Robert Garfias was born in San Francisco in 1932, the child of Mexican-American parents. As a youngster he studied classical guitar and jazz saxophone. In high school he studied Western classical music composition, and he formed a jazz combo that played gigs for beatniks in the North Beach area of San Francisco, where he traveled in a circle of musicians that included Dave Brubeck, Vince Delgado, Vince Guaraldi, Harry Partch, and Bill Smith. During his career he founded the ethnomusicology program at the University of Washington; served as Dean of Arts at the University of California, Irvine, as a member of the Smithsonian Council, and as a presidential appointee to the U.S. National Council for the Arts; and conducted significant periods of fieldwork and language study in Japan, Okinawa, Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Central America, Burma, Romania, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and among Okinawans in the United States.
- Society for Ethnomusicology Newsletter (Vol. 7, No. 4, September 2013)
Contents summary: Tapes 1-14 digitized 10/2013 (48 kHz, 24-bit); work discs and logsheets produced.
2013-13.1 - 78rpm dubs from 1) Kunaisho Gagaku Bu collection; 2) Daitowa Ongaku Shusei I (2013-13.1A.wav, 2013-13.1B.wav) (61:52)
2013-13.2 - 78rpm dubs - Daitowa Ongaku Shusai II (2013-13.2A.wav, 2013-13.2B.wav) (66:14)
2013-13.3 - 78rpm dubs - Daitowa Ongaku Shusai III (2013-13.3A.wav, 2013-13.3B.wav) (69:35)
2013-13.4 - 78rpm dubs - Gagaku (2013-13.4A.wav, 2013-13.4B.wav) (62:09)
2013-13.5 - Gagaku - NHK airchecks 1959 (2013-13.5.wav) (32:29)
2013-13.6 - Tatsuya Araki, shakuhachi, 5/19/64 (2013-13.6.wav) (12:47)
2013-13.7 - Okinawa - copies of studio recordings made by Mary Evans, 1960?; "Okinawa Buyo: performed by Okinawan musicians in Tokyo" (2013-13.7A.wav, 2013-13.7B.wav) (52:21)
2013-13.8 - Okinawa - Koto solo performed by Mrs. Kami Kamisato and her daughter Motoko Ganaja (Ganeha), recorded by Robert Garfias 6/27/62 (2013-13.8A.wav, 2013-13.8B.wav) (51:34)
2013-13.9 - Dubs of 2 commercial recordings: Meihawde Shenghwo - The Beautiful Life: Music of the Uighur in Singkiang Province (Art-Tune Record ATC-407); Jingsherde Herswei - The Golden River Water: Music of the Kazakh of Singkiang Province (Art-Tune Record COE-5082) (2013-13.9.wav) (42:37)
2013-13.10 - 78rpm dubs - Chinese Drama (Art-Tune records) (2013-13.10A.wav, 2013-13.10B.wav) (66:48)
2013-13.11 - 78rpm dubs - Chinese Opera (Art-Tune records) (2013-13.11A.wav, 2013-13.11B.wav) (61:23)
2013-13.12 - 78rpm dubs - Rakuko Nakamura, koto (Yamada Ryu tradition) (2013-13.12.wav) (17:54)
2013-13.13 - Cheng demonstration by Linda Ch'ao - Geese on the Sandy Beach, recorded by Robert Garfias (2013-13.13.wav) (16:01)
2013-13.14 - Cheng demonstration by Linda Ch'ao - Flowers on Brocade, recorded by Robert Garfias (2013-13.14.wav) (16:31)
Tapes 15-27 (all Japanese recordings) have not been previewed or digitized - contents information has been taken from tape box notes (transcribed as accurately as possible).
2013-13.15 - Gagaku: Ryuteki - Ue Chikamasa / Ichikotsu-cho, Hyojo, Sojo / Tokyo 3/21/60 / Recorded by Robert Garfias / MASTER [detailed notes inserted in tape box.
2013-13.16 - Hichiriki / 11/24 Koma-Ichikotsu / 12/3/60 Konju solo / MASTER / recorded in Tokyo (notes inserted in box)
2013-13.17 - Typed note in box: "Master Tapes - Recordings of Gagaku Ryuteki by Ue Chikamatsu I / Tokyo September 1960 / Oshiki-cho, Bashiki-cho, Taishiki-cho" (see typed note for additional information)
2013-13.18 - Master tape - Japanese Gagaku / Hichiriki solos by Togi Suenobu ["Masataro" has been crossed out] / Recorded Nov. 12, 1960.
2013-13.19 - Gagaku - Hichiriki solos by Togi Masataro / started April 1960 / with Togi Suenobu on Nov. 9, 1960 (notes inserted in box)
2013-13.20 - Typed note from Robert Garfias in box: "An Unknown Gagaku Dub...I think these recordings were given to me by my teacher, Togi Masataro (Wataro)....These recordings appear to have been made at the Konpira Shrine Shikoko..." (see typed note for additional information)
2013-13.21 - Typed note from Robert Garfias in box: "Master Tapes-Recordings of Gagaku Ryuteki by Ue Chikamatsu II / Tokyo December 5, 1960 Ishikotsu-cho Kagura, Biwa" (see type note for additional information)
2013-13.22 - Bokyaku / Sukuma songs (no other information on tape box)
2013-13.23 - NHK Dub - Nagasaki Music I
2013-13.24 - NHK Dub - Nagasaki Music II 1958 / Dubbed by NHK 1959
2013-13.25 - Note from Robert Garfias: "This is a 1960 radio broadcast (NHK) with Robert Garfias, Uri Epstein, [and] Don Philippi interviewed by Koizumi Fumio in Japanese"; tape digitized 1/2014 (30:39)
2013-13.26 - Tokyo Ono [?] Gagakukai [?] / Shinto Ceremonial Music [5" reel)
2013-13.27 - Note on tape box: "Robert Garfias talking about and playing Gagaku - for KRAB radio show?" (10" reel)
Documentation: Lists of contents for some recordings
Access is restricted.