Guide to the Elizabeth Gyring Papers 1930-1980
Cage 475

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Gyring, Elizabeth
Title
Elizabeth Gyring Papers
ID
Cage 475
Date [inclusive]
1930-1980
Extent
12 containers., 5 linear feet of shelf space., 300 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Music manuscripts, recordings, correspondence, legal and other papers.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 475, Elizabeth Gyring Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

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.

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Scope and Content

About three-quarters of the music manuscripts (Series 1) listed in the BMI catalogue (folder G) are contained in the collection. Along with holograph scores, the series also includes photocopies and transparencies of scores. Series 2, 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.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Music Manuscripts and Correspondence and Papers. 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.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

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).

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Names and Subjects

Occupation(s)

  • Composers--United States--Correspondence

Personal Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Gyring, Elizabeth, 1909-1970 --Archives
Subject(s) :
  • Moldenhauer, Hans

Subject(s)

  • Performing Arts
  • International Relations

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Music Manuscripts 

Works listed in the BMI catalogue: 
box-folder

Adagio for Orchestra 1944.   10 p. full score. 12 p. photocopy, bound.

1 / 2

Adagio for Chamber Orchestra undated   16 p. full score.

1 / 3

Adagio cantabile for Clarinet, with Piano 1961    5 p. score.

1 / 4

Adagio and Rondo from Concerto for Oboe and Strings undated   Piano transcription with oboe. 12 p. photocopy.

1 / 5

Allegro for Organ 1961   8 p. transparency.

1 / 6

Allegro for Woodwid Quartet undated   Separate parts for flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat and bassoon; each part 2 l.

1 / 7

Andante for Solo Oboe and String Orchestra undated   13 p. full score.

1 / 10

Andante cantabile for French Horn and Piano December, 1953.   2 l. photocopy. 2 p. transparency.

1 / 11

Beloved Land December 1941   Song for Baritone and String Orchestra; from a poem by J. R. Randall. 4 p. full score.

1 / 15

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.

1 / 18

Capriccio for 4 Clarinets in B flat February, 1963.   6 p. photocopy of the score. 13 p. transparency; score and parts.

1 / 20

Concert Piece for Piano 1958.   6 p. photocopy, bound. 6 p. transparency.

1 / 23

Concert Piece for Clarinet B flat and Piano 1942.   12 p. score. 3 p. clarinet part.

1 / 24

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.

1 / 25

Concert Piece for Oboe and Piano undated   10 p. score.

1 / 26

Concertino for Clarinet, with String Quartet 1960.   24 p. transparency of the score. 26 p. transparency of parts for clarinet and strings.

1 / 27

Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra undated   51 p. transparency of the score. 8 p. transparency of the oboe part.

1 / 28

Daffodils undated   Song for soprano with piano; text by William Wordsworth. 8 p. photocopy. 8 p. transparency.

1 / 29

Divertimento No. 1 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Strings undated   16 p. photocopy. 31 p. transparency of the score and parts.

2 / 30

Divertimento No. 2 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Strings undated   21 p. photocopy of the score. 21 p. transparency of the score.

2 / 31

Divertimento No. 3 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Strings undated   22 p. photocopy of the score.

2 / 32

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.

2 / 33-34

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.

2 / 35

Three Easy Choruses undated   1. A Psalm of Life (Longfellow), 2. A Tiny Trip (J. Ashby-Sterry), 3. Bonnie Belle (Samuel Minturn Peck). 7 p. photocopy, bound.

2 / 37

Enoch; chorus for women's voices and organ undated   Text by Felicia Hemans. 10 p. photocopy. 10 p. transparency.

2 / 38

Fable undated   Song for soprano and piano; text by Ralph Waldo Emeraon. 4 p. photocopy.

2 / 39

Fantasies for Organ, 1-16 1957-1959.   25 items, bound photocopy scores for Fantasies 4 and 9-16. Transparencies for Fantasies 1-16.

2 / 40-55

Fantasy for String Quartet January 1959.   7 p. transparency.

2 / 56

Fugue in Old Style undated   For flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat and bassoon. 4 p. photocopy score. Separate parts for each instrument, each 2 l.

2 / 58

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.

3 / -59

Furioso December, 1952.   20 p. full orchestral score, photocopy, bound.

3 / 74

Happy Birthday; A Little Joke on a Familiar Theme undated   For organ. 2 p. bound photocopy. 2 p. transparency.

3 / 75

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.

3 / 77

Hymn undated   Song for soprano and piano; text by Joseph Addison. 4 p. Photocopy, bound. 4 p. transparency.

3 / 79

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.

3 / 80

Introduction and Fugue undated   For oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn in F and string orchestra. 32 p. full score.

3 / 83

Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Gloria November, 1955.   For mixed chorus and organ. 10 p. photocopy score. 10 p. transparency.

3 / 84

Larghetto for String Quartet undated   4 p. full score photocopy. Parts for each instrument, each 2 l.

3 / 85

Larghetto for Orchestra August, 1944.   13 p. full score, bound.

3 / 86

Largo for Double Bass and Piano October, 1965.   7 p. photocopy, bound. Transparency of score and bass part, 9 pp.

3 / 87

Little Serenade for Piano 1949.   2 p. score. 2 p. photocopy. 2 p. transparency.

3 / 88

Little Woodwind Quartet undated   Parts for each instrument, each 2 l.

3 / 90

Two Marches for 2 Pianos, Timpany and Triangle 1945.   12 p. photocopy score. 12 p. transparency.

3 / 91

Two Military Marches for Orchestra 1943.   9 p. full score.

3 / 92

My Country (Symphonic Cantata) undated   For orchestra, soloists and chorus; text by Russell W. Davenport. 67 p. full score (Part I); 40 p. full score (Part II).

4 / 93

New York 1942.   For 4-part chorus and piano; text by George William Russell. 3 holograph scores. 2 photocopies. 2 transparencies.

4 / 94

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.

4 / 95a

Night at Sea and Day in Court April, 1954.   Orchestral score, photocopy of Part I (85 p.) and Part II (164 p.), both bound.

4 / 95b/c

Nonett undated   For flute, oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn in F, violin, viola, violoncello and double-bass. 89 p. full score. Also individual parts.

4 / 96

O Boys! O Boys! 1942.   Chorus for 4 voices and piano; text by Oliver St. John Gogarthy. 6 p. score. 4 p. score.

4 / 97

Oktett undated   For oboe, clarinet in A, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola and violoncello. 85 p. full score, also individual parts.

5 / 98

Four Orchestral Pieces undated   Photocopy scores: I. 51 pp., II. 22 pp., III. 26 pp., IV. 51 pp.

5 / 99

Two Piano Pieces undated   3 p. transparency.

5 / 101

Four Pieces for Violin and Piano undated    23 p. score.

5 / 102

Prelude for Organ undated   2 p. photocopy. 2 p. transparency.

5 / 103

Preludes and Fugues for Organ, 1-3 1959.   3 transparencies, 9 pp. each.

5 / 104-106

Two Psalms for Mixed Chorus undated   3 p. photocopy; version with piano. 3 p. transparency of same. 4 p. transparency of version with organ. 4 p. transparency of voice parts.

5 / 107

String Quartet in A flat undated   22 p. full score photocopy, also individual parts.

5 / 108

String Quartet No. 2 in c minor January, 1946.   26 p. full score, also photocopies of individual parts.

5 / 110

String Quartet No. 3 in c minor undated   43 p. full score. Individual parts.

6 / 111

String Quartet No. 4 August, 1943.   22 p. full score. 20 p. photocopy score, dated 1945.

6 / 112

String Quartet No. 5 May, 1953.   26 p. photocopy score. Also transparencies of the full score and individual parts.

6 / 113

String Quartet No. 6 June, 1960.   28 p. transparency of the full score.

6 / 114

String Quartet No. 7 1960.   26 p. transparency of the full score. Also transparencies of individual parts.

6 / 115

Woodwind Quartet November, 1952.   13 p. photocopy score, bound.

6 / 116

Quintet for Clarinet and Strings undated   87 p. full score.

6 / 117

Woodwind Quintet October, 1961.    29 p. photocopy score. 29 p. transparency of the full score. Also transparencies of individual parts.

6 / 118

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 for strings, photocopies and transparencies.

6 / 120

Rondo for Piano 1949.   4 p. score. 6 p. photocopy. 6 p. transparency.

6 / 121

Rondo for Orchestra October, 1942    49 p. full orchestral score. 35 p. photocopy.

6 / 122

Rondo giocoso undated   For flute, oboe, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons and 2 French horns. 12 p. full score.

6 / 123

Scherzo for Orchestra No. 1 undated   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.

7 / 125

Scherzo for Orchestra No. 2 undated   Photocopy parts for flute, clarinet in B flat, trumpet, trombone, and strings.

7 / 126

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.

7 / 127

Sextet undated   For flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat, 2 bassoons and horn in F. 41 p. full score. Also individual parts.

7 / 128

Sextet undated   For oboe, bassoon and string quartet. 55 p. full score. 30 p. piano reduction. Also individual parts.

7 / 129

Five Short Pieces for B flat Clarinet and Piano July, 1941.   12 p. score.

8 / 131

Sinfonietta No. 1 for String Orchestra March, 1948.   32 p. full score. Set of parts, photocopies and transparencies.

8 / 132

Sinfonietta No. 2 for String Orchestra July, 1948.   34 p. full score.

8 / 133

Solo for Clarinet [in B flat] November, 1952.   2 p. photocopy.

8 / 134

Sonata No. 1 for Piano and Clarinet undated   19 p. photocopy score. Transparencies of the score (19 p.) and clarinet part (8 p).

8 / 135

Sonata for Organ No. 1 January, 1957.   21 p. transparency.

8 / 136

Sonata No. 1 for Piano June, 1956.   19 p. photocopy, bound. 19 p. transparency.

8 / 137

Sonata No. 2 for Piano undated   19 p. photocopy, bound. 19 p. transparency.

8 / 138

Sonata for Violin and Piano undated   26 p. score.

8 / 139

Song from Henry the Eighth undated   For soprano and string quartet. Text by William Shakespeare. 4 p. photocopy of the piano transcription. Set of individual parts for strings.

8 / 140

Song from The Tempest undated   For soprano and string quartet. Text by William Shakespeare. 2 p. photocopy of the piano transcription. Set of individual parts for strings.

8 / 141

Suite for Oboe and Piano 1942.   9 p. score. 2 p. score of the second movement. 4 p. part for oboe.

8 / 144

Symphonic Poem undated   35 p. photocopy of the full score.

8 / 146

Symphony (No. 1) undated   Bound photocopy scores of movements; I (36 p.), II and III (28 p.) and IV (30 p.). 112 p. transparency.

9 / 147

Symphony No. 2 undated   150 p. transparency of the full score.

9 / 148

Theme and Variations for Organ 1959.   10 p. transparency.

9 / 149

Theme con Variazione for Pianoforte undated   14 p. score.

9 / 150

Theme and Variations for Two Pianos undated   18 p. photocopy score, two copies.

9 / 151

Theme, Variations and Fugue for Organ 1959.   10 p. transparency.

9 / 152

Trio for Clarinet in A, Bassoon and Piano 1962.   39 p. transparency of the full score. Transparencies of the clarinet and bassoon parts.

9 / 153

Trio for Oboe, Clarinet in B flat and Piano May, 1951.   56 p. photocopy of the score.

9 / 154

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.

10 / 155

Trio-Fantasy February, 1954.   For violin, violoncello and piano. 11 p. photocopy of the score, bound. Also photocopies of the violin and violoncello parts.

10 / 157

Violin Concerto 1941   55 p. full orchestral score. 26 p. piano reduction.

10 / 159

Waltz for Violin and Piano undated   3 p. score. 2 p. violin part.

10 / 162

We Take Those Things We Gave Away November, 1950.   Song for bass and piano; text by R. W. Abraham Felt. 4 p. score.

10 / 163

Works not included in catalogue: 
box-folder

Sonate fuer Klavier in 3 Saetzen undated   37 p. score, fragment. 37 p. score, complete.

10 / A

Two Pieces for Orchestra September, 1953. 

 11 / B

Two Scherzi for String Orchestra undated   9 p. score. 10 p. score.

11 / C

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Series 2: Papers 1949-1980 

Printed scores and tapes: 
box-folder

Five compositions published by Henri Elkan, Philadelphia. Waltz (for clarinet and piano); Scherzando (for clarinet solo); Little Serenade (for clarinet and piano); Arabesque (for bassoon solo); Chorale (for four clarinets). 1963-1964 

 11 / D

Two tape recordings (reel-to-reel) 1. Concertino for Clarinet, with String Quartet; Scherzando for Clarinet Solo; Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Viola; 2. Sonata No. 1 for Piano undated  

 11 / E

Correspondence and Papers: 
box-folder

Correspondence and Papers 1949-1980. 

 11 / F

1 3" x 3 3/4" photograph of the composer 

 11 / F

Correspondence  25 items.

 11 / F

Legal documents  30 items.

 11 / F

Other papers  40 items.

 11 / F

BMI card catalogue.  164

 11 / G

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Series 3: Phonograph Recordings, added March, 1995 by W. Brandt) 
box-folder

Adagio Cantabile for Clarinet and Piano 

 12 / 1

Concertino for Clarinet and String Quartet, WNYC-FM Feb. 19, 1961 

 12 / 2

Two Piece for Piano: Concert Piece, Serenade and Adagio for Clarinet and String Quartet WNYC-FM Feb. 13, 1960 

 12 / 3

Song Cycle: Blissful Eden. Choral Prelude for Organ May 15, 1959 

 12 / 4

Two songs for Soprano and String Quartet, from Henry VIII and The Tempest by Shakespeare. Two records 

 12 / 5a and 5b

Woodwind Quartet (side one), Piece for Solo Clarinet, (side 2). Aug. 1953 

 12 / 6

Canons for 2 and 3 woodwinds 

 12 / 7

In That Blissful Eden and At the Hacienda, sung by Shirley Brandt. 2 copies 

 12 / 8

The Humble Bee, Little Serenade and The American Flag undated 

 12 / 9

The American Flag and Little Serenade undated 

 12 / 10

Piano Piece undated 

 12 / 11

The Humble Bee, sung by Celeste Carlesimo, 2 copies undated 

 12 / 12

The American Flag, The Coasters, and Beloved Land undated 

 12 / 13

Concert Piece for oboe and piano. WNYC.; unidentified piece for oboe piano undated 

 12 / 14

Piece for Oboe and Piano. Rondo for Piano undated 

 12 / 15

The Coasters, sung by Shirley Brandt 

 12 / 16

Blissful Evening. WNYC, 2 copies Feb. 19, 1953. 

 12 / 17

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