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 15

Folder 1: (printed) Zwei Männerch&e mit Orchester oder Klavier, opus 10, no. 1--2, Leipzig. --1. Der Strom 2. Die Kapelle / (printed)Zwei Männerchöre mit Klavierbegleitung oder Kleinem Orchester, opus 30, no. 1-2, Leipzig. --1. Morgenlied 2. Lied der Waffenschmiede / (printed)Drei Gemischte Chore mit Orchesterbegleitung, opus 36, no. 1--3, Leipzig. --1. Im Kiosterhof 2. Sonnenaufgang 3. Waldesweben
Folder 2: (printed) Drei Männerchöre, opus 25, no. 1--3, Leipzig. --1. Transommernacht (mit tenor solo) (a capella).. 2. Das Wunder Kommt (a cappella). Score. 3. Trinklied (a cappella). / (printed)Fünf Männerchöre, opus 25, no. 4--5, Leipzig. --4. Zum neuen Jahre (a cappella). Score. 5. Ritter rat dem Knappen dies (a cappella). /(printed)Sechs Männerchöre, opus 25, No. 6, Leipzig. --6. Sonntag auf dem Meere (a cappella). / (printed)Morgenlied für dreistimmigen Männerchor mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 30, no. 1, Leipzig. / (printed)Lied der Waffenschmiede für vierstimmigen Männerchor mit Klavierbegleitung, aus opus 20, Leipzig. / (printed)Der Landsknecht’ Abendritt, für Männerchor mit Orgel (oder harmonium) und kleiner Trommel, opus 38, Leipzig. / (printed)Klostergrab für Männerchor und Orgelbegleitung, opus 44, Leipzig. / (printed)Vier Gesänge für dreistimmigen Frauenchor mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 5, no. 1--4, Leipzig.--1. Sehnsucht. 2. Im Carten des Serails 3. Stänchen. 4. Jachhe. / (printed)Die Gestorbene Rose, für 3 Frauenstimmen und Klavier. Nr. 324--326, Hausmusik des Kunstwarts.
Folder 3: (printed)Zwei Männerchöre mit Orchester oder Klavier, opus 10, no. 1--2, Leipzig. --1. Der Strom 2. Die Kapelle Piano--vocal score. / (printed)Erntefestlied für Männerchor und Orchester, opus 42, Leipzig. / (printed)Waldnacht, für Gemischten Chor mit Orchester oder Klavier, opus 12, no. 1, Leipzig. / (printed)Drei Gemischte Chöre mit Orchesterbegleitung, opus 36, nos. 1--3, Leipzig.--1. Im Klosterhof. 2. Sonnenauf gang. 3. Waldesweben. / (printed)Weihnachtsmärchen (Der Seelchenbaum), für gemischten Chor und Orchester. Leipzig, 1913. / (printed)Johannisfeier, für Männerchor und Sopransolo mit Orchester und Orgel, opus 45, Leipzig, 1914. / (printed)Sechs vierstimmige Frauenchöre mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 39, no. 1-6, Leipzig. Dedicated to the Wiener Frauenquartett.--1. Armseelchen. 2. Hütet euch. 3. Mondnacht. 4. Die Mittagsfrau 5. Das Kind. 6. Wandere.
Folder 4: (printed)Two choruses for men’s voices, opus 10, piano or orchestral accompaniment. --1, Der Strom, 2, Die Kapelle
Folder 5: Six choruses for male chorus (3 and 4 part), with piano, opus 109. --la. Epitaph. (Ben Jonson). lb. My Wish. (Rev. Robert Devoy). 2. Requiem. (R. L. Stevenson). 3. One Little Cloud. (Anonymous). 4. Hark, the Vesper Hymn. (Thomas L. Peacock). 5. Haroun al Raschid. (Longfellow). 6. Song of the Fairies Robbing Orchard. (James H. L. Hunt). / (Ms) Ave Maria, for male chorus, Tenor Solo and Organ. N.B. Dedicated to John D. Donoghue and the St. Michael’s College Glee Club. / (printed) Allerseelen, opus 66, Leipzig. Für Männerchor mit Klavier und kleine Trommel oder mit kleinem Orchester. / printed)Klostergrab, opus 44, Leipzig. Für Männerchor und Orgelbegleitung / (printed)Der Landsknecht’ Abendritt, opus 38, Leipzig. Für Männerchor mit Orgel (oder Harmonium) und Kleiner Trommel . / (printed) Zwei Männerchor mit Klavierbegleitung oder Kleinem Orchester, opus 30, Leipzig .--1. Morgenlied. 2. Lied der Waffenschmiede. N.B. Opus 30 is dedicated to the German students of Prague. No. 1 includes a translation into English by Dr. Wilhelm Raab, and a typed sheet of instructions.
Folder 6: (printed)Zwei drei=bezw. vierstimmige Frauenchöre mit Orchesterbegleitung, opus 57, 1--2 Leipzig. --No. 2. Sylvester (New Year’s Eve). N.B. English translation by Dr. Wilhelm Raab. Included is a memo on this translation. / (Ms) Five Choruses (3 and 4 part) for Female Voices, opus 78, March 1942. --1. Daybreak. 2. Cradle Song. 3. Echoes. 4. Spring. 5. Let’s Introduce Ourselves. / (Ms)Die Lichtbringern, no opus number, July 21, 1948. Für vierstimmigen Frauenchor mit Klavierbegleitung. / (printed) Sechs vierstimmige Frauench6re mit Klavierbegleitung, opus 39, 1--6, Leipzig. No. 1. Armseelchen / (Ms)Winter -- für 4 Frauenstimnien und Klavier, Summer 1949. / (Ms) Der öde Garten, summer 1908. Für 4 stimmigen Frauenchor, a capella. / (printed)Schneeflocken, no opus number, Hausmusik München. Für 3 Frauenstimmen (Chor) und Klavier.
Folder 7: (printed)Vier Gesänge, opus 5, nos. 1-4 (1906), Leipzig. Für dreistimmigen Frauenchor mit Klavierbegleitung. -- 1. Sehnsucht, 2. (mss) Im Garten des Serails, 3. Ständchen, 4. Juchhe!
Folder 8: (printed)Waldnacht opus 12, no. 1 , Leipzig. Für gemischten Chor mit Orchester oder Klavier. / (Ms) Four choruses for mixed voices with orchestra or piano, opus 83, July 1942 .--1. Crossing the Bar (Tennyson). 2. The Great Adventurer (Herder). 3. Song of the Bell (Longfellow). 4. The Boy and the Brook (Longfellow). / (Ms)Nachtlied, Feb. 3, 1903. Für gemischten Chor, a capella. / (Ms)Psalm 62, Jan. 26, 1903. Für gemischten Chor, a capella. / (Ms)Psalm 24, Feb. 13, 1903. Fur gemischten Chor, a capella. / (Ms)Psalm 67, Feb. 31, 1903. Für gemischten Chor, a capella.