Research Catalog

Title

Francis Thorne papers, 1956-2004.

Author

Thorne, Francis.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Diamond, David, 1915-2005.
• American Composers Alliance.
• American Composers Orchestra.

Description

35.5 linear feet (38 boxes )

Summary

The Francis Thorne papers primarily contains scores by the composer.

Subjects

• Composers
• Correspondence
• Scores
• Composers > United States > 20th century
• Clippings
• Music > Scholarships, fellowships, etc
• Programs
• Thorne, Francis

Genre/Form

• Scores.
• Clippings.
• Correspondence.
• Programs.

Additional Formats (note)

• Available in microfilm as part of the Francis Thorne papers;

Reproduction (note)

• Microfilm.

Source (note)

• Thorne, Francis

Biography (note)

• Prolific American composer Francis Thorne (born 1922) is well known for his work in a variety of genres, as well as for his service in music administration.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Microfilmed;

Call Number

JPB 06-65

OCLC

183327885

Author

Thorne, Francis.

Title

Francis Thorne papers, 1956-2004.

Biography

Prolific American composer Francis Thorne (born 1922) is well known for his work in a variety of genres, as well as for his service in music administration. Born in Bay Shore, New York, Thorne came from a musical family. His father had been a ragtime pianist and his grandfather, Gustave Kobbé was an eminent music critic and writer. Thorne's own approach to music was equally eclectic. He received his formal music training at Yale University with Paul Hindemith. After graduation, Thorne served in the United States Navy during World War II. Following the war, he worked in both the banking industry and as a stock broker on Wall Street. In 1955, Thorne abandoned the field of finance and tried his hand again at music. Duke Ellington recommended Thorne to Manhattan's Hickory House, where he landed a two-year engagement as a jazz pianist. In 1958, Thorne moved his family to Florence, Italy in the hopes of studying composition with Luigi Dallapiccola. Thorne instead became a private student of David Diamond. Thorne would incorporate jazz into his formal compositions. A seminal work in this vein was Nocturnes for Voice and Piano. His first big success as a professional composer was the work Elegy for Orchestra, which received its premiere with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1964. Thorne also became the founder and administrator of the Thorne Music Fund from 1965-1974. This fund awarded emerging composers three-year fellowships to focus on their writing. Thorne later served as the executive director of the Naumburg Foundation and the American Composers Alliance. He also has been the president and co-founder of the American Composers Orchestra.

Additional Formats

Three lyrical songs, 1944: 1. Looking up / H. Moss ; 2. Sleep now / J. Joyce ; 3. The world is too much with us / W. Wordswarth (box 25, f. 6) Available in microfilm as part of the Francis Thorne papers; service copy classmark: *ZB-4359.

Reproduction

Box 25, f. 6. Microfilm. New York : New York Public Library, 2009. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (MN *ZZ-41217)

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material

Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Added Author

Diamond, David, 1915-2005.

American Composers Alliance.

American Composers Orchestra.

Research Call Number

JPB 06-65

*ZB-4359 [Microfilm]