Ernest Kanitz papers
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence, orchestrations, documents, and other material pertaining to the Austrian composer Ernest Kanitz. Materials document Kanitz's professional life and personal interests covering a wide range of topics that include performances, lecture materials, and business information between him and universities regarding his work. A substantial amount of both professional and personal correspondence is present in the collection between Kanitz and academic institutions, professional colleagues, and friends. Of additional significance are numerous publications, concert programs, and concert reviews pertaining to Kaniz's musical compositions and his orchestral performances, photographs of Kanitz and his colleagues, and notes pertaining to his music. Lastly, there is select material documenting Kanitz's contracts and financial material with various academic institutions.
Dates
- Creation: 1922-1981, undated
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1940-1970
Creator
- Kanitz, Ernest, 1894-1978 (Person)
Languages
The collection is in English and German.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Biographical Note
Ernest Kanitz was born in Vienna, Austria in 1894. He came to the United States after a forced immigration from Vienna in 1938. After studying law at the University of Vienna, Kanitz began to study piano, music theory, and composition. Shortly after, Kanitz became a professor of music theory and analysis at the New Vienna Conservatory. In 1930, Kanitz went on to found the Vienna Womens Choir, aimed at bringing newer choral tunes to the Viennese public. Kanitz came back to the United States in 1934 to continue his career as a professor at Winthrop College, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He left this position in 1941, and transferred to Erksine College where he became the head of the Music Department until 1944. In 1945, Kanitz moved to Los Angeles, CA for a professor position at the University of Southern California where he worked until his retirement in 1959. His activities had been severely restricted by 1967 as a result of diminishing vision caused by glaucoma. Kanitz died in California in April of 1978.
Extent
7.56 Linear Feet (15 boxes)
Abstract
The Ernest Kanitz papers contain professional and personal correspondence, orchestrations, concert reviews, musical publications, and other material regarding Ernest Kanitz, an Austrian composer and musician. Materials also document his performances and programs of his concerts. Topics covered by the collection include commentaries on music compositions, documentation of his work history, and business materials associated with his work as a professor.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into six series. The contents of each series are arranged sequentially according to box and folder number. The series arrangement of this collection is as follows:
- Series 1. Correspondence by name, 1922-1975, undated
- Series 2. Correspondence by date, 1920-1975
- Series 3. Royalty statements, contracts, orchestrations and other material, 1939-1977, undated
- Series 4. Publications, 1932-1976, undated
- Series 5. Teaching materials, 1948-1963, undated
- Series 6. Biographical Information, 1938-1981, undated
Acquisition Information
The Ernest Kanitz papers were acquired as a gift in 1979.
Processing History
Processed by Bianca Lisek and Ena Hillery, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Processing of the Ernest Kanitz papers were completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Ernest Kanitz papers
- Status
- Processed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Bianca Lisek and Ena Hillery, Student Processing Assistants.
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository
University of California
Rivera Library
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside 92517-5900 USA
specialcollections@ucr.edu