Series I: Biographical and Personal Files, 1965-2011, undated
This series includes Edwards' biographical information and personal files, including curriculum vitae (CV) drafts, lists of works, diplomas and certificates, a datebook and expense log, miscellaneous notes, and materials relating to his death and memorial concert at Columbia, including programs, correspondence, recordings, and photographs.
Box 1
Curriculum Vitae (CV) drafts, lists of works, publicity photo facsimiles,, undated
Box 1
Oberlin College diploma, 1965
Box 1
Tanglewood Composition Prize certificate, 1967
Box 9
American Academy in Rome certificate, 1976
Box 9
Norlin Fellowship in Composition certificate, 1977
Box 1
Copyright certificate, 1970
Box 1
Personal expense log, 1980-1986
Box 1
Datebook, 1992
Box 1
Materials related to MacDowell Colony, undated
Box 1
Miscellaneous notes, undated
Box 1
Program, correspondence, clippings, and notes regarding Edwards's death and memorial concert,, 2011-2012
Box 25
Recordings of Edwards's memorial concert, 2012 (10 CDs), 2012
Box 25
Photo CD from Edwards's memorial concert, 2012
Series II: Musical Works, 1963-2004, undated
Most of Edwards' works are represented here by sketches, drafts, and/or bound holographs. The series begins with musical notebooks containing a number of unidentified sketches and drafts. Individual scores range from early works as a composition student at Oberlin College to vocal, chamber, and large-ensemble pieces composed as late as 2004. There is a significant amount of unidentified loose fragments of sketches and drafts that may include some unfinished or unpublished works. This series is arranged chronologically by work, with unidentified materials at the end of the series.
Box 2
Music notebooks, undated (9 Items), undated
(Includes sketches and analyses)
Box 3
Music notebooks, undated (10 Items), undated
(Includes "Bagatelles," "Hopkins Songs," and other sketches)
Box 4
Music notebooks, undated (9 Items), undated
(includes sketches for "A Mirth But Open'd," "Trio," "Concerto," "Canon," and "The Isle Is Full of Noises")
Box 14
Music notebook, undated
Box 4
Oberlin work, 1963-1968
(includes "Oberlinisch Gesang" [undated], "Octet" [1963], "Piano Piece" [1965] )
Box 5
"Bits" for chamber ensemble, 1966
Box 5
Bound holograph facsimile (3 copies)
"Two Pieces" for piano, 1966
Box 5
Bound holograph facsimile
"String Quartet [#1],", 1967
Box 5
Bound holograph facsimile
Box 5
Holograph facsimile
"Double Play" for two pianos, 1970
Box 5
Bound holograph facsimile (3 copies)
"The Captive" for soprano and chamber ensemble, 1970
"Kreuz und Quer" for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello, 1971
"Three Hopkins Songs" for two sopranos and two pianos, 1972
Box 5
Bound holograph facsimile (3 copies)
"Monopoly" for chamber orchestra, 1972
"Suspension Bridge" for solo cello, 1972
"Two Bagatelles" for chamber ensemble, 1972
"Exchange-Misere" for chamber ensemble, 1974
"Giro" for chamber orchestra, 1974
"A Renaissance Garland" for soprano, tenor, recorders, lute, and viol, 1975
Box 10
Holograph facsimile
"Sonda" for flute and piano, 1975
"Wild Air" for alto voice and recorders, 1975
Box 6
Bound holograph facsimile (2 copies)
"Gyromancy" for chamber ensemble, 1977
Box 6
Bound holograph facsimile (2 copies)
"Veined Variety" for soprano and chamber ensemble, 1978
Box 6
Bound holograph facsimile (3 copies)
"The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo" for soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, and chamber ensemble,, 1979
"Northern Spy" for chamber ensemble, 1980
Box 6
Draft (pencil)
Box 6
Bound holograph facsimile (3 copies)
Box 6
Holograph facsimile (4 copies)
"String Quartet #2,", 1982
"Moneta's Mourn" for chamber orchestra, 1983
"Two Songs" for soprano and piano, 1985
(First two songs of "A Mirth But Open'd")
"Five Etudes" for solo piano, 1985
"Canon" for two violins, 1985
"A Mirth But Open'd" for soprano and piano, 1986
Box 7
Bound holograph facsimile
"Heraclitean Fire" for string quartet and string orchestra, 1987
Box 7
Bound holograph facsimile
"Trio" for horn, violin, and piano, 1987
Box 7
Bound holograph facsimile
"Parallel Convergences" for chamber ensemble, 1988
"Concerto" for piano and orchestra, 1990
"The Resurrection of the Wheat" for voice and piano, 1993
"Czeched Swing" for piano, 1994
Box 7
Holograph facsimile (contains markings)
"The Isle Is Full of Noises" for chamber ensemble, 1995
Box 7
Holograph facsimile (contains markings)
"Trio" for clarinet, viola, and piano, 1999
Box 7
Holograph facsimile of viola part
"…The Mere Thread of This…" for chamber ensemble, 2000
Box 7
Draft (pen)
Box 7
Holograph facsimile with one-page sketch (pen)
Box 7
Holograph facsimile of individual instrument parts (contains markings)
"Venetian Swell" for chamber ensemble, 2003
Box 7
Holograph (pen; contains markings)
"The Scales Have Fallen from My Eyes" for chamber ensemble, 2004
Box 7
Fragments of holographs and holograph facsimile
Box 8
Unidentified draft fragments, undated (6 Items), undated
Box 8
Unidentified fragments of drafts and sketches, (4 Folders)
Box 14
Unidentified draft fragments, undated
(May include draft of "Plus Ça Change" [1992])
Series III: Written Works, 1962-1998, undated
This series contains drafts and published copies of essays and articles written by Edwards, from college essays to journal articles. Edwards' collected essays were published in the volume Collected Essays on Modern and Classical Music in 2008; that volume is not included in this collection, though most of the essays within it are represented here in draft form.
Box 15
"What Is My Religion" essay, 1962
(Typed manuscript with professor's comments)
Box 15
"The Role of Set Structure in Formal Articulation" essay, 1964
(Typed manuscript with professor's comments)
Box 15
Letter to New York Review of Books, 1989
(Handwritten draft (facsimile) and typed draft (contain markings) )
Box 15
"Music and Discourse: Toward a Semiology of Music" review, 1990
(Draft (computer printed) )
"Involuntary Affinities" article, 1990
Box 15
Drafts (2; computer printed)
Box 15
Published article (in Southwest Review )
Box 15
"The Pleasure of Its Being Over" article, 1990
(Draft (computer printed) )
"A 'Conversation' about New Music" article, 1990
Box 15
Draft (computer printed; contains markings)
Box 15
Published article (facsimile from Threepenny Review )
"The Nonsense of an Ending: Closure in Haydn's String Quartets" article,, 1991
Box 15
Draft (computer printed)
Box 15
Notes (computer printed)
Box 15
Published article (facsimile from The Musical Quarterly )
Box 15
"Music and the Politics of Postmodernism" article, 1991
(Drafts (3, computer printed; one contains markings) )
"A Palimpsest of Mozart in Schubert's Symphony No. 5" article, 1998
Box 15
Draft (computer printed)
Box 15
Notes (pen)
Box 15
Published article (facsimile from Current Musicology )
"Papa Doc's Recap Caper: Haydn and Temporal Dyslexia" article, 1998
Box 15
Notes (pen)
Box 15
Draft (computer printed)
Box 15
"A Golden Age?" essay, undated
(Draft (computer printed) )
Box 15
"Composition as Research" essay, undated
(Draft (computer printed) )
Box 15
"Taking the 'Cult' out of Culture" essay, undated
(Draft (computer printed) )
Box 15
"Casting Away the Yoke or How to be Just a Little Ahead of Your Time" article,, undated
(Drafts (5, computer printed; two contain markings))
Box 15
"Is Lessing More?: Problems of Time in Contemporary Music" article,, undated
(Drafts (3, computer printed; two contain markings))
Box 15
Notes for an unidentified written work or talk, undated (pen), undated
Series IV: Teaching Materials, 1997-2002, undated
Edwards taught in Columbia University's Department of Music from 1977 to 2006. This series includes notes, syllabi, musical analyses, and handouts for Music Humanities and Species Counterpoint classes at Columbia. Many of these materials are undated.
Box 16
Music Humanities handouts, 1997
Box 16
Music Humanities notes and handouts, 2000 undated
Box 16
Music Humanities handouts, 2002 undated
Box 16
Music Humanities handouts, undated
Box 16
Music Humanities handouts and analyses (Debussy, Wagner, others), undated
Box 16
Musical analyses (Schoenberg), undated
Box 16
Musical analyses (various), undated
Box 17
Species Counterpoint notes and handouts, undated
Series V: Programs and Clippings, 1964-2007, undated
This series contains programs, program notes, and clippings and facsimiles of reviews, which all document the many performances that Edwards' works received throughout his lifetime.
Subseries V.1: Programs and Program Notes, 1964-2007, undated
This subseries contains programs collected by Edwards that include performances of Edwards' works, starting at Oberlin College and ending in 2007. It also includes several drafts of program notes, including Edwards' biographical statement, and descriptions of his works.
Box 17
Programs, 1964-1979
Box 17
Programs, 1980-1984
Box 17
Programs, 1985-1989
Box 17
Programs, 1990-1994, (2 folders)
Box 18
Programs, 1995-1999
Box 18
Programs, 2000-2004
Box 18
Programs, 2005-2007
Box 18
Programs, undated
Box 18
Program note drafts, 1977-2005 undated, 1977-2005, undated
Subseries V.2: Clippings, 1965-2000
This subseries contains clippings and facsimiles of reviews of performances of Edwards' works, from newspapers, newsletters, and magazines.
Box 18
Reviews, 1965-2000
Series VI: Correspondence, 1967-2005, undated
Correspondence from Edwards includes letters written home from the American Academy in Rome, and unfinished letters towards the end of his life. Correspondence to Edwards includes letters from Richard Hoffman, Jacques Monod, David Saperstein, and other colleagues, teachers, students, performers, and figures from the New York City contemporary music scene.
Box 18
Correspondence from Edwards at American Academy in Rome, 1973-1975
Box 18
Unfinished correspondence from Edwards, c., 2004
Box 18
General correspondence, 1967-1979
Box 18
General correspondence, 1980-1989
Box 18
General correspondence, 1990-2005
Box 18
General correspondence, undated
(including letters from Susan Blaustein, Sylvia Benitez-Stewart, Frank Robertson)
Series VII: Subject Files (Created by Others), 2005-2012
This series contains materials created by others regarding Edwards, mostly dating towards the end of his life. Much of it was created by his wife, Rachel Hadas. The series includes correspondence regarding a concert and a recording session of Edwards' works, a list of books, scores, and recordings owned by Edwards at the time of his death, and a folder of extensive medical records and correspondence regarding Edwards' illness and death. Edwards began to experience unidentified symptoms in the late 1990s that developed to include dementia, and were attributed to Alzheimer's disease after a brain autopsy following his death in 2011. The medical records may be useful to researchers aiming to understand the experience of Alzheimer's sufferers and their families.
Box 19
Correspondence and notes regarding December 2005 concert, 2005-2006, December 2005, 2005-2006
Box 19
Correspondence regarding CD recording sessions, 2009
Box 19
List of books, scores, and recordings owned by Edwards, circa, 2011
Box 19
Edwards medical records and correspondence, 2005-2012, (2 folders)
Series VIII: Sound Recordings, 1964-2006, undated
Many of Edwards' works are represented here on recording, from his Oberlin senior recital through performances in the mid-2000s. The series is divided into subseries by audio media type, and within the subseries arranged chronologically by work. Performers include the New England Conservatory Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller, Collage, Parnassus, the American Composers Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, the Pro Arte Quartet, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and the Columbia University Sinfonietta conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky.
Subseries VIII.1: Tape reels, 1964-1981, undated
Tape reels include performances from the 1960s at Oberlin College through the early 1980s.
Box 22
"Collaborations", 1964, (5-inch reel)
(Alden Ashforth, George Edwards, Richard Hoffman, Steven Anderson)
Box 20
George Edwards Senior Recital, 1965, (7-inch reel)
(Contains "Octet," "Fluctuations," "String Trio," "Piano Piece," and "Variants")
Box 20
"Variants," "Piano Piece," "Two Piano Pieces," and "Bits", 1965-1967, (7-inch reel)
Box 22
"Variants", undated, (5-inch reel)
Box 22
"Piano Piece", five-inch reel, 1966
(Graduate Student Composers' Concert; Robert Miller, piano)
Box 20
"Two Piano Pieces", 1966, (7-inch reel)
(William Benjamin, performer)
Box 20
"Two Piano Pieces", undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 22
"Double Play", 1970 (2 copies), 1970, (5-inch reel)
(Robert and Pamela Jones, pianos)
Box 22
"The Captive", 1971 (2 copies), 1971, (5-inch reel)
(with Karen Komar, soprano; Gunther Schuller, conductor)
Box 20
"Monopoly", 1973, (7-inch reel)
(performed by members of the New England Conservatory Symphony Orchestra; Gunther Schuller, conductor)
Box 20
"Monopoly", undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 23
"Three Hopkins Songs", 1974, (5-inch reel)
(Karen Komar and Barbara Winchester, sopranos; Malcolm Payton, conductor)
Box 23
"Exchange Misere", 1975 (2 copies), 1975, (5-inch reel)
(performed by Angelo Persichilli, Michele Incenzo, Massimo Coen, Frances Uitti, and David Saperstein)
Box 23
"Two Bagatelles", 1976, (5-inch reel)
Box 23
"Wild Air", 1976, (5-inch reel)
Box 20
"Exchange Misere" and "Sonda", 1977-1978, (7-inch reel)
Box 20
"Exchange Misere", undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 20
"Gyromancy", 1977 (2 copies), 1977, (7-inch reel)
Box 20
"Draconian Measures, 1978, (7-inch reel)
(Robert Pollack, pianist)
Box 20
"Draconian Measures", 1979, (7-inch reel)
(Robert Pollack, pianist)
Box 20
"Draconian Measures", 1980 (2 copies), 1980, (7-inch reel)
Box 21
"Veined Variety", undated (2 copies), undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 21
"Northern Spy", 1981 (4 copies), 1981, (7-inch reel)
(performed by Parnassus; Anthony Korf, conductor)
Box 21
"Moneta's Mourn", undated, (7-inch reel)
(performed by American Composers Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies, conductor)
Box 21
Two unidentified reels, undated, (7-inch reels)
Subseries VIII.2: LPs, 1975, undated
This subseries contains commercially published LPs featuring three of Edwards' works.
Box 24
"String Quartet (1967)," LP (CRI 265), undated
Box 24
"Kreuz und Quer," LP (CRI 323), 1975
Box 24
"Veined Variety," LP (Opus One 62), undated
Subseries VIII.3: Cassettes, 1982-1997, undated
Cassettes include professional live performances from the early 1980s through late 1990s.
Box 25
"Kreuz und Quer", cassette, undated
(from "composers conference")
Box 25
"Monopoly", cassette, undated
(performed by New England Conservatory Winds; Gunther Schuller, conductor)
Box 25
"Sonda," cassette, undated
Box 25
"String Quartet #2" (performed by Pro Arte Quartet) and "Moneta's Mourn" (performed by American Composers Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies, conductor), cassette, 1982-1983 (3 copies), 1982-1983
Box 25
"Moneta's Mourn", cassette, 1983 (5 copies), 1983
(performed by American Composers Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies, conductor)
Box 25
"Moneta's Mourn" cassette, undated
Box 25
"Suave Mari Magno", cassette, 1984 (5 copies), 1984
Box 25
"Five Etudes", cassette, 1985
Box 25
"Five Etudes," cassette, undated
Box 25
"Suave Mari Magno," "Veined Variety," "Monopoly," and "Northern Spy," cassette,, 1987
Box 25
"Moneta's Mourn," "Kreuz und Quer," "Exchange Misere," and "String Quartet [#1]," cassette,, 1987
Box 25
"A Mirth But Open'd," cassette, 1987
Box 25
"Heraclitean Fire," cassette, 1987 (2 copies), 1987
Box 25
"Trio", cassette, 1990
(performed by CCP of University of Chicago)
Box 25
"Trio", cassette, 1994
(from Wellesley College Composers Conference)
Box 25
"Trio", cassette, 1996
(performed by University of California at Davis Contemporary Music Players)
Box 25
"Parallel Convergences", cassette, 1992
(Performed by University of California at Davis Contemporary Music Players; performance and run-through. Also contains "Anaphora" by Ross Bauer)
Box 25
"Piano Concerto" ("A.S.O. #2"), cassette, 1991 (2 copies), 1991
(One copy also contains works by Haydn and Bernstein)
Box 25
"Plus Ça Change", cassette, 1993
(Performed by Parnassus; Anthony Korf, conductor)
Box 25
"The Isle is Full of Noises", cassette, 1997
(performed by San Francisco Contemporary Music Players)
Box 25
Unlabeled cassette (possibly blank), undated
Subseries VIII.4: Compact Discs, 2002-2006, undated
CDs include multiple performances from American Composers Alliance annual music festivals, a performance by the Columbia University Sinfonietta, and two "demo CDs" dubbed from other performances.
Box 25
"…The Mere Thread of This…", burned CD, 2002
(performed by the Chamber Players of the League of Composers)
Box 25
"The Isle is Full of Noises", burned CD, 2003
(from American Composers Alliance American Music Festival 2003)
Box 25
"Czeched Swing", burned CD, 2004
(from American Composers Alliance American Music Festival 2004 performed by Blair McMillen, Stanley Yerlow, and Christopher Oldfather)
Box 25
"Trio", burned CD, 2005
(from American Composers Alliance American Music Festival 2005)
Box 25
"The Isle is Full of Noises", burned CD, 2006
(performed by the Columbia Sinfonietta; Jeffrey Milarsky, conductor)
Box 25
"Suave Mari Magno" and "Second String Quartet," burned CD, undated
Box 25
"Demo CD 1", burned CD, undated
(includes "The Isle is Full of Noises," "Suave Mari Magno," "Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano," and "Czeched Swing")
Box 25
"Demo CD 2", burned CD with note from Rachel Hadas to Jonathan Edwards,, undated
(includes "Moneta's Mourn" and other works)
Series IX: Works by Others, 1987-1991, undated
This series is divided into audio recordings of musical works by other composers, and written works by other authors.
Subseries IX.1: Recordings of Musical Works by Other Composers, undated
Box 21
Works by Mozart and Haydn,, undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 21
Bach Sonatas and Partitas, seven-inch reel, undated
(Alexander Schneider, piano)
Box 21
Works by Mozart, Schubert, and Schoenberg, undated, (7-inch reel)
Box 21
Sonatas by Mozart and Bach, undated, (7-inch reel)
(Alexander Schneider and Ralph Kirkpatrick, performers)
Box 21
Works by Purcell, seven-inch reel, undated
Box 23
"The Music Box and the Piano: A Musical Fable" by John Souza, seven-inch reel,, undated
Box 23
"Rain" by Conrad Pope, five-inch reel, undated
Subseries IX.2: Written Works by Other Authors, 1987-1991, undated
Box 26
"A Compositional Investigation" manuscript by Jacques Monod, 1987
Box 26
Draft (contains markings; 2 folders)
Box 26
"Underlying Musical Schemata" article by Fred Lerdahl, 1991
Box 26
Published article (from Representing Musical Structure)
Box 26
Poems by George Herbert, undated
Box 26
Typed poems (contain markings and notes)
Box 26
Poems by Rachel Hadas, undated
Box 26
Published poems
Box 26
Jonathan Edwards' piano notebook, undated
Series X: Additions to the Papers
This series includes material added to the papers since their original processing.
2016:
2019:
Gift of Rachel Hadas, 4 June 2015. (Accn #2019.2020.M085)
Box 28 Folder 1 & 2
George Edwards letters to Rachel Hadas (ca. 75 letters), 1976-2000
Box 28 Folder 3
George Edwards letters to Ross Bauer (7 photocopy letters), 6 October 1986-29 September 1997
Box 28 Folder 4
George Edwards letters to Stephen Gerber (3 letters), n.y. and 23 July 1983
Box 28 Folder 5
Geroge Edwards letter to Jacques-Louis Monod, 15 March 1982
Resignation letter as President and member of the Composers Guild
Box 28 Folder 6
"Where we stayed in Venasque", 1988
(a letter, rental contract, general information and brochures)
Box 28 Folder 7
George Harrision Edwards, May 11, 1943-October 23, 2011 (Memorial booklet), 3 items
Box 28 Folder 8
Memorial Tribute to George Harrison Edwards. Department of Music and the Edwards Family, 28 September 2012, 19 items
Box 28 Folder 9
GEH Memorial Data CD (printed with iTunes)
Box 28 Folder 10
Miscellaneous programs, bulletins, ads, and article, 1977-1992, 15 items
(The Composers' Guile for Performance; Prospective Encounters; Collage; Composers String Quartet; Kean College of NJ; Article on Richard Hoffman)