Research Catalog

Title

John J. Becker papers, 1897-1991.

Author

Becker, John J.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Becker, Evelyn
• Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965.
• Riegger, Wallingford, 1885-1961.
• Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971.
• Federal Music Project (Minn.)

Description

24.25 linear feet (61 boxes)

Summary

The John J. Becker papers cover the breadth of his career, especially his most active period, from roughly 1920 to 1950.

Subjects

• Composers
• Music teachers
• Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971
• Scores
• Riegger, Wallingford, 1885-1961
• Federal Music Project (Minn.)
• Composers > United States > 20th century
• Becker, Evelyn
• Posters
• Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965
• Correspondence
• Becker, John J
• Music teachers > United States > 20th century

Genre/Form

• Correspondence.
• Posters.
• Scores.

Additional Formats (note)

• Available also in microfilm as part of the John J. Becker papers;

Reproduction (note)

• Microfilm.

Biography (note)

• John Joseph Becker (1886-1961) was an ultramodernist composer, conductor, and educator.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Microfilmed;

Call Number

JPB 04-27

OCLC

79468066

Author

Becker, John J.

Title

John J. Becker papers, 1897-1991.

Biography

John Joseph Becker (1886-1961) was an ultramodernist composer, conductor, and educator. Becker was a member of a group of avant-garde composers known as a the "American Five." This group, which included Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles, and Wallingford Riegger, was known for its dissonant, distinctly American style of music that broke away from European styles of compostion. Becker wrote symphonies, concertos, orchestral suites, songs, and choral works (especially religious works). Among his notable works, A Marriage with Space (1935), is often cited as most representative of his new forms for the stage by incorporating sound, light, dance, and poetry. He was honored late in his career when his Symphonia Brevis (written in 1930-1931) was performed at Carnegie Hall in 1958. Based in the Midwest, Becker taught at Catholic schools in several states, including the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota (1929-1933). He also spent six years working as the Director of the Federal Music Project for the state of Minnesota (1935-1941). Throughout his career, Becker also wrote extensively about music and culture; he also served as an editor of New Music, along with Cowell, who had founded the publication.

Additional Formats

Selections from vocal and instrumental music (Boxes: 18, f. 2, 6; 25, f. 5; 27, f. 1; 31, f. 4; 32, f. 2; 39, f. 3; 48, f. 5; 49 f. 5; 50, f. 3) Available also in microfilm as part of the John J. Becker papers; service copy classmark: *ZB-4365.

Reproduction

Microfilm. New York : New York Public Library, 2009. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (MN *ZZ-41224)

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Music teachers.

Added Author

Becker, John J. Marriage with Space.

Becker, John J. Symphonies. no. 3.

Becker, Evelyn.

Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965.

Riegger, Wallingford, 1885-1961.

Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971.

Federal Music Project (Minn.)

Research Call Number

*ZB-4365 [Microfilm]