Biographical Sketch

Henry B. Neejer (1882-1957) was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. He studied with P. Melfi and was offered a professional position in Philadelphia. He declined a professional career in order to take a position as an executive with the large Syracuse stationer, G.D. Kirkland, with which company he remained until retirement. While pursuing his business career, he continued to perform as a free-lance musician in the Syracuse area throughout most of his life.

 

Provenance

This collection passed to Neejer’s daughter, Elizabeth Neejer Kober, on his death. It was retained by her until 1996, when it was donated to Sibley Music Library.

 

Scope and Content

The collection mainly contains publications for the harp from the late nineteenth century. One of the published works is by Neejer himself, and a few manuscripts of works by him also are included. Also included is a 78 rpm recording of Neejer playing, which was re-recorded from a steel wire recording made shortly before World War II. The collection represents a good example of a working library of an active free-lance harpist operative in a non-metropolitan area. It also documents the existence of an accomplished male harpist, an instrument otherwise dominated by females. Thus it is of potential interest to gender studies.

 

Restrictions and Use

There are no restrictions.

 

Associations

Watanabe Special Collections includes a significant amount of harp music integrated among its rare holdings. It also possesses the Nan Gullo Collection of rare harp music and the Lucille Rosenbloom library, which latter has been integrated with the rare holdings.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Series 1: All materials

The collection is so predominantly composed of music that it has not been subdivided. Manuscript music is integrated with printed music and arranged alphabetically. The one recording has been placed at the end.

 

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INVENTORY

Series 1: All materials

Box 1

folder 1	Alvars, E. Parish. L’Adieu: romance. Op.68. hamburg: Cranz. Pl.no. 4098.
folder 2	Alvars, Parish. Gran Studio ad imitazione del mandolino, Op.84. Milano: Ricordi, Pl.no. G18573G.
folder 3	Bedini, Guendalina. Rimembranze dell’ Aida da Verdi: fantasia per arpa. Milano: Ricordi, Pl.no. d44783d.
folder 4	Bendel, Franz. Dornröschen. New York: Schirmer, Pl.no. 2749r.
folder 5	Chatterton, J. Balsir. Romance. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. E.A.16,481.
folder 6	Dussek, O.B. The Blue Bells of Scotland. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. E.A. 28,199.
folder 7	Beatrix Fels. Ballade und Gebet aus Leo Delibes Coppelia, Op.17. Berlin: Fürstner, Pl.no. A4496F.
folder 8	Galos, C. Nocturne, Op.17. Offenbach: Andre, Pl.no. 8373.
folder 9	Godefroid, Felix. La Danse des sylphes: rondo brillant, étude. Mayence: Schott’s Söhne, Pl.no. 10654.
folder 10	Godefroid, Felix. Ecole mélodique: no.5, la sérénade. Mayence: Schott’s Söhne, Pl.no. 23098.
folder 11	Holý, alfred. Drei Vortragsstücke: no. 1 Arabeske, Op.7. Berlin: Carl Simon, Pl.no. C.S.2289II.
folder 12	MacDowell, Edward. To a Wild Rose, Op.57. manuscript copy.
folder 13	Moszkowski, Moritz. Serenata aus opus 15. Breslau: Hainauer, Pl.no. J.2779H.
folder 14	Naderman, François. La Biondina: from recueil d’airs varies. [?] manuscript copy.
folder 15	Neejer, Henry B. Christ the Lord is risen. [for voice & organ] manuscript.
folder 16	Neejer, Henry B. Strains from the harp: a fantasia. New York: Anglo-American, 1897.
folder 17	Oberthür, Charles. Trois morceaux caracteristiques: no.3 la gazelle, op.121. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. 8300.
folder 18	Oberthür, Charles. La Serenata: légende valaque de G. Braga. Mayence: Schott’s Söhne, Pl.no. 24340.
folder 19	Oberthür, Charles. Trois etudes: no.1, grace, op.102. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. 7783.
folder 20	Oberthür, Charles. Gems of Verdi: no.6 la donna è mobile, op.119. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. 8979.
folder 21	Oberthür, Charles. Gems of German Song: from the Alp the horn resounding, H. Proch. London: Ashdown, Pl.no. 7292.
folder 22	Pizzi, Emilio. Ave Maria. manuscript copy.
folder 23	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.1. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3307.
folder 24	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.2. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3308.
folder 25	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.3. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3309.
folder 26	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.4. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3310.
folder 27	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.5. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3311.
folder 28	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.6. Leipzig: Zimmermann, Pl.no. Z.3312.
folder 29	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.7. Leipzig: Zimmerman, Pl.no. Z.3313.
folder 30	Posse, Wilhelm. Acht grosse etuden, no.8. Leipzig: Zimmerman, Pl.no. Z.3314.
folder 31	Smith, Sidney. Le jet d’eau. Boston: Ditson, Pl.no. 23775.
folder 32	Schuëcker, Edmund. Fünf leichte Stücke, no.5 romance. Chicago: Lyon & Healy, 1892.
folder 33	Thomas, John. Winter. imprint lacking.
folder 34	Trnecek, Hans. Schubert-fantasie, op.7. Bayreuth: Giessel, Pl.no.34.
folder 35	Verdalle, Gabriel. Ballade, op.l1. Hamburg: Rahter, Pl.no. 1041.
folder 36	Widor, Charles M. 5me duo: sérénade. Mainz: Schott’s Söhne, Pl.no. 24863.5.
folder 37	untitled manuscript sketch.
folder 38-39	recording of Henry B. Neejer performing.