Richard Stöhr Collection, 1890-1974 | Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

By Elizabeth B. Scott

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Collection Overview

Title: Richard Stöhr Collection, 1890-1974

Predominant Dates:1940-1960

ID: MSS 4/MSS 4

Primary Creator: Richard Stöhr (1874-1967)

Extent: 15.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: Arranged into four series: I. Instrumental Works. 2. Vocal works. 3. Textbooks and Lectures. 4. Biographical Material.

Date Acquired: 01/01/1974

Subjects: concertos, Orchestral music, Richard Stöhr, 1874-1967 -- Correspondence, Stöhr, Richard, 1874-1967, Symphonies

Forms of Material: Compositions (artistic arrangement), Correspondence, Scrapbooks, Writings

Languages: English, German

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection consists of Stöhr’s body of work and biographical materials. The bulk of the collection dates from the mid 20th century. In addition to compositions, diaries, appointment books, guest books and a number of photographs are among the items included. Compositions are in either Manuscript or printed form(in some cases both), and some have been published. There are numerous copies of some of the works, and many include complete scores and parts. Not all of the parts are present for all compositions--available parts are noted on the inventory. For some of the published works more than one edition is available. The guest books and photographs are quite interesting, as Stoehr’s students are often pictured or noted, and many of them were fairly well known at the time.

Collection Historical Note

Richard Stöhr was born in Vienna June 11, 1874. He was educated in Vienna and received a degree in Medicine from the University of Vienna in 1898. Rather than practice medicine, he devoted himself to music and became a professor of music at the Vienna Academy of Music. In the wake of the Nazi takeover of Austria, Stöhr came to the United States. In 1939 he settled in Philadelphia, taking a position at the Curtis Institute of Music. He moved to Vermont in 1941, joining his former student Karl Schwenger, who had recently begun working at Saint Michael’s College. The College sought to hire Stöhr with financial assistance from both the Oberlander Trust and the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars, a committee of the Institute of International Education. The Oberlander Trust was not able to supply funding, but Dr. Stöhr did come to Saint Michael’s as the Director of Musical Activities and as an instructor in German. His academic responsibilities were quite light, and Stöhr was able to devote a significant amount of time to performing and composing. He also taught occasionally at the Vermont Conservatory of Music. He continued working at the college, teaching German and music until 1950, when he retired from teaching. Until 1960, he maintained an office at Saint Michael’s, where he spent time composing. Although it is unclear if the College formally granted him emeritus status, he was referred to as both Emeritus Professor and Composer in Residence until his death on Dec. 11, 1967.

In 1974, the 100th anniversary of his birth, Saint Michael’s College held a Memorial Mass and a memorial concert was held at Trinity College in Burlington. Among his students were Erich Leinsdorf, Walter Hendl, Artur Rodzinski, and Leonard Bernstein, who in 1964 saluted Stöhr during a New York Philharmonic Tribute to Teachers program. In 1964, Vienna Music Academy President Dr. Hans Sittner published a biography of Stöhr entitled Richard Stöhr; Mensch, Musiker, Lehrer. Interest in his work waned following this period, but saw a slight resurgence in the early part of the 21st century.

Subject/Index Terms

concertos
Orchestral music
Richard Stöhr, 1874-1967 -- Correspondence
Stöhr, Richard, 1874-1967
Symphonies

Administrative Information

Repository: Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

Access Restrictions: The entire collection is available to the public. A separate Licensing Agreement exists for Stöhrs compositions. More information is available from the Archives upon request.

Acquisition Source: Richard Stöhr family.

Acquisition Method: The Stöhr collection was donated to Saint Michael’s by Stöhr’s family in 1974.

Separated Materials: Some audio recordings are housed in the AV Collection.

Related Materials:

CDs Richard Stöhr Chamber Music Volume one: the works for cello and piano: Cello sonata in A minor Op. 49, Fantasiestücke, Opus 17. Stefan Koch, Robert Conway.

Richard Stöhr Chamber Music Volume Two Piano trio in e flat major op 16 three songs for low voice and piano with cello accompaniment Opus 21. Laura Roelofs, Stefan Koch, Mary Siciliano, Seth Keeton.

Richard Stöhr Chamber music vol. three violin sonatas volin sonata no. 1 in G Major Opus 27, violin sonata no. 2 in a major Opus 62. Ulrike-Anima Mathe, Scott Faigen.

Masterpieces rediscovered: music from Austria Germany and Russia. David Shostac, Antoinette Perry.

Richard Stöhr Christine Lavant Quartett (2 copies).

Preferred Citation: Richard Stöhr Papers, Saint Michael’s College Archives, Colchester, VT.

Processing Information: Mrs. Dorothy B. Hunt, music professor at nearby Trinity College, a friend of Stoehr and his wife, arranged the materials and created the inventory. Karl Raab, another family friend has further identified some compositions.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18],
[Box 19],
[Box 20],
[Box 21],
[Box 22],
[Box 23],
[Box 24],
[Box 25],
[All]

Box 13

Folder 1: 8 Lieder fur eine Singstimine mit Klavierbegleitung, no opus number, no. 1-8--1 Wohin mit der Freud. 2 Der Waidsee. 3 Wenn ich sterbe (Opus 15, no. 6) 4 Der Liebe Gedanken (Opus 3, no. 3) 5 Abendstänchen. 6 Gesellenlied. 7 Der Wunsch. 8. Goldammer.
Folder 2: Zwölf Lieder für eine Singstime, numbers 1--4 and 7--12 (numbers 5 and 6 (pages 13--16) missing), no opus number. --1 Flog ein bunter Falter(opus 3, no. 1.). 2 Nun blüht die Linde wieder. *3 Wohin mit der Freud. *4 Der Waldsee. *7 Wunsch. 8 Längerpflicht. 9 Wenn ich sterbe (opus 15, no. 6.). 10 Die Stadt. (opus 14, no. 5. ) 11 Auftrag. (opus 14, no. 4. )12 Abenständchen. 9 Wenn ich sterbe, opus 15, no. 6. 10 Die Stadt, opus 14, no. 5. 11 Auftrag, opus 14, no. 4.
Folder 3: (printed) Sechs Duette für Sopran und Alt mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 24, nos. 1--6, Leipzig--1 An einer Kirchhofsmauer. 2 Die Alte. 3 Schneeflocke. 4 Ueber die Heide. 5 Trost. 6 Die Sorglichen. / (printed) Duette für Sopran und Tenor mit Klavier, opus 34, nos. 1-6, 1913, Leipzig. --1 Auf unsres Kindes Tod. 2 Am Flusse. 3 Mittag. 4 Die Vatergruft. 5 Blütenregen. 6 Johannisfeuer.
Folder 4: (printed) Acht Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, nos. 1-8, Leipzig, no opus number. --1 0 bleibe treu den Toten. 2 Prometheus. 3 Malve. 4 Im Walde. 5 Wie es kam. 6 Am Meere. 7 Wohin mit der Freud? 8 Weisst du, wo? / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, Opus 3, nos. 1--4 (Für hohe Stimme). --1 Flog ein bunter Falter. 2 Die Schwalben. 3 Der Liebe Gedanken. 4 Gesellenlied. / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 11, nos. 1-5, Wien-Leipzig. (Für mittlere Stimme). --1. Winteranfang. 2. Reiter un Herbst. 3. Regen. 4. Hinab. 5. Frau Holle. / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstie mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 13, nos. 1-4, Wien-Leipzig. (Für tiefe Stimnie). --1. Sonntagsfreuden. 2. Morgen. 3. Wenn schlanke Lilien. 4. Requiem. / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 14, nos. 1-7, Wien-Leipzig. (Für tiefe oder mittlere Stimme). --1. Auf den Höhen. 2. Der schwarm. 3. Winternacht. 4. Auftrag. 5. Die Stadt. 6. Die Werkeluhr. 7. Elfe. / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 15, nos. 1-7, Wien-Leipzig. (Für hohe oder mittlere Stimme). --1. Sonnenuntergang. 2. Grauer Vogel über der Heide. 3. Sommerlied. 4. Schon ein Lϊed, em Vogellied. 5. Traüme. 6. Wenn ich sterbe. 7. Märchen. / 4G (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 19, no. 1-4, Wien-Leipzig. (Für eine mittlere oder hohe Stimme). --1. Schein und Wirklichkeit. 2. Lichtgestalten. 3. An die Vügel. 4. Winterlandschaft. / (printed) Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 20, no. 1-5, Wien-Leipzig. (Für eine mittlere oder hohe Stimme) --1. Nähe des Geliebten. 2. Elf ensang. 3. Die Jahre. 4. Geständnis. 5. Ganymed. / (printed) Drei Lieder für eine tiefere Stimme mit Begleitung des Violoncello, Opus 21, nos. 1--3, Leipzig--Wien. --1. Gebet. 2. Ward der Abend regenmüd. 3. Dem aufgehenden Volimonde. / (printed) Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung, Opus 28, nos. 1-5, Wien-Leipzig. (Für hohe Stimme). --1. Trost. 2. Altdeutsches Lied. 3. Durch. 4. Wanderschwäne. 5. Die süsse Sieben. / (printed) “Morgenlied”, für mittlere Singstünme und Klavier, Leipzig. / (printed) Lied der Waffenschmiede, Aus Opus 20, Leipzig.
Folder 5: (printed)Vier Gedichte von Natalie v. Oldenburg, opus 47, nos. 1-4, Leipzig.<p style="margin-left:.5in;"> 1. Ihr blauen Berge! 2. Scheidestunde. 3. Der Frühling naht. 4. Winternacht. / (printed)Fünf Lieder, Opus 48, Nos. 2--5, 1917, Wien--Leipzig.--1. Eine schwarze Perle. (missing)2. Em äscherungslied. 3. Du warst es doch. 4. Gommorah. 5. Vale. / (printed) Fünf Lieder, Opus 54, Nos. 1, 3 and 4, Leipzig. --1. Trecento. 2. Dämmerstunde. (missing) 3. Sehnsucht und Stille. 4. Mutter. 5. Im Feld em Mädchen singt. (missing) / (printed)Zehn Lieder, Opus 55, Nos. 1--4, 6--10, Leipzig. --1. Das Mädchen singt in den Abend. 2. Gigerlette. 3. über mir zieht eine Wolke hin. 4. Die Nacht. 5. Februarschnee. 6. Frühling. 7. Kampflied. 8. Schneeflocken. 9. Wir. 10. Weit, weit. / (printed)Lieder. Drei Cedichte von Hans Dietroff, Opus 56, Nos. 1--3. Leipzig. --1. Eislauf. 2. Liebchens Geburtstag. 3. Lichter. / (printed)12 Lieder, Opus 60, Nos. 1-7 and 9-12, Wien-Prag-Leipzig.--1. Der Steinklopfer. 2. An die Schönheit. 3. Waldfrieden. 4. Himmlische Boten. 5. Herbstabend im Kioster. 6. Schlittenfahrt mit Liebchen. 7. Einen Turm will ich mir bauen. 8. An mein Klavier. 9. Beglückende Nähe. 10. Erde, dein Wanderer. 11. An die Nacht 12. Wohin. / 5G (printed)Vier Lieder, Opus 65, Nos. 1-4, Leipzig. Für eine Singstimme, Violine und Klavier. --1. Die Stadt am See. 2. Pierronette. 3. Morgenlauf. 4. Am Sonnenberg.
Folder 6: Twelve Songs, opus 91, Nos. 1-12. February, 1943. --1. The Brook Song (Riley). 2. The Frosted Pane (Charles Roberts). 3. Time of Roses (Thomas Hood). 4. The Fountain (Russell Lowell). 5. The Boy Patriot (Riley). 6. Curfew (Longfellow). 7. In the Train (James Thomson). 8. Trees (Joyce Kilmer). 9. The Old (Hon. Roden Noel). 10. March (Nora Hopper). 11. Autumn Song (F. Tabb). 12. Girlhood (John Godfrey Saxe).
Folder 7: Ten Songs, Opus 96, Nos. 1-10, October, 1943. --1. Good Bye (Am Foo Lin, Chinese student). 2. The Rainy Day (Longfellow). 3. Distance, the Enchantress (Anonymous). 4. Lullaby (Ellen Gates). 5. Unsatisfied (Anonymous). 6. Gradatim (Josiah G. Holland). 7. The Silent Town (Dehmal). 8. Blacksmith Pain (Bierbaum). 9. The Message (Heine). 10. Winter Trees (Longfellow).
Folder 8: Ten Songs, Opus 104a, Nos. 1-10, Summer, 1944. --1. Out in the Fields with God (Louise Guiney). 2. The Windmill (Longfellow). 3. Snowflakes (Longfellow). 4. Why so Pale and Wan? (Sir John Suckling). 5. Leisure (W. H. Davis). 6. Daffodils (Wordsworth). 7. Ode to Solitude (Alexander Pope). 8. The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls (Longfellow). 9. The Harp that once through Tara’s Halls (Thomas Moore). 10. Nature (Longfellow).
Folder 9: The Songs of the Mother -- six poems, by Jamie Smith Ryne, Opus lO4b. --1. Rainy Day Lullaby. 2. Gallant Ships. 3. Prayer on the Hilltop. 4. Never a Word. 5. That’s My Spring. 6. Too Slow.
Folder 10: Twelve Songs, Opus 110, Nos. 1--12. --1. Mutability (Shelley). 2. To a Butterfly (Wordsworth). 3. Epitaph (Ben Jonson). 4. To Meadows (Robert Herrick). 5. The Palm and the Pine (Lanier). 6. Indian Summer (Emily Dickinson). 7. Villanelle (William Henley). for Soprano or Tenor solo and male chorus8. The Black Vulture (George Sterling). 9. Love’s Secret (William Blake). 10. Sunken Gold (Eugene Hamilton). 11. A Woman’s Thought (Richard Gilder). 12. On Death (Walter Savage Landon).
Folder 11: Zeitgenössische österreichische Lyrik-dreizehn Gedichte, opus 119, Nos. 1-13 (1947-48). --1. Hochzeitreise (Gedicht von Dr. Richard Raab). To Olga Raab, as a Christmas gift and remembrance of your own Wedding Trip. 2 c.. 2. Belvedere in Wien (Elly Adolf). 3. Abschied (Eugen Andergassen). 2 c.. 4. Wiedersehen im Herbst (Wilhelm Raab). 5. Der Wellenbrecher (Wilhelm Raab). 6. Zwischen Gestern und Morgen (Wilhelm Raab). 7. Kobold Rauhreif (Richard Fritz). 8. Vergissmeinnicht (Edmond Schwab) Wien. 9. Wir bannen österreich (Wilhelm Adametz). 10. Morgen in den Bergen (Nelly Lia Bayer). 11. New York (Margaret Kollisch). 12. Lebensweg (Margaret Kollisch).
Folder 12: “Abend”, (Edmund Schwab), no opus number or date. I. Song with piano accompaniment.
Folder 13: “My Christmas Tree”, (James Francis Cooke), no opus number, 1952. Song with piano accompaniment.
Folder 14: Burden Bearer”, (John Oxenhain), no opus number or date. Song with piano accompaniment. Dedicated to Dorothy Hawley in gratitude for organizing performances of Dr. Stoehr’s work in her home town of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.