Archival Manuscript/Mixed Formats (Collection)Charles Tournemire collection, circa 1868-1962
Personal name
Main title
- Charles Tournemire collection, circa 1868-1962 (bulk 1900-1936).
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More Information
LCCN Permalink
Description
- 67 items (9 boxes, 5.0 linear feet)
Rights advisory
- Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Access advisory
- Open to research.
- Not all materials in this collection may be readily accessible; please request accessibility information well in advance of your visit http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.contact opens in a new window
Finding aids
- Finding aid available in the Library of Congress Performing Arts Reading Room and at https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu011012 opens in a new window
LC classification
- ML31 .T68
Related names
Biography/History note
- Charles Tournemire (b. Jan. 22, 1870, in Bordeaux, France; d. around Nov. 4, 1939, in Arcachon, France) was a French composer, organist, and teacher. After early studies at the Bordeaux Conservatoire, he transferred to the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 16, where he studied the piano with Bériot and harmony with Taudou. Tournemire also joined the Widor's organ class, continuing his study in 1889-1890 with Franck. After working briefly at Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet, he succeeded Gabriel Pierné as organist at the Basilique Sainte Clotilde, a post he held for the rest of his life. Between 1900 and 1904 he composed his first five symphonies. He achieved his first major recognition as a composer when he won the concours musicale de la ville de Paris for his choral work Le sang de la siréne in 1904. In 1919 he became professor of the instrumental ensemble class at the Paris Conservatoire. Among his most notable students there were Duruflé, Langlais, and Daniel-Lesur. Tournemire's first marriage to Alice Taylor, the sister of the wife of French novelist and Martinist Joséphin Péladan, fueled his interest to philosophical mysticism. Beginning in the late 1920s, Tournemire increasingly withdrew from the musical establishment becoming heavily involved with not only mystical writers, but medieval architecture and early Christian spirituality. Although his creative output includes five operas, eight symphonies, numerous choral, vocal, and chamber music works, the composer is mostly known by his organ music.
Organized/Arranged
- Organized into the following series: I. Music (circa 1868-1962), subdivided: Music by Charles Tournemire (1899-1962), Music by Other Composers (circa 1868-1939), II. Libretti, III. Miscellany (1899-1928).
Summary
- Materials in the Charles Tournemire Collection date from about 1868 to 1962, with the majority of them being from 1900 to 1936. These primarily consist of manuscript and printed scores, a small amount of libretti, and a handful of other annotated or inscribed printed materials.
- The Music series contains both original compositions and arrangements by Tournemire and annotated printed scores of works by other composers. The Tournemire materials contain eight holographs, including an arrangement for piano, four hands of his First symphony by Raoul Moreau, three manuscripts, and eight printed scores. Included among these are Tournemire's arrangement of the sixth suite from Johann Jakob Walther's Hortulus chelicus and his transcription of Frescobaldi's Toccata per l'elevazione. The collection also contains printed scores by other composers, many of them annotated, including works from the Ecole classique de l'Orgue series, edited by Alexandre Guilmant.
- The Libretti series consists of two lengthy manuscripts for works by Tournemire and several lyric sheets for the poem "Sagesse" by Paul Verlaine.
- The Miscellany series features a scrapbook of articles, letters, and other materials for his prize-winning composition, Le sang de la siréne, and a variety of annotated or inscribed printed items.
LC Subjects
Form/Genre
Browse by shelf order
Notes
- Collection material primarily in French.
Acquisition source
- Gift; Alice Tournemire; 1998.
Cite as
- Charles Tournemire Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress.
LCCN
- 2006568223
Geographic area code
- e-fr---
Repository
- Library of Congress Music Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.home opens in a new window
Type of material
- Archival Manuscript/Mixed Formats (Collection)
Item Availability
CALL NUMBER
- Charles Tournemire collection
- Refer to finding aid
Request in
- Performing Arts Reading Room (Madison, LM113)
Status
- Not Charged