furman Guide to the James Furman Papers 1963-1997 MS 006 MS 006 Finding aid prepared by Processed by Meg Moughan

This version was derived from FurmanDesc.doc

Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections
181 White St Danbury, CT, 06810 203.837.8992 stevensb@wcsu.edu
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2010-11-30T13:42-0500 Description is in English. James Furman Papers MS 006 Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections 1.0 Linear feet 1963-1997 Ruth A. Haas Library James Furman was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1937 and was a college professor/Composer. The collection includes audio recordings of original material, performance programs, and biographical information. Furman, James, 1937-1989 Provenance

Transferred to Archives in 2002.

 Access Restrictions

Open for research without restrictions.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:

Ruth A. Haas Library Special Collections and Archives 181 White Street Danbury, CT 06810 Phone: 203-837-8992 Fax: 203-837-9108 E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); The James Furman Papers; MS 006; box number; folder number;

Western Connecticut State University Archives

Historical/Biographical Note

James Furman was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1937 and was a college professor/Composer. He studied piano and as a teenager won first place in the Louisville Philharmonic Society's Young Artist Contest in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Theory-Composition degrees from the University of Louisville. He pursued graduate study at Brandeis and Harvard. In this time he studied under: Irving Fine, Arthur Berger, George Perle, Harold Shapero, Claude Almand, George Perle, Claude Almand, Irving Fine, Arthur Berger, and Harold Shapero.

He taught music in secondary schools in Louisville and Mamaroneck, and then at the College level at Western Connecticut State college in Danbury (1965-1989). His also composed choral works, songs, and chamber music. Some of his compositions of note include: "I Have a Dream" (1971), the trio "Variants" (1963), a choral suite "Four Little Foxes" (1965), and "Declaration of Independence" for orchestra and narrator (1977).

Sources:

Eileen Southerns Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1982). James Furman [http://www.candlewood.net/furman/index.html]

Scope and Content Note

The collection includes audio recordings of original material, performance programs, and biographical information.

 Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

The files are grouped into 1 series:

Inventory Pegolotti, James A. Western Connecticut State College. Audiotapes. Correspondence. Danbury (Conn.) Fliers. [printed matter] Louisville (Ky.) Microfilm. Music Instruction and study. Phonograph records. Polychoral music. Theater programs. Inventory Biographical Information 1 1 undated Resumes and Opuses 1 2 1990-1993 Correspondence of James Pegolotti re Furman 1 3 undated Recollections of Furman, by Howard Tuvelle 1 4 1997 Concert Programs 1 5 1966-1977 Concert Programs 1 6 1978-1984 Concert Programs (Memorial Concert) 1 7 1989 Estate of James Furman:Collection of Recordings 1 8 undated Estate of James Furman:Library 1 9-10 undated Compositions: Ave Maria, 1 11 undated Compositions: The Quiet Life 1 12 1963 Compositions: Variants 1 13 1963 LP: Choir Festival 1967, sponsored by Danbury Chapter, American Guild of Organists 1 1 1967

MS 006 | box: 1 | LP: Choir Festival 1967, sponsored by Danbury Chapter, American Guild of Organists

 LP: Connecticut State Music Festival, Orchestra, Chorus, Band (2 lps ) 1 2 1982 LP: Music of America, 1750-1970, Greenwich Choral Society, 45th Anniversary (2 lps), Spring 1970 1 3 1970 LP: Prelude No. 3 Andante from Rhapsody in Blue 1 4 undated LP: Rolling Along of 1961, Army Special Services Presents. . . World-Touring Soldier Show Featuring Finalists from the 1961 All-Army Entertainment Contest (2 lp's) 1 5 1961 78: Unidentified, label states "Mr. J. W. Hoppe," 1 6 undated

MS 006 | box: 1 | 78: Unidentified, label states "Mr. J. W. Hoppe,"

 Audio Cassette 1 1 1976-1981 General note

side: A: I Have a Dream, James Furman, 4/22/1976 side: B: Intercollegiate Concert, Ives Hall, James Furman Introduction, 11/24/1981

 Audio Cassette 1 2 undated General note

side: A: Suite for Solo Clarinet, nd side: B: Songs from Proposed Musical (Songs from Mr. Pickwick, music by James Furman), nd

 Audio Cassette 1 3 undated General note

side: A: James Furman Works: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Four Little Foxes, Heylehlooyuh, I Have a Dream Hymn, WestConn Chorus, J. Furman directing, nd side: B: The Declaration of Independence, WCSU Orchestra, James Furman conducting, Ella Grasso narrating, nd

MS 006 | tape: 3 | Audio Cassette

 New American Choral Music - Vol. III - Music of Brian Fennelly, Ross Lee Finney, James Furman, Darrell Handel, Bain Murrary, Mel Powell, Robert Stern with the Gregg Smith Singer, Gregg Smith conducting, (Furman piece: Ave Maria & Salve Regina, Jupiter Shall Emerge) 1 4 1987

MS 006 | tape: 4 | New American Choral Music - Vol. III - Music of Brian Fennelly, Ross Lee Finney, James Furman, Darrell Handel, Bain Murrary, Mel Powell, Robert Stern with the Gregg Smith Singer, Gregg Smith conducting, (Furman piece: Ave Maria & Salve Regina, Jupiter Shall Emerge)

 Audiotape - reel to reel: Analysis of Brandenburg Concerti, 1, 2, 3 1 5 undated I Have a Dream - vocal score on microfilm: I Have a Dream 1 1-3 1970 General note

Microfilmed in 1970.

MS 006 | reel: 1-3 | I Have a Dream - vocal score on microfilm: I Have a Dream

 I Have a Dream - musical score on microfilm: I Have a Dream 1 4 1970 General note

Microfilmed in 1970.

 Pitch instrument "The Master Key, Chromatic Pitch Instrument, A-440, 13 Keys - A product of Wm. Kratt Co."Pitch instrument "The Master Key, Chromatic Pitch Instrument, A-440, 13 Keys - A product of Wm. Kratt Co." 1 1 undated "Sir James Furman in Memoriam" compiled by Eric Lewis. 1 2 1989-1990 General note

3 ring binder which includes a variety of materials relating to Furman, his work and music. Items include: programs from the memorial service; lists of works; a description of Furman and the circumstances of his death written by Prof. Eric Lewis; clippings; correspondence relating to his estate; a note written by Furman; and sheet music. [ca. 75 pgs]