Biographical Sketch

Thelma Biracree Schnepel operated the Thelma Biracree School of Ballet in Rochester, New York, in association with the Eastman School of Music during the latter’s early years. She participated in the Eastman School’s Festivals of American Music from the 1930s to 1950, as a choreographer and dance instructor for the festivals’ ballet performances.

 

Provenance

The collection of Thelma Biracree Schnepel’s annotated ballet scores was presented by Schnepel in 1985, with the encouragement and assistance of Elizabeth Purvis.

 

Scope and Content

The collection contains 34 ballet scores used as a part of Howard Hanson’s Festivals of American Music at the Eastman School of Music. Most of the scores are annotated in pencil with choreographic notes by Thelma Biracree Schnepel. The material is pertinent to the study of the history of the Institute of American Music and the study of dance and choreography.

 

Restrictions and Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection, other than the usual copyright regulations.

 

Associations

The collections of Sibley Music Library possess many individually cataloged scores and recordings of music performed at the Festivals of American Music. Identification of these works is possible through the printed catalog, American Composers’ Concerts and Festivals of American Music 1925-1971: Cumulative Repertoire, a copy of which has been included with this collection. In addition, the Eastman School of Music Archives contains materials of related interest including programs for the Festivals of American Music. The Library’s Special Collections and the Eastman School Archives also possess individual collections of interest, including those of Howard Hanson and Burrill Phillips.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Series I: Scores

The series contains 34 ballet scores, both manuscripts and reproductions. Most are annotated with choreographic notes by Thelma Biracree Schnepel. The scores are arranged alphabetically by composer.

INVENTORY

Box 1

folder 1	Alter, Martha. Puritan’s Progress. reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil
folder 2	Barlow, Wayne. The Black Madonna (1941) and Lyrical Piece for Clarinet and Strings reproduction of piano score, miniature score photostat
folder 3	Barlow, Wayne. Cubist. manuscript score in ink, annotated in pencil
folder 4	Bennett, Robert Russell. Endimion (1934). reproduction of piano vocal score, annotated in pencil
folder 5	Bergsma, William. Gold and the Señor Commandante (1940-41). reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil
folder 6	Carpenter, John Alden. The Birthday of the Infanta (excerpts: “The Guests,” “Guests,” “Dance of the Princess and ensemble,” “Games,” “Puppet Show,” Dance of the Girls and the Princess,” Entrance of the Toreadors and Bull Fight,” “Gypsys,” “Entrance of the Guests.”) reproduction of Wendell E. Adams’s piano reduction, annotated in pencil
folder 7	De Lamarter, Eric. The Betrothal (excerpts: “Overture,” “The Veiled Sweetheart,” “Dance of the Sweethearts.”) piano score manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil, and pencil sketch
folder 8	Hanson, Howard. The Forest Play (excerpt). reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil
folder 9	Hanson, Howard. Pan and the Priest. second piano part of 2-piano arrangement, copy of composer’s manuscript, annotated in pencil
folder 10	Norton, Spencer. Bourée, Op.12 no.3a. reproduction, annotated in pencil
folder 11	Phillips, Burrill. Courthouse Square. holograph manuscript of piano score, annotated in pencil

Box 2

folder 1	Phillips, Burrill. Katmanusha. reproduction of piano score (“no. 3”), annotated in pencil
folder 2	Phillips, Burrill. Play Ball. reproduction of 2-piano score, including “general synopsis of action,” annotated in pencil
folder 3	Phillips, Burrill. A Set of Three Informalities for Piano: “Blues,” “Scherzo,” “Sonatina”. reproduction, annotated in pencil
folder 4	Phillips, Burrill. Step Into My Parlor. holograph score in ink, annotated in pencil; scenario by Thelma Biracree
folder 5	Pugni, C. Pas de Quatre. “revised by William McDermott,” reproduction of piano score
folder 6	Rogers, Bernard. The Story of a Darning Needle. from the suite Once Upon a Time, Five Fairy Tales. piano reduction, manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil
folder 7	Rogers, Bernard. Three Japanese Dances (1933) and The Ride of Koschei the Deathless reproduction of score, 2 copies, annotated in pencil; manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil
folder 8	Rudin, Herman. Parade. holograph manuscript of piano score, annotated in pencil
folder 9	Still, William Grant. La Guiablesse. reproduction of composer’s holograph, annotated in pencil; 2 copies: Howard Hanson, Thelma Biracree
folder 10	Still, William Grant. Miss Sally’s Party. reproduction of piano score, annotated in pencil
folder 11	Still, William Grant. Sahdji. reproduction of composer’s holograph of piano vocal score, annotated in pencil
folder 12	Woltman, Frederick. An Incantation (1938). reproduction of 2-piano score
folder 13	[unidentified composer, Wayne Barlow?]. The Big Top. This includes six scores evidently intended as a ballet suite. The other sections are Bareback Riders, Clowns, Finale, Jugglers, The Tight Rope Walker. holograph in ink, annotated in pencil
folder 14	[unidentified composer, Burrill Phillips?]. Scene III – opening; Scene IV to *; Dance – “children’s carol.” manuscript in ink, annotated in pencil
folder 15	[unidentified composer]. Three Satirical Fragments. piano score, pencil
folder 16	American Composers’ Concerts and Festivals of American Music 1925-1971.