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Malcolm Goldstein Papers

Call Number

MSS.350

Dates

1955-2022, inclusive
; 1970-2000, bulk

Creator

Goldstein, Malcolm, 1936-
Goldstein, Malcolm, 1936- (Role: Donor)

Extent

52.75 Linear Feet
in 54 boxes

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Malcolm Goldstein is a composer and violinist primarily concerned with structured improvisation and a unique style which he calls "soundings." He writes graphic scores which combine elements of standard musical notation, calligraphy, written instructions, and collage. Goldstein has collaborated with many dancers, writers, and musicians, most frequently with Philip Corner and Allison Knowles. The Malcolm Goldstein Papers contais scores, documentation of performances, writings, publicity, and administrative documents relating to Goldstein's work as composer, musician, collaborator, writer, curator, and professor.

Biographical Note

Malcolm Goldstein is a composer and violinist primarily concerned with structured improvisation and a unique style which he calls "soundings." He writes graphic scores which combine elements of standard musical notation, calligraphy, written instructions, and collage. Goldstein has collaborated with many dancers, writers, and musicians, most frequently with Philip Corner and Allison Knowles.

Born on March 27, 1936 in Brooklyn NY, Malcolm Goldstein attended Columbia University from 1952 through 1959 where he studied with Otto Leuning and Antonio Miranda. In 1962 he began performing with the Judson Dance Theater, shortly followed by participation in the NY Festival of the Avant Garde and the Experimental Intermedia Foundation. In 1963 he co-founded the Tone Roads chamber ensemble with Philip Corner and James Tenney. Tone Roads, which takes its name from a mid-career composition by Charles Ives, showcased works by Ives, Ruggles, Cage, and Varese. Goldstein went on to work on a critical edition of Ives' work. He also wrote extensively about these musicians as well as about improvisation. He is the author of the book Sounding the Full Circle distributed by Frog Peak Music. He has traveled extensively, performing in countries around the world, and has received many awards including the Prix Acustica International by WDR.

Goldstein has held teaching positions at Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center (1959-1960), Columbia College (1961-1965), the New School for Social Research (1963-1965, 1967-1969), the New England Conservatory (1965-1967), Dickinson College (1969-1971), Goddard College (1972-1974), and Bowdoin College (1978-1982). Goldstein has curated and performed in many concerts at these institutions as well as in festivals around the world.

Sources:

The Living Composers Project, http://www.composers21.com/compdocs/goldsteinm.htm

Grove Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/47511

Arrangement

The material has been arranged into nine series and some separated further into subseries:

Series I: Music Projects

Series II: Writing

Series III: Publicity

Series IV: Administrative

Series V: Commercially Released Media

Series VI: Non-commercially Released Audio

Series VII: Non-commercially Released Video

Series VIII: Data Storage

Series IX: Malcolm Goldstein's Notes on the Collection

Scope and Contents

The Malcolm Goldstein Papers include scores, documentation of performances, writing, correspondence, publicity, administrative records, audio, video, and data storage. The materials document Goldstein's role as a composer, musician, curator, writer and educator. The collection is arranged into nine series:

Series I: Music Projects comprises scores and documentation of performances. In addition to scores created by Goldstein there are several pieces made by other composers. Notebooks contain drafts of various works in progress.

Series II: Writing comprises unpublished article drafts, interviews, published works, and correspondence. Correspondence is mostly from others with Malcolm Goldstein as the recipient with a few exceptions.

Series III: Publicity is comprised of reviews, photographs, and ephemera documenting performances and commercial releases.

Series IV: Administrative comprises administrative materials reflecting Goldstein's organization of concerts, contracts, grants, music production, and teaching materials.

Series V: Commercially Released Media comprises audio, video, and vinyl sound discs in which Malcolm Goldstein is either the main musician or is featured as a collaborator on the recording.

Series VI: Non-commercially Released Audio comprises audiocassetes and sound discs documenting performances and interviews.

Series VII: Non-commercially Released Video comprises VHS and DVD elements primarily documenting performances.

Series VIII: Data Storage comprises floppy discs and CD-Rs storing visual documentation of performances.

Series IX: Malcolm Goldstein's Notes on the Collection comprises Goldstein's lists and inventories of the collection as it was delivered to the Fales Library and Special Collections.

A 2018 accretion contains Goldstein's writings on the music of Charles E. Ives, specifically a 2016 booklet Charles Ives -- String Quartet No. 2 -- Critical Edition which includes the booklet, as well as supporting work files with edited drafts, letters, notated scores, 1946 sound recordings of the piece, and reviewer notes. Concert programs and reviews of his performances from 2014 to 2016 and Goldstein interview transcripts and articles from 2016-2017 is also in this accretion. Material on Goldstein projects include 1992 Die Moltkerei Gallery original material and descriptions of his Moroccan Project from 2009. Updated copies of existing pieces in the collection as well as more recent works and performance notes for Wandering Still, This Full Breath/Gesture Sounding, and If Not Now, When? can also be found in this collection, dating from 2017 to 2018.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Malcolm Goldstein Papers; MSS 350; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.

Provenance

The Malcolm Goldstein Papers were donated to the Fales Library and Special Collections by Goldstein in 2012. Accretions were donated by Goldstein in 2013-2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022. Accession numbers associated with these donations are 2012.350, 2013.350, 2014.350, 2015.350, 2018.090, 2019.044, 2020.037, and 2023.030.

Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures

Access copies for some audiovisual materials in the collection are available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only.

Born-Digital Access Policies and Procedures

Born-digital materials have not been transferred and may not be available to researchers. Researchers may request access copies. To request that material be transferred, or if you are unsure if material has been transferred, please contact Fales Library and Special Collections, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596 with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.

Appraisal

In August 2018 a curatorial decision was made to not accept into the 2018 accretion: a computer floppy disk with existing duplicate analog material and two audiocassette recordings of a non-Goldstein concert.

Related Materials

Judson Memorial Church Archive (MSS.094)

Collection processed by

Anna Gurton-Wachter

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-06 14:22:38 -0500.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is in English

Processing Information

The Malcolm Goldstein Papers are arranged at the folder level and titles reflect Goldstein's original labeling taken from envelopes. Material was originally labeled with several layers of descriptive information. For this reason all envelopes were saved (see Series IX) and can be viewed alongside the material they originally housed. When applicable, additional information was represented as a 'Scope and Content Note' for each individual item. Any titles created by the archivist have been placed in square brackets and have been added minimally.

In 2018, material was removed from their envelopes and foldered, keeping the envelopes with notations. File titles were taken from the envelopes. The files were updated or incorporated into existing series I.A., II.B., III.C., and V.A. The scope and content note for II.C. was updated. The original arrangement note was updated, removing information and creating a processing note.

In 2019, material was removed from envelopes, foldered, and placed in a box. Folder titles were taken from the envelopes. The files were updated or incorporated into existing Series I.A, OVERSIZE Series I.A, Series II.A, Series III.C, and Series IX.

In 2020 and 2023, accretions were rehoused and intellectually integrated into the collection's existing series structure. One audio optical disc was forensically imaged, analyzed, and described; the two commercial optical discs of the collection were identified but not imaged, and were intellectually incorporated into Series V.A. New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content.

Revisions to this Guide

8/1/2018: Record updated by Stacey Flatt to reflect 2018 accretion
August 2019: Record updated by Stacey Flatt to reflect 2019 accretion
November 2020: Record updated by Rachel Searcy to reflect 2016 accretion

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012