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Jim Pegolotti Program Notes Files

 Collection
Identifier: MS-070

Content Description

The collection was accessioned in 2 flash drives of Word files (13). Materials were converted to pdf and arranged into two pdf portfolios: 1) Pegolotti's program notes (Danbury Concert Association Notes) and 2) an unpublished manuscript (Writing Program Notes) that includes guidance on writing program notes for classical music concerts. Pegolotti writes: "... program notes are often provided at a classical music concert to help a person understand how the composer came to write the music and something of the music’s structure."

For the Danbury area, Pegolotti provided program notes for the Danbury Symphony Orchestra (1987-2000) then the Danbury Concert Association (1995-2019).

Writing Program Notes is subtitled: Merry Adventures with Beethoven and Other Composers: A primer about writing program notes with plenty of examples. It is divided in three parts. Part I provides "Ideas on making program notes more interesting." Part II is "Examples of program notes for a full concert," of both the Danbury Symphony and the Danbury Concert Association; and Part III is "Examples of program notes for a particular musical work," with samples of notes for works by some 34 composers.

The Danbury Concert Association Notes, etc. include notes arranged in alphabetical groupings: I J.S. Bach to Beethoven; II Berlin/Tatum to Copland; III Danzi to Ives; IV Janacek to Onslow; V Perle to Soler; VI Strauss, J. to Zwilich The Danbury Concert Association presented four concerts a year and featured nationally known performers: pianists, chamber groups and chamber orchestras. The concerts are and have always been at Western Connecticut State, originally in the Ives Auditorium in White Hall, but since 2016 in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall. James Pegolotti has written program notes for 58 of the concerts from 1995 to 2019. (A few chamber groups supplied their own notes.). The result are notes for nearly 300 different musical works by 86 different composers, All these notes are here in six files, alpha by composer with each work identified as to the performer(s).

Also provided is a complete list of the works alpha by composer, so someone can determine if a specific work has a program note. Beethoven, Chopin, Dvorak and Mozart are well represented, but also many with only one work.

Dates

  • Creation: 2021

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to use or reuse this material subject to approval by the author and the WCSU Archives. If referenced in research, a citation is required.

Biographical / Historical

Jim Pegolotti came to Western Connecticut State College in 1981 as Dean of Arts and Sciences. His interest in classical music led him to be on the Danbury Music Centre Board for years, several as president, and he began writing program notes as a volunteer, first for the Danbury Symphony, then the Danbury Concert Association. After six years as Dean, he took a year off to gain a library degree, returning to Western as a librarian in Haas Library, overseeing the music collection. He retired in 1999 and completed his well-received Deems Taylor: A Biography, published in 2003.

Extent

5.4 Megabytes (11 files)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Includes former WCSU Dean, Jim Pegolotti's program notes (Danbury Concert Association Notes) and an unpublished manuscript (Writing Program Notes) that includes guidance on writing program notes for classical music concerts.

Arrangement

Files arranged into two pdf portfolios and therein chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Pegolotti in the summer of 2021.

Title
Guide to the Jim Pegolotti Program Notes Files
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Haas Library
181 White St
Danbury 06810 USA US
203.837.8992
203.837.8322 (Fax)