Leo Karczag papers - Archives West

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Karczag, Leo, 1897-1985
Title: Leo Karczag papers
Dates: 1928-1984 (inclusive)
19281984
Quantity: 4.5 linear feet, (9 containers)
Collection Number: Coll 172
Summary: Leo Karczag was a Hungarian composer and concert pianist who settled in the United States in 1938 and moved to Klamath Falls, Or. in 1964. There he composed the musical Oregon, My Oregon! which premiered in 1968. Collection comprises music manuscripts of musicals (including Oregon, My Oregon!), songs, instrumentals, scripts, and lyrics, some written under the pseudonyms Leo de la Silva or Luis Oscar de la Silva; composition and lyric notebooks, 1948-1983; programs and publicity; and two 78 r.p.m. records.
Repository: University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Additional Reference Guides: See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
Languages: English

Historical Note

Composer Leo Karczag was born in Budapest, Hungary on April 24, 1897. He earned a master of music from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest and a juris doctor and doctor of philosophy at the Hungarian University of Science, also in Budapest. Karczag toured Europe, Asia, Africa, and South and Central America as a concert pianist during his early years. He lived in Costa Rica for some time (composing under the name Leo or Luis Oscar de la Silva) before settling in the United States in 1938.

In 1946 Karczag married Edna Manrose with whom he had two children, Paul and Shari. The family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1964 where they resided until Karczag's death in 1985. It was during this time that Karczag composed his most extensive work Oregon, My Oregon! which premiered in 1968. His works include over 70 songs, three musicals, and several instrumental works.

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Content Description

The Leo Karczag Papers consist of music manuscripts, composition and lyric notebooks, Karczag's indices to the lyric notebooks, programs and publicity, and 78 r.p.m. records.

Music manuscripts are comprised of musicals, songs, instrumental works, scripts, and lyrics. Musicals, because they are the largest segment in this series, appear first. Of these, Oregon, My Oregon! is the most significant work and all related material--songs, instrumental parts, vocal score, scripts, lyrics, and publicity--are found under this title. Songs for this show are arranged according to the order of their appearance in the program. Instrumental parts with more than one song are arranged by instrument. Songs for two other musicals appear in performance order. Miscellaneous songs and instrumental works are alphabetically arranged by title. Compositions written by Karczag under pseudonyms have been interfiled with his other works, the pseudonyms indicated in parentheses next to the song title. Works having two titles or two sets of lyrics are cross-referenced in the inventory to the final version.

The composition notebooks comprise the bulk of the collection and have been retained in Karczag's own arrangement, which is nearly chronological. They span over thirty years of Karczag's life, documenting his early career until almost the year of his death in 1985.

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