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Table of Contents
John Verrall papers, 1929-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Verrall, John, 1908-2001
- Title
- John Verrall papers
- Dates
- 1929-1993 (inclusive)19291993
- Quantity
- 5.25 cubic feet (10 boxes)
- Collection Number
- (Accession No. 5280-003)
- Summary
- Music compositions and other materials from a composer and professor of music at the University of Washington.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The papers are open to all users.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Verrall was born in Britt, Iowa, in 1908 and died in Seattle in 2001. He was a composer and professor of music at the University of Washington from 1948 to 1973. He received a B.M. from the Minneapolis College of Music in 1929 and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1934. Verrall studied composition with Zoltan Kodaly at the Liszt Conservatory of Music in Budapest. He also studied with Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, and Frederick Jacobi. Before becoming an editor for G. Schirmer and the Boston Music Company, he taught at Hamline University from 1934 to 1942 and at Mount Holyoke College from 1942 to 1946. Verrall received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1947 and a D.H. Lawrence Fellowship in 1964. He taught composition at the University of Washington from 1948 until his retirement in 1993.
Verrall composed works in a variety of different genres, ranging from solo piano works for children to large orchestral and operatic pieces. He wrote seven string quartets, and composed or arranged a large number of works for the solo french horn with accompaniment. For the Washington Centennial Celebration, he wrote a choral symphony in honor of Chief Joseph; it was premiered by the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra in 1989. Many of his compositions used a nine-pitch scale consisting of two tetrachords on either side of a central pitch that was alterable (C-Db-Eb-E, F or F#, G-Ab-Bb-B).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The John Verrall papers consist almost entirely of musical compositions and arrangements by John Verrall. The music is primarily made up of the composer's facsimile editions printed by the American Composers Alliance (ACA). There are also published musical scores but only a few handwritten manuscripts. However, many of the printed copies have handwritten notes. Some published works are labled "analysis copy" and contain highlighting and musical analysis, presumably by Verrall. Other pieces consist of copy masters for proofreading and editing. Pieces with significant correction markings or added notation have been noted on the inventory. Some pieces contain penciled-in performance markings and bowings.
Also included are Verrall's arrangements of works by other composers, most notably Bach, Mozart, Edvard Grieg, and Stephen Heller; compositions of other composers; an article by John Beale entitled "The Music of John Verrall"; and Verrall's personal catalog of his compositions, which sometimes contains information about the premiere performances and the performers of the compositions.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creator's literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Preferred Citation
John Verrall Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by type of document.
Acquisition Information
Most of the Verrall papers were donated by John Kunz on November 29, 2001. A few additional scores, including a program and an annotated copy of the prologue and first act of The Cowherd and the Sky Maiden, were transferred from the University of Washington Music Library on March 22, 2004.
Processing Note
Processed in 2004 by Nicholas Netzel.
In processing the papers, efforts were made to keep the highest quality and most complete version of each work.
Separated Materials
Twenty-one duplicate scores, including some parts, were transferred to the University of Washington Music Library, June 4, 2004.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Biographical Information: "The Music of John Verrall," by James Beale, 1958Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 2/33
Music ScoresReturn to Top
Unless otherwise noted in the description, researchers may assume that non-solo works have both the score and the instrumental parts, and accompanied solos have the part and accompaniment. Instrumentation has been noted when it is not apparent in the title of a work or when it deviates from standard instrumentation for the ensemble. If not described, scores are printed or facsimile copies without a discernable publisher. Non-standard instrumentation has also been noted.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Instrumental Music |
||
Orchestral |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/1-2 |
The Chief Joseph Legend
No string parts. One ACA facsimile score and one score with
corrections. Text and lyric sheets.
|
1988 |
| 3/3 |
Commentaries on Themes from Edvard Grieg
Score and parts with print masters of parts.
|
undated |
| 1/1-2 |
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Photocopies and ACA facsimiles.
|
1957 |
| 1/3 |
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Two Piano Version
Score only, ACA facsimile.
|
1984 |
| 3/4 |
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
Full score and piano reduction score, viola part only. ACA
facsimile.
|
1974 |
| 4/1 |
Dark Night of Saint John: Suite in Four Parts for Chamber Orchestra
ACA facsimile score, 2 copies of 1989 revised score with
parts.
|
1957, 1989 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 8/1-2 |
Lyric Symphony
Two ACA facsimile scores, with corrections and
additions.
|
1990 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/4 |
Olympic Sunset
|
1988 |
| 1/5 |
A Pastoral Elegy
Oboe, flute, three clarinets, bassoon, horn, trumpet, three
trombones, tuba. Score, facsimile parts, print master parts.
|
1970 |
| 4/2-5 |
Portrait of Saint Christopher
Two ACA facsimile scores and multiple copies of parts with
corrections and additions.
|
1956 |
| 3/5 |
Prelude: In Praise of Peace
ACA facsimile score in concert pitch with additions.
Multiple copies of parts.
|
undated |
| 4/6-8 |
Radiant Bridge: Fantasy for Orchestra Based on Indian Shaker Rhythms
Three copies of ACA facsimile score with additions and
parts.
|
1974-1976 |
| 3/6 |
A Song of David: Elegy for Orchestra
Score only, with additions.
|
undated |
| 3/7 |
Suite No. 1 for Orchestra
Two ACA facsimile scores with multiple copies of parts.
|
1976 |
| 1/6 |
Summerland Fantasy, A Bucolic Prelude for Orchestra
ACA facsimile score.
|
1985 |
| 3/8 |
Symphony for Chamber Orchestra No.3
Three scores: two photocopies and one print master. Multiple
copies of some parts.
|
1967 |
| 1/7 |
Symphony for Young Orchestras
Published by Boston Music. Alternate title is
Symphony in the Phrygian Mode.
Two identical scores with parts; one has alternate title pasted on.
|
1954 |
| 4/9 |
Variations on an Ancient Tune
Score only.
|
1956 |
| 5/1 |
A Winter's Tale
Score only, published by Independent Music.
|
1947 |
Wind Ensemble |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/2 |
Holiday Moods: Suite for Band
Condensed score and partial parts. Published by Boston
Music.
|
1948 |
| 5/3 |
A Northern Overture for Band
Condensed score and parts. Published by Boston Music
|
1950 |
| 1/8 |
Passacaglia for Concert Band
ACA facsimile.
|
undated |
Chamber Music |
||
Strings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/4 |
Divertimento for Strings
Two violins, viola, violoncello, contrabass. Published by
Highgate Music.
|
1967 |
| 1/9 |
Prelude and Allegro for Strings
Two violins, viola, violoncello, contrabass.
|
circa 1950-1959 |
| 5/5 |
Quartet No. 1 (Introduction
and Finale)
Score and miniature facsimile score with additions and
parts.
|
undated |
| 5/6 |
Quintet for Piano and Strings
Two violins, viola, violoncello, pianoforte. ACA
facsimile.
|
1952 |
| 1/10 |
String Quartet No. 2
Published by Valley Music.
|
1940-1945 |
| 1/11 |
String Quartet No. 3
With corrections, published by Theodore Presser / Oliver
Ditson.
|
1950 |
| 1/12 |
String Quartet No. 4
Published by Theodore Presser / Oliver Ditson.
|
1952 |
| 5/7 | String Quartet No. 5
Includes original finale with corrections. Independent
Music facsimile score is from 1952. Also includes photocopied parts from 1988
revision.
|
1952, 1988 |
| 5/8 |
String Quartet No. 6
Print master score and photocopied score and parts.
|
1956 |
| 1/13 |
String Quartet No. 7
ACA facsimile.
|
1961 |
| 5/9 |
String Trio
Published by Valley Music.
|
1941 |
| 5/10 |
Three Nocturnes for Violin, Cello, and Piano
ACA facsimile score, photocopied scores with corrections
and parts.
|
1987 |
Woodwinds |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/11 |
Divertimento for Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
Two copies of score. Three sets of parts - photocopy,
print master, ACA facsimile.
|
1971 |
| 1/14 |
Introduction and Rondino for 3 Clarinets
ACA facsimile.
|
1957 |
| 7/1 |
Septet for Wind Instruments
Flute, oboe, two clarinets, horn, two bassoons. ACA
facsimile, two scores with corrections and parts.
|
1965 |
| 5/12 |
Serenade for Five Instruments
Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon. Published by
Theodore Presser / Mercury Music.
|
1947 |
| 1/15 |
Serenade No. 2 for Wind Quintet
Published by Theodore Presser / Tritone Music.
|
1974 |
| 1/16 |
Suite for 3 Clarinets in Bb
|
1984 |
Brass |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 |
Suite for Brass Sextet
Two trumpets, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba. Published by
Merion Music.
|
1956 |
Keyboard |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/1 |
Prelude, Intermezzo and Fugue for 2 Pianos
Score only. ACA facsimile.
|
1964 |
| 6/2 |
Duo Sonata (for Piano, Four
Hands)
Two scores with corrections.
|
1983 |
| 6/3 |
Sonata for Two Pianos
Three scores - facsimile, photocopy, photocopy with
corrections.
|
1984 |
| 6/4 |
Suite for Two Pianos
With corrections and additions.
|
1967 |
Mixed Wind and Strings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/5-6 |
Concert Piece for Strings and Horns
Two horns, two violins, viola, violoncello, contrabass.
ACA facsimile score and Independent Music facsimile parts.
|
undated |
| 6/7 |
Dark and Light: Five Fantasy Pieces for Horn and Strings
Horn, two violins, viola, contrabass. Manuscript score
only.
|
undated |
| 6/8 |
Introduction, Variations and Adagio
Flute, oboe, violin, violoncello, pianoforte. ACA
facsimile.
|
1974 |
| 6/9 |
Nonette (String Quartet and
Woodwind Quintet)
ACA facsimile with additions.
|
1970 |
| 2/2 |
Pastorale
Two flutes, two violas, three violoncellos
|
1960 |
| 2/3 |
Rhapsody for Horn in F and Strings
Horn, three violins, viola, violoncello, contrabass. ACA
facsimile.
|
1979 |
Instrumental Solo |
||
Strings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/4 |
Fantasy Variations for Violin and Piano
|
1989 |
| 6/10 |
Sonata No. 1 for Viola and Piano
ACA edition with corrections, Dow Music Publisher
editions.
|
1956 |
| 2/5 |
Sonata No. 2 for Viola and Piano
With analysis. Published by Edition Peters.
|
1963 |
| 6/11 |
Sonata for Cello and Piano
Score only, includes some manuscript pages.
|
1929 |
| 2/6 |
Sonatina for Violin and Piano
Published by Dow Music.
|
1958 |
| 2/7 |
Sonatina for Viola and Piano
Published by Dow Music. Includes two analysis copies.
|
1962 |
| 2/8 |
Sonatina for Cello and Piano
Published by Dow Music.
|
1958 |
Woodwinds |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/9 |
Brief Elegy
For unaccompanied clarinet. Print master and
photocopy.
|
undated |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 8/3 |
Four Characteristic Pieces for Flute and Piano
Print masters.
|
1991 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/10 |
Nocturne for Bass Clarinet or Bb Clarinet and Piano
|
undated |
| 2/11 |
Sonata for Flute and Piano
Published by Theodore Presser / Tritone Music.
|
1976 |
| 6/12 |
Sonata for Oboe and Piano
Part and loose pages of facsimile score and print
masters.
|
1956 |
Brass |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/12 |
Eusebius Remembered: Fantasy for Horn or Tenor Saxophone and Piano
Score, horn part, and saxophone part.
|
1976 |
| 2/13 |
Invocation to Eos for Horn in F or Saxophone in Eb and Piano
Two scores, horn part, saxophone part.
|
1983 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 8/4 |
Five Bagatelles for Horn and Piano
Print masters.
|
1993 |
| 8/5 |
Sonata for Horn and Piano
Print master and correction copy.
|
undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/14 |
Three Fantasy Legends
Horn, pianoforte. ACA facsimile.
|
1990 |
Keyboard |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/15 |
All in a Day: 6 Short Pieces for Piano
Published by Theodore Presser / Oliver Ditson. Photocopy
and six indvidual pieces.
|
1950 |
| 2/16 |
Autumn Sketches
Published by New Valley Music.
|
1968 |
| 2/17 |
Canzona for Organ
Includes two analysis copies. Published by Edition
Peters.
|
1968 |
| 2/18 |
Four Pieces for Piano
Two copies. Published by University of Washington Press.
|
1954 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/1 |
Memories of Earlier Days: Three Pieces for Piano
ACA fascsimile and print masters.
|
1986 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/19 |
The Mosquito and the Frog
Published by Carlton Music.
|
1955 |
| 6/13 |
Ostinato Jubilato for Carillon
Two copies. Includes notes.
|
1968 |
| 6/14 |
Prelude and Fughetta for Carillon
|
1958 |
| 2/20 |
Preludes en Suite
Photocopies, facsimiles, and print-masters.
|
1950 |
| 6/15 |
Sketches and Miniatures: 10 Pieces for Piano
Published by Valley Music. Four copies, including two
analysis copies and print masters.
|
1954 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/2 |
Sonata No. 1 for Piano Solo
ACA facsimile and print master.
|
1989 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/16 |
Sonata No. 2 for Piano
ACA facsimile.
|
1986 |
| 6/17 |
Theme and Variations
ACA facsimile. Alternate title:
Eleven Variations on an Original Theme.
|
1984 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/3 |
Three New Preludes for Piano
Print master.
|
1985 |
Vocal Music |
||
Opera |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/2-7 |
The Cowherd and the Sky Maiden
Full score and piano/vocal score, with corrections and
additions.
|
1952 |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/4 |
The Wedding Knell, Based on a Tale by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, viola, violoncello, bells,
pianoforte. Full score and piano/vocal score, with corrections and
additions.
|
1952 |
Choral |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/21 |
Christ Crucified for Me
|
undated |
| 7/8 |
They Shall Never Thirst
Three copies.
|
undated |
| 2/22 |
Ah Come, Sweet Night
|
1947 |
Songs |
||
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/5 |
Colonial Heritage: Three Songs for Voice and Piano
For high or low voice.
|
1978 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/23 |
The Promise of the Cross
|
undated |
| 2/24 |
Songs of Nature: Four Songs for Voice and Piano from Rural Poems by John Gracen Brown
|
1979 |
| 2/25 |
A Sojourn of the Spirit
Words: John Gracen Brown.
|
1978 |
| 2/26 |
To You
Words: Walt Whitman.
|
1982 |
Arrangements for Instrumental MusicReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Wind Ensemble |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/13 |
A Christmas Fantasy
Arranged by Verrall. Includes choral parts.
|
1950 |
| 5/14 |
Prelude, Arietta and Fugue,
Bach
Multiple copies of score and parts.
|
1970 |
Instrumental Solo |
||
Brass |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8/6 |
Concerto No 1. in D Major for Horn and Orchestra, Mozart (K 412)
Horn, pianoforte. Score includes print master and
photocopy.
|
undated |
| 8/7 |
Concerto No 2. in Eb Major for Horn and Orchestra, Mozart (K 495)
Horn, pianoforte. Score - print master.
|
1981 |
| 8/8 |
Concerto No 3. in Eb Major for Horn and Orchestra, Mozart (K 447)
Horn, pianoforte. Score - print master.
|
1985 |
| 8/9 |
Concerto No 4. in Eb Major for Horn and Orchestra, Mozart (K 495)
Horn, pianoforte. Score - print master.
|
undated |
| 8/10 |
Three Characteristic Pieces for Horn in F and Piano, Stephen Heller |
1984 |
| 2/27 |
Three Lyric Pieces by Edvard
Grieg
Horn, pianoforte.
|
undated |
Keyboard |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/28 |
Andante from Concerto No. 17,
Mozart |
undated |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/6 |
Caprice, J.N. Hummel, Op.
49
Print master.
|
undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/29 |
Etude (after Clementi,
Gradus ad Parnassum) |
undated |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/7 |
Flower-Fruit and Thorn-Pieces, Nuits Blanches, La Naiade, Stephen Heller, Op. 82
Print master.
|
1983 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/18 |
Study (after Czerny Opus 740
No. 3) |
undated |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/8 |
Twelve Selected Preludes,
Stephen Heller, Op. 81
Print master.
|
1987 |
| 9/9 | Unidentified
Possibly by Stephen Heller. Print master.
|
undated |
Compositions of OthersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Instrumental Keyboard Solo Music |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/30 |
Idilio, by Theodore
Lack |
undated |
| box-folder:oversize | ||
| 9/10 |
Selected Sonatas, Domenico
Scarlatti (the Affective Greats) |
undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/31 | Choral Music:
Favorite Christmas Carols
|
undated |
Correspondence Regarding String Quartet No. 6 , 1971, 1992Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 2/32
Programs, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 2/34
Poster: Chief Joseph Legend, Premiere, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box-folder:oversize 9/11
Notecards: Verrall's Index of Compositions, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10
Includes information on composition dates and premieres of some of his works.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Arrangement (Music)
- College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Composers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Music teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Music--Manuscripts
- Music--Manuscripts--Facsimiles
Personal Names
- Verrall, John, 1908-2001--Archives
- Verrall, John, 1908-2001--Manuscripts--Facsimiles
Corporate Names
- University of Washington--Faculty
Form or Genre Terms
- Posters
- card indexes
- correspondence
- programs
- scores
- writings
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- University of Washington. University Archives
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)
