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Vladimir Padwa papers

 Collection
Identifier: PIMS-0012

Scope and Contents

The Vladimir Padwa papers, 1900-1983, bulk 1935-1980, are arranged in five series. Series 1 contains manuscript scores, many of which are holographs, of nearly all of Padwa's compositions, including works for piano, orchestra, string and brass ensembles, chorus, concert band, and the stage. Series 2 contains musical sketches as well as representative manuscript arrangements of music for four pianos Padwa made for the First Piano Quartet. Supporting documentation in Series 3 and 4 includes teaching materials, newspaper clippings, reviews, concert programs, personal and professional correspondence, recordings, and photographs. Series 5 contains sound recordings of Padwa’s performances and compositions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1900 - 1983
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1930 - 1980

Creator

Language of Materials

The bulk of the materials are in English. Some correspondence and other documents in Series 4 are in Russian or German.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for use at the Peabody Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or perform materials in this collection must be submitted in writing to the archivist of the Arthur Friedheim Library.

Biographical / Historical

Born in czarist Russia, composer and pianist Vladimir Padwa (1900-1981) studied in Leningrad, Berlin, and Leipzig and was a student of Ferrucio Busoni and Michael Zadora. He immigrated to the United States in 1932 and was heard regularly in concert halls, on radio, and in recordings for RCA Victor. He co-founded the First Piano Quartet and taught at the New York College of Music, where he became chair of the piano department. As a composer, Padwa wrote the ballet Tom Sawyer, various works for orchestra, and the one-act opera Compartment No. 7.

Extent

16.33 Cubic Feet (38 boxes total: 4 tall score boxes (15.5 x 12.5 x 6), 13 score boxes (15.5 x 12.5 x 3), 3 legal-size document boxes, 1 half-size legal document box, 12 letter-size document boxes, 1 half-size letter document box, 2 records center boxes, 1 oversize box (19 x 5 x 3), 1 half-oversize box (19 x 5 x 1.5))

Abstract

Born in czarist Russia, composer and pianist Vladimir Padwa immigrated to the United States in 1932 and was heard regularly in concert halls, on radio, and in recordings for RCA Victor. He co-founded the First Piano Quartet and taught at the New York College of Music. The Vladimir Padwa papers contain manuscript scores, many of which are holographs, of nearly all of Padwa’s compositions, including works for piano, large ensemble, and the stage. The collection also includes Padwa’s musical sketches, teaching materials, personal and professional documents, and sound recordings.

Other Finding Aids

A detailed finding aid exists offline. Please contact the Peabody Archives for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Tom M. Padwa in 1986. Additional score donated by Tom M. Padwa in 1991.

Processing Information

Processed by Scott Miller in 2015-2016. Arrangement and description of materials is based on a preliminary inventory by Tom M. Padwa, the donor of the collection and son of Vladimir Padwa.

Title
Guide to the Vladimir Padwa papers
Author
Matt Testa
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Peabody Archives Repository

Contact:
Peabody Institute
1 E. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore MD 21202 USA