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Rodney Hansen papers

 Collection
Identifier: PIMS-0063

Scope and Contents

The Rodney Hansen papers contain personal papers from 1961 to 1987 related to Hansen’s career as an organist and music director at various churches and other organizations. Included in the collection are correspondence, diaries, newspaper clippings, publications, concert programs, and documents related to various concert tours.

Dates

  • Creation: 1961-1987

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for use at the Peabody Archives. Contact peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu for more information.

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

Rodney Hansen began his career as a church organist at age 10 in the Eureka First Presbyterian Church. He studied at San Jose State College, San Francisco State, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. At Peabody, he studied with Paul Callaway and earned a bachelor's degree in music in 1957. In 1954, he was appointed organist-choirmaster at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of the Incarnation and organist-director of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. From 1962 to 1964, Hansen was a harpsichordist-organist with the New York Festival Orchestra at Philharmonic Hall in New York. Also in New York, he was associate conductor of the Cantata Singers and recorded with the Robert Shaw Chorale on the RCA Victor label. After serving as organist and choirmaster at churches in Connecticut and New York, Hansen returned to Baltimore in 1972 when he was named organist and choir director at Old St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He served for a time as chorusmaster of the Baltimore Opera Company. As choirmaster of Old St. Paul's, he was also responsible for music instruction at St. Paul's School and St. Paul's School for girls. In the summer of 1995 he took the St. Paul's Choir of Men and Boys to the White House to perform for President and Mrs. Reagan. During Hansen's tenure as director, the choir toured England and France. Rodney Hansen died on January 20, 1998.

Extent

1.75 Cubic Feet ((4 full-size letter boxes, 1 half-size legal box) )

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Rodney Hansen was an organist and choirmaster who graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and spent much of his career in Baltimore. His personal papers include correspondence, concert programs, and clippings related to his career.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Rodney Hansen estate in 1998.

Processing Information

Processed by David Goldklang in 1998.

Title
Guide to the Rodney Hansen papers
Author
Kerri Sheehan
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