Archive is available.
Valerie Cardnell Archive
Papers of Valerie Cardnell, including concert programmes (some
Charles Kennedy Scott and Oriana Madrigal Society), music,
correspondence, recordings, Vincian Trio repertoire, photographs,
certificates, and manuscript music by Carey Blyton and James Butt
(see also the Charles Kennedy Scott Archive and the Carey Blyton
Collection). A hand list of
the Valerie Cardnell Collection is available.
Shura Cherkassky Collection
The personal piano music library (about 300 items)
of the renowned Russian-born American pianist Shura Cherkassky
(1911-1995), who was resident in London after World War II. Most of
the music is the collection is unmarked.
Cinema and Light Music Archive
This consists of a small collection of printed music, mostly
dating from 1910 to 1960. It includes the collection of Alexander
Russell of the Hillhead Salon, Vinicombe Street, Glasgow,
instrumental sets from the Crieff Cinema and the Victoria Cinema,
Inverurie, sets from the music library of the Regal Cinema,
Saltcoats, and a collection of sets of light orchestral music
originating with a number of bands, including the Aberdeen Light
Classical Orchestra. There is also a selection of sound effects
instruments (sirens, bird calls, etc.), but it is not known to be
connected with any of the above venues. The collection was donated
by the Scottish Screen Archive in 2003. A hand list is
available on request.
Frank Cordell Collection
Several autograph manuscripts of this British composer
(1918-1986), including film scores and jazz arrangements. A hand list of the
Frank Cordell Collection is available.
Filmharmonic Archive
Film scores by leading film composers as presented at the
Filmharmonic concerts, held at the Royal Albert Hall between 1972
and 1985 in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. Some
of the scores are original manuscripts, others are photocopies and
in some cases performing parts are present. A hand list of the
Filmharmonic Archive is available.
Thomas Igloi Archive
Recordings (some unreleased), programmes and press cuttings
relating to the cellist Thomas Igloi (1947-1976). Igloi was born in
Budapest and studied at the RAM with Douglas Cameron and later with
Fournier and Casals. He had a brilliant performing career which was
terminated by his death at the age of only 29. The collection was
given by the luthier Eric Taylor. A hand list of the
Thomas Igloi Archive is available.
William Lovelock Collection
Manuscripts and printed scores of music composed by the examiner
and pedagogue William Lovelock, best known for his widely used
series of textbooks on harmony. A hand list of
the William Lovelock Collection is available.
Music Manuscript Collection
This collection consists of a miscellany of manuscripts, most of
which have been donated to the College over a wide period of time.
Significant items include the autograph manuscripts of Sorabji's
piano pieces Un nido di scatole and the first two
versions of Fragment Written for Harold Rutland, and
Malcolm Arnold's film score Inn of the Sixth
Happiness. Richard Arnell also donated a large number of his
manuscripts to the college in the form of dyeline copies. Details
of all the items in this collection are listed on the library's online catalogue - to browse
them, change the Manuscripts option from No to Yes
and click on Search.
Joseph Ortiz Collection
A small archive connected with the New York Metropolitan Opera
and, in particular, with the revival of the zarzuela, as championed
by Placido Domingo. Ortiz worked for the library of the
Metropolitan Opera and collaborated with Domingo on the location
and transcription of zarzuelas and some items have a personal
connection with the singer. A hand list of the Joseph Ortiz
collection is available on request.
Charles Proctor Collection
Proctor was founder and conductor of the Alexandra Choir and
directed choral classes at Trinity in the 1960s. This bequest
consists mainly of manuscripts of his compositions (largely organ
and choral works), along with a small amount of printed music and
ephemera. A hand list of
the Charles Proctor Collection is available.
Margaret Purcell Collection
Music by the American composer Margaret Purcell (1914-1991)
consisting of autograph manuscripts and related papers. The
music is unpublished and is of special interest for the
sociological study of women composers in the first half of the
twentieth century. A hand list of
the Margaret Purcell Collection is available.
Charles Kennedy Scott Archive
Scott (1876-1965) was an important figure in the world of choral
singing and was on the staff of Trinity from 1929 to 1965. He
taught singing and conducted the College Choir and was a Member of
the Corporation and Board. The collection includes manuscripts of
some of his choral works, personal notebooks, programmes (many for
the Oriana Madrigal Society, which he formed), press cuttings and
letters (including ones from Balfour Gardiner, Percy Grainger and
Edmund Rubbra). There are also two sets of the Euterpe
series of madrigals, which Scott edited and which were published by
Oxford University Press. Some items in the collection (including
programmes from the memorial services of Granville Bantock, Arnold
Bax, Kathleen Ferrier, Balfour Gardiner, Herbert Murrill and Roger
Quilter) belonged to Kathleen Ewart, a singer who was involved in
the Phoebus Singers, another choir conducted by Scott. Other items
were given by Philip and Elizabeth Miles. Some of the manuscripts
are listed on the library's online catalogue.
A list of programmes in the collection is available via the
Concert Programmes Database.
Len Smith and Felicity Young
Collection
This collection consists of music once belonging to Len Smith
(violinist) and Felicity Young (pianist, d.2000) who both taught at
Trinity. The collection also includes the scores of the German-born
conductor and musicologist Hans-Hubert Schönzeler (1925-1997).
Lionel Tertis Collection
A
small collection, including autograph manuscripts of arrangements
for viola by this renowned viola player (1876-1975) who studied at
Trinity. There are also items from his personal library, including
dedication copies from several composers. Details of all the items
in this collection are listed on the library's online catalogue - to browse,
choose Lionel Tertis collection from the source
option.
Trinity College of Music Archive
Papers and publications relating to Trinity College of Music,
including calendars and prospectuses, presentation day and concert
programmes, and administrative records. Please note that virtually
no student records survive in this archive and we have very few
records that can help to trace individuals who may have taught or
studied at the college. A hand list is available on request.
The Westbrook Collection
This is a growing collection of original scores by
composer/pianist/band leader Mike Westbrook O.B.E. and
singer/librettist Kate Westbrook, with related ephemera including a
fine collection of posters. It contains works from 1971 to date in
a wide variety of genres: jazz, contemporary music, opera, music
hall and popular song. The scores include solo piano works, songs,
jazz-cabaret and music-theatre pieces, opera vocal scores,
compositions for jazz ensemble and large-scale settings for jazz
orchestra. A hand
list of the Westbrook Collection is available.
Rita Williams Popular Song Collection
A wide-ranging collection of c.3,000 individual popular songs,
dating from the 1920s to the 1970s and including songs from films
and shows. Originally the personal collection of the singer Rita
Williams, with later additions, it includes songs in various
European languages and some in Afrikaans. Rita Williams sang with
the Billy Cotton Club, among other groups, and made numerous
recordings in the 1940s and 1950s. The songs are arranged
alphabetically by title. Please note that in most cases it is
necessary to obtain permission from the relevant copyright holder
before the songs can be photocopied. A hand list
of the Rita Williams Popular Song Collection is available.
Christopher Wood Collection
Wood (1911-1990) studied at the Royal College of Music with
Herbert Howells and Gordon Jacob and later with Sir Arnold Bax. He
studied conducting with Bruno Walter and Herbert von Karajan and
piano with Adeline de Lara, a pupil of Clara Schumann and Brahms.
During the 1950s he concentrated on the harpsichord and performed
and recorded extensively, being particularly associated with the
Dolmetsch family. His Piano Sonata was published by Oxford
University Press in 1943, but almost all his compositions are
unpublished. The collection includes autograph manuscripts of over
100 compositions, plus letters (many from well-known musicians),
photographs and an autobiography. A hand list of
the Christopher Wood Collection is available.
Last updated on Thu 14 Feb 2013 11.11h
