Greater NY MLA Chapter
June 20, 2005: Spring Meeting
Members Present: John Andrus, David Brown, Karen Burke, Mi-Hye Chyun, Elizabeth Davis, Rick Fox, Paul Friedman, Kerry Gibson, Martha Grutchfield, Ruth Henderson, George Hill, Peter Hirsch, Arsi Ionnaundou, Marguerite Iskenderian, Bob Kosovsky, Ed Scarcelle,Gislele Schierhorst, Bill Shank, Mark Smith, Suki Sommer, Harold Stern, Robert Terrio, Kent Underwood, Janet Weaver.
Metropolitan Opera Library
We met in the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House at 10:00 AM and headed down to the stage entrance of the Met. where we were met by Bob Sutherland, orchestral librarian. Bob gave a 1 hour presentation filled with many anecdotes of his 30 year career.
He emphasized that this is a performance library which is organized, not by call number, but by a flexible system based on the frequency of what is being performed during any given season. The library also carries a small reference collection which many of the performers use. He and his assistant Paul may be called at any minute to do bowings, transpositions and even to play in the orchestra (Bob has played trumpet in the pit and on stage and Paul has played organ).
Because of the demands of the Met orchestra and performers, Bob found it necessary to devise an inhouse database. Like most library catalogs, this database serves as a means of inventory control, and provides a detailed list of the performing forces needed for each opera or concert work (needed for when the Met performs elsewhere, such as the orchestra's Carnegie Hall appearances). Unlike most catalogs however, it can perform unique searches based on any individual instruments or performer and combinations thereof.
NY Philharmonic Archive
Bob Kosovsky was able to arrange, on very short notice, a visit with Barbara Haws, archivist for the New York Philharmonic Archive. The archive is located on the 4th floor of the Rose Building, part of the Juilliard School. It has been at this location since 1991, when Barbara was hired to organize the archive (originally located in Avery Fisher Hall). Barbara has a background in history and has worked at several archives in her career.
She showed us some treasures from the archives, including a recent acquisition of the diary of Ureli Corelli Hill, the founder of the New York Philharmonic. Barbara did tell us that although they did purchase Hill's diary that she does not normally purchase any material. The Philharmonic itself generates about 73 cubic feet of material per year. She also told us that she and her interns are involved in scanning all of the bound programs that they have in color and black and white. She also said that she wants to make the archive accessible to anyone wishing to do research on music history, history of New York City, etc… so please do not hesitate to refer a patron to her for information.
BUSINESS MEETING: Steinberg Reading Room at NYPL for the Performing Arts
Called to order at 2:15 by Suki Sommer, chair.
Suki called for general introductions of all membership
Final call for dues and ballots for 2004/05 was made by Karen Burke, Secretary/Treasurer
Final tally of ballots for new chapter officer elections by Karen Burke
Announcement of new chapter officers 2005/07:
- Gisele Schierhorst (SUNY Stonybrook) -- Chair
- Peter Hirsch (NYPL) -- Vice-Chair
- Mi-Hye Chyun (Westminster Choir College) -- Secretary/Treasurer
Treasurer's Report:
$2500 in account.
Motion was made by George Hill that in view of positive state of treasury that members who are in arears will not have to pay back dues for this year. Seconded by Karen Burke and passed by members.
Daniel Boomhower, who was manning the listserv has now moved on to Kent State and Jon Stroop, who will be taking over his job at Princeton, will act as the new list manager.
Suki asked for ideas for future meetings (a continuation of what was discussed in Vancouver).
Ideas:
- Pierpont Morgan -- when renovation finished
- Brooklyn Public Library -- Harold Stern, contact
- Baker & Taylor -- Darren O'Neill, contact
- Ebsco -- Red Bank, NJ
- Rockefeller Church/ VAI / SUNY Purchase
- NY Historical Society
- WNYC
- Carnegie Hall Archives
- Meeting adjourned at 3:00
Metropolitan Opera Tour
At 3:30 those of us who elected to do so went on the Metropolitan Opera Backstage tour. This was an extensive docent led, 2 ½ hour tour including stage right & left, the costume shop, rehearsal spaces, and the scenery shop. Because of the number of people who attend these tours, each group includes only 15 people. It was well worth the $10 charge. The tour definitely should be recommended to any opera fan.
