Biographical Sketch

Arne Oldberg (July 12, 1874 – Feb. 17, 1962). He graduated from the Gottschalk Lyric School and then studied in Vienna for two years with Theodor Leschetzky. As a student of Joseph Rheinberger at Munich’s Royal Academy of Art, he completed a three year composition degree in one year. Oldberg joined the Northwestern University piano faculty in 1897, was appointed professor of music in 1899, and served as professor of piano and composition and director of the graduate department of the Music School until his retirement in 1941. Professor Oldberg composed chamber music, concertos for piano, violin, or horn with orchestra, piano pieces, sonatas, and some twenty-five orchestral works, including four symphonies. He was a favorite American composer of Chicago Symphony conductor Frederick Stock, and that orchestra, among others, played his works on a regular basis. On many occasions Oldberg played his own compositions with the orchestras.

 

Provenance

This collection of scrapbook pages, clippings, and memorabilia documenting Oldberg’s career was begun by his daughter, Elsa Oldberg Zettelman, and continued by an unnamed family friend. It was donated to the Sibley Music Library by Arne Oldberg’s son, Karl Oldberg, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Zettelman Goelz, over the period spanning 1982 to 1987.

 

Scope and Content

The collection is of particular interest to those studying American composers in the first half of the twentieth century. It contains 49 of Oldberg’s works, much of it printed: 29 with the composer’s opus number and 20 others cataloged by his son, Karl Oldberg. The collection includes works for piano, orchestra, violin, ‘cello, and horn. It also contains a scrapbook and newspaper clippings relating to his life and works. Also included are concert programs featuring his works.

 

Restrictions and Use

No Restrictions.

 

Associations

The Arthur Farwell Collection in Sibley Library’s Special Collections contains items of interest to those studying American composers, although there are no references to Oldberg in the collection. Oldberg was one of the American composers sponsored by Arthur Farwell early in the twentieth century, and some of his music was published by Farwell in the Wa-Wan Press, Newton Center, Massachusetts. Howard Hanson studied composition with Oldberg for two years at Northwestern University (1915-1916), but Sibley Library contains no materials pertaining to their association.

Oldberg’s compositional and professional activity are represented in other collections and repositories outside the Eastman School of Music. Specifically, a large collection of Oldberg’s manuscripts is housed at the Library of Congress (24 linear feet). This Arne Oldberg Collection consists of music scores, parts, and sketches including holograph and copyist manuscripts, facsimiles, and published imprints, as well as sketchbooks, correspondence, concert programs, and ephemera. Northwestern University holds two relevant collections, one collection of scores and a separate collection of papers. The Arne Oldberg Scores consist of six boxes containing manuscripts, diazotypes, published scores, and photocopies of Oldberg’s compositions. The Arne Oldberg Papers are a small collection (five folders, total) containing biographical materials, clippings, one musical composition, and a small amount of correspondence. Additionally, the Estes Park Museum in Estes Park, Colorado, holds a handful of materials related to Arne Oldberg, namely three items of music, three documents, and nine photographs.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Series 1: Music

Includes most of Oldberg’s works arranged by opus number. Some works are bound together and in consequence may be out of order. Note: Works catalogued by Oldberg’s son, Karl Oldberg, are referred to by KO number.

Series 2: Programs

This series consists of concert programs in which Oldberg’s music appears. Also included are programs from a few concerts Oldberg attended during his school days.

Series 3: Personal Papers

The main feature of this series is a scrapbook kept by Oldberg and containing concert programs and newspaper clippings featuring his life and works. In addition, there are similar materials in chronological files arranged by decade. Items relating to a portrait of Oldberg, obituaries of Oldberg and his wife, and a few other papers of unknown origin are included.

Three photocopies have been made of many of the clippings and programs in this collection. These have been included as a part of the collection.

 

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INVENTORY

Series 1: Music

Box 1

folder 1	Op. 1. Preludium et toccata. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 2	Op. 2. Fantasia fugata. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 3	Op. 4. Petite gavotte. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 4	Op. 6. Erinnerung. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
	Op. 7. A summer night: seven tone poems for the pianoforte. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
	Gavotte: from string quartett op. 10, arranged for the pianoforte. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
	Op. 7, #2. Song without words. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 5	Op. 8. Suite characteristique, no. 2: for pianoforte. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 6	Foerster, Alban. Flitting butterflies.
	Oldberg, Arne. Op. 9, no. 3. The garden mole. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, [no date]
folder 7	Op. 11. Tema con variazione. copy of manuscript
folder 8	Op. 13, no. 2. Trois Morceaux: Chanson triste.
	Op. 13, no. 3. Trois Morceaux: Capriccio. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1902
folder 9	Op. 13, no. 3. Trois Morceaux: Capriccio. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1902
folder 10	Op. 14. La coquette. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1902
folder 11	Op. 17. Symphonic concerto in G minor, for piano and orchestra. Edition for two pianos. Newton Center, MA.: The Wa-Wan Press, c1907
folder 12	Op. 21. Paolo e Francesca: dramatic overture for orchestra. New York: G. Schirmer, c1916
folder 13	Op. 24. Quintet in C# minor for piano, 2 violins, viola, and ‘cello. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1908
folder 14	Op. 25. Theme and variations. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1907
	Op. 12 (Oldberg). Bach, J. S. Fantasia et fuga, C moll; für Klavier übertragen von Arne Oldberg. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1907
folder 15	Op. 26. A legend: for pianoforte. Newton Center, MA: The Wa-Wan Press, c1907
folder 16	Op. 27, no. 1. Badinage (from Three miniatures for piano). New York: G. Schirmer, c1907
folder 17	Op. 27, no. 2. Intermezzo (from Three miniatures for piano). Newton Center, MA: The Wa-Wan Press, c1908
folder 18	Op. 27, no. 3. Carillon (from Three miniatures for piano). New York: G. Schirmer, c1907. 2 copies, 1 of manuscript
	Op. 5, no. 1. Praeludium. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896
folder 19	Op. 28. Sonata in B flat minor for the pianoforte. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1910
folder 20	Op. 30, no. 2. Canzonetta. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1915
	Bach. J.S. Praeludium et fuga, A moll; transcribed for piano solo by Arne Oldberg. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1910
folder 21	Op. 32. Improvisation. New York: G. Schirmer, c1913. 2 copies
	Op. 5, no. 2. Praeludium. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy, c1896. 2 copies
folder 22	Op. 44. Improvisations. copy of manuscript
folder 23	Op. 44, no. 1. Andante, molto expressivo (A major version). Improvisations. copy of manuscript
folder 24	Op. 45. Sonata for ‘cello (or viola) and piano. 2 copies of manuscript
folder 25	Op. 48. Sonata for violin and piano. copy of manuscript
folder 26	Op. 51. Sonata for violin and piano in A minor. copy of manuscript
folder 27	Op. 53. Ballade (for orchestra), piano reduction. manuscript and copy
folder 28	Op. 54. Symphony no. 5: II Nocturne. manuscript

Box 2

folder 1	KO 1a. St. Francis of Assisi: Prayer; Hymn to creation
folder 2	KO 2. Valsette, 1937
folder 3	KO 3. Danza, all ‘antica
folder 4	KO 4. Prelude, 1945
folder 5	KO 4. Prelude, 1945
folder 6	KO 5. Sonatina
folder 7	KO 6. Arabesque, 1953
	KO 4. Prelude, 1945
	Moonlight
folder 8	KO 11. Trio A dur für Violine, Bratsche und ‘Cello
folder 9	KO 17. Fantasia, 1948
folder 10	KO 19. Sextet [for string quartet, horn, and piano]
folder 11	KO 19. Sextet [for string quartet, horn, and piano]
folder 12	KO 20. Le son du cor, for eight horns in F. Buffalo, NY: The Hornists’ Nest, c1978
folder 13	KO 21a, 21b. Beethoven. Two pieces for six horns in F: Adagio, op. 13; Allegretto, op. 27, #2. Arranged for horns by Arne Oldberg. Buffalo, NY: The Hornists’ Nest, c1978
folder 14	KO 22. Antonio Lotti. Crucifixus. arranged for 8-part horn choir by Arne Oldberg. San Antonio, TX: Southern Music, c1979
folder 15	KO 23. Bach, J.S. Prelude. arranged for 8-part horn choir by Arne Oldberg. San Antonio, TX: Southern Music, c1979.
folder 16	KO 25. Serenade for horn and piano (was Le Son du Cor)
folder 17	KO 26. The cricket, op. 9, #2. Chicago: Clayton F. Summy. 2 copies
folder 18	KO 28. Yesterday
folder 19	Improvisation, 1951
folder 20	Praeludium et fuga für Klavier, (A moll), 1913. (note at back says “München 22 March 1899”)
folder 21	II. Andantino cantabile. Piano reduction of movement of [Symphony?]

Series 2: Programs

Box 3

folder 1	Programs including Oldberg’s works
folder 2	Programs Oldberg attended (mostly from school days)
folder 3	Chicago Symphony Programs
folder 4	First set of copies of Programs in folders 50 and 51
folder 5	Second set of copies of Programs in folders 50 and 51
folder 6	Third set of copies of Programs in folders 50 and 51
folder 7	Repertoire Lists
folder 8	Inventory of Oldberg’s music produced by Sibley Rare Books Department

Series 3: Personal Papers

Box 4

folder 1	Chronological file 1: Before 1940. Clippings
folder 2	Chronological file 2: 1940s. Clippings
folder 3	Chronological file 3: 1950s. Clippings, Who’s Who certificate
folder 4	Chronological file 4: 1960s & 1970s. Clippings
folder 5	Chronological file 5: 1980s & 1990s. Clippings
folder 6	Advertisements for Oldberg’s music and studio teaching, photographs, Northwestern University syllabus pages featuring Oldberg.
folder 7	Memorabilia. Membership certificate for Pi Gamma Mu, Christmas gift booklet including composition “Moonlight” by Oldberg.
folder 8	Miscellaneous papers. Clippings, dinner program, poem, etc.
folder 9	Obituaries of Arne Oldberg and Mary Sloan Oldberg.
folder 10	Portrait. Photograph and information on Oldberg portrait by Walt Otto, 1944.

Box 5

Scrapbook

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APPENDIX

 

Selected List of Works by Arne Oldberg

The location of manuscripts, published scores, and photocopies is indicated in brackets following the record. LOC=Library of Congress; NU=Northwestern University; SML=Sibley Music Library.

 

Orchestral

Op. 19. Twelve variations for orchestra (ca. 1913) [LOC]

Op. 21. Paolo and Francesca: dramatic overture for orchestra (1916) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 23. Symphony no. 1 in F minor (1911) [LOC, NU]

Op. 29. Festival overture (1909) [LOC, NU]

Op. 34. Symphony no. 2 in C minor (ca. 1912) [LOC]

Op. 35. Symphonic variations for organ and orchestra (ca. 1912) [LOC]

Op. 36. “June” rhapsody (1913) [SML]

Op. 38. “At night” fantasie in F minor (1914) [LOC, SML]

Op. 39. Rhapsody for orchestra, no. 2 (ca. 1919) [LOC]

Op. 41. Symphony no. 3 (“Lyric”) in F minor (1921-1925) [LOC, NU]

Op. 47. The sea: symphonic poem (1934) [LOC, NU]

Op. 48. Sinfonia (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 49. Six variations for orchestra (ca. 1939) [LOC]

Op. 50. Symphony no. 4 in B minor (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 53. Ballad for orchestra (1944) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 54. Symphony no. 5 in E minor (n.d.) [LOC, SML]

A legend [for orchestra] (n.d.) [LOC]

Pandora, a cantata for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra (n.d.) [LOC]

Sinfonia in G minor (n.d.) [LOC]

Sinfonietta no. 6 in G major (n.d.) [LOC]

Sonatina in C major (n.d.) [LOC]

A study in relativity (n.d.) [LOC]

Symphony no. 7 in C minor (n.d.) [LOC]

 

Concertos

Op. 17. Concerto for piano and orchestra, no. 1, in G minor (Symphonic concerto) (1907) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 24a. Concertino for piano and chamber orchestra (n.d.) [LOC, NU]

Op. 40. Symphonic variations for two pianos and orchestra (1927) [LOC, NU]

Op. 43. Concerto for piano and orchestra, no. 2 (ca. 1931) [LOC, NU]

Op. 46. Concerto (all’ antico) for violin or cello and orchestra (ca. 1946) [LOC, NU]

Op. 46a. Concerto for violin or cello and piano [SML]

Op. 52. Concerto for piano and orchestra, no. 3 (1942) [LOC, NU]

Le son du cor for horn and orchestra (ca. 1953) [LOC, NU]

 

Chamber music

Op. 15. String quartet in C minor (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 16. String quintet in B minor (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 18. Serenade pastorale for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 24. Quintet for piano and strings in C-sharp minor (1908) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 45. Sonata for cello and piano (1933) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 45b. Sonata for viola and piano in B-flat minor (n.d.) [LOC, NU]

Op. 48. Sonata for violin and piano (n.d.) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 48b. Sonata for cello and piano (n.d.) [LOC]

Op. 49. Quintet for piano and strings (ca. 1935) [NU]

Op. 51. Sonata for violin and piano (1942) [LOC, NU, SML]

KO 11. Trio for violin, viola, and cello in A major (n.d.) [NU, SML]

KO 19. Sextet for horn, piano, and strings in B minor (ca. 1952) [LOC, NU, SML]

KO 20. Le son du cor for eight horns in F (1978) [SML]

KO 21. Two pieces [by Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged] for six horns in F (1978) [SML]

KO 22. Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti arranged for 8-part horn choir (1979) [SML]

KO 23. Prelude by J. S. Bach arranged for 8-part horn choir (1979) [SML]

KO 25. Serenade for horn and piano (ca. 1986) [SML]

String quartet in C major (n.d.) [LOC]

String quartet no. 2 in D major (n.d.) [LOC]

Trio for violin, cello, and piano in E minor (n.d.) [LOC]

 

Piano

Op. 1. Praeludium et toccata (1896) [SML]

Op. 2. Fantasia et fuga (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 3. Fantasie (1896) [NU]

Op. 4. Petite gavotte (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 5, no. 1. Praeludium (1896-1906) [NU, SML]

Op. 5, no. 2. Praeludium (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 6. Erinnerung (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 7. A summer night: seven tone poems for the pianoforte (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 8. Suite characteristique no. 2 (1900) [NU, SML]

Op. 9, no. 3. The garden mole (n.d.) [SML]

Op. 10. Gavotte from string quartet (1896) [NU, SML]

Op. 11. Tema con variazione (n.d.) [NU, SML]

Op. 12. Fantasia et fuga in C minor [by J. S. Bach, arranged for solo piano] (1907) [NU, SML]

Op. 13. Trois morceaux (1902) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 14. La coquette (1902) [NU, SML]

Op. 25. Theme and variations (1907) [NU, SML]

Op. 26. A legend (1907) [NU, SML]

Op. 27. Three miniatures (1907-1908) [NU, SML]

Op. 28. Sonata in B-flat minor (1910) [LOC, NU, SML]

Op. 30. Canzonetta (n.d.) [NU, SML]

Op. 31. Arabesque (1913) [NU]

Op. 32. Improvisation (1913) [NU, SML]

Op. 33. Prelude a la russe (1913) [NU]

Op. 36, no. 2. “Day” rhapsody (ca. 1913) [NU]

Op. 37, no. 2. Canzonetta (1915) [NU]

Op. 44. Improvisations (1941) [NU, SML]

KO 2. Valsette for two pianos (1937) [LOC, NU, SML]

KO 3. Danza, all’ antica (n.d.) [NU, SML]

KO 4. Prelude (1945) [NU, SML]

KO 5. Sonatina (n.d.) [NU, SML]

KO 6. Arabesque (1952-1953) [NU, SML]

KO 17. Fantasia (1948) [NU, SML]

KO 26. The cricket, op. 9, no. 2 (n.d.) [NU, SML]

KO 28. Yesterday (n.d.) [NU, SML]

Canzone (n.d.) [NU]

For Mary and sing high, sing low (n.d.) [NU]

Improvisation (1951) [NU, SML]

In the country (n.d.) [NU]

Moonlight (n.d.) [SML]

Nocturne (n.d.) [NU]

Oesterreichische Folks Melodie (1894) [NU]

Praeludium et fuga (1899) [NU]

Praeludium et fuga [in A minor] (1913) [NU, SML]

Praeludium et fuga in A minor by J. S. Bach, transcribed for piano solo (1913) [SML]

Carillon (n.d.) [NU]

Song without words (1896) [NU]

Suite for two pianos (1924) [NU]

 

Vocal

Op. 22. Four outdoor songs for contralto and orchestra [LOC]

Op. 53. Trois chansons françaises (n.d.) [LOC]

KO 1a. St. Francis of Assisi: Prayer and hymn to creation (1953) [LOC, NU, SML]

Adoration and praise (1905) [NU]

Aveu [LOC]

Insomnie (Marc See) (n.d.) [NU]

Praise the Lord (1946) [NU]

Sa chanson (n.d.) [NU]