Skip to main content

Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records

 Collection
Identifier: MS-425

Scope and Content

The Chamber Music Yellow Springs (CMYS) Records document both the original Yellow Springs chamber music organization (Chamber Music in Yellow Springs, 1957-62) and its successor founded in the early 1980s (Chamber Music Yellow Springs). The CMYS Records are a significant contribution to the local and regional history focus of the Special Collections and Archives, and an especially welcome addition to the subject holdings in the arts. The collection contains extensive and detailed holdings, including concert programs, information on chamber music artists, recordings of performances and competitions, and administrative documentation. Both the organization's early and more recent history is documented in this collection.

Series I, Chamber Music in Yellow Springs (1957-62), is comprised of all the material in the collection relating to Chamber Music Yellow Springs's predecessor organization. This series includes a small number of concert programs, some artist informational materials, and administrative records. Although it documents only the three years of the organization's existence, the series includes a substantial amount of the records and other materials generated by Chamber Music in Yellow Springs.

Series II, Concert Programs, is an extensive collection of promotional materials produced by Chamber Music Yellow Springs in relation to its concert series and annual competition. With some exceptions, each concert season's file contains copies of individual concert programs, publicity materials mailed to subscribers, tickets, and applications for the Annual Competition for Emerging Professional Ensembles. Due to their large size, the concert promotional posters have been separated into a dedicated box apart from their individual concert season folders.

Series III, Chamber Music Artist Information, consists of the promotional materials retained by Chamber Music Yellow Springs on the performers the organization has contracted with to play in its concert series. Sorted by ensemble name, the series includes promotional brochures and photographs, as well as contracts and logistical planning information. The records in this series document the backgrounds of the various performers, providing important information on the standing and accomplishments of the artists CMYS has been able to attract to Yellow Springs.

Series IV, Administrative, documents the governance of the organization and its financial affairs. The series is divided into two subseries. Subseries IVA, General Administrative, includes records of the Chamber Music Yellow Springs board of directors, consisting primarily of board minutes and items such as long range planning materials. It also documents the grant-seeking and grant writing activities of CMYS, as well as the various events the organization has staged as fund-raising activities. Subseries IVB, Financial, consists of the annual budgets and a collection of yearly and monthly financial reports, as well as collections of invoices and receipts.

Series V, Audio, is one of the collection's most important components, documenting both the performances of visiting ensembles and the efforts of primarily local groups at the Annual Competition for Emerging Professional Ensembles. It should be noted that the copyrights on these performances are not owned by the Special Collections and Archives as Chamber Music Yellow Springs does not have the authority to transfer certain copyrights on live recordings and original compositions. In the Collection Inventory the numbers in brackets (example: [2]) indicate the number of CDs in the file.

Dates

  • Creation: 1957-2009
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1980-2009

Creator

Restrictions on Access

There are no restrictions on accessing materials in this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts and music are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Chamber Music Yellow Springs does not have the authority to transfer certain copyrights on live recordings and original compositions.

History of Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records

Yellow Springs, Ohio, has been host to a volunteer chamber music association since 1957, with the exception of a period from the mid-1960s and the 1970s. Chamber Music in Yellow Springs, the predecessor of Chamber Music Yellow Springs (CMYS), was created in 1957. The group was founded in response to Yellow Springs-based Antioch University's decision to discontinue its music programs in that year. Residents of Yellow Springs decided to continue the tradition of local performances of fine classical music and held their first concert at Mill's Lawn School. Concert seasons continued every year until 1962, when Antioch University restarted their concert series. The competition from the university caused Chamber Music in Yellow Springs to discontinue their concerts until 1982, when the university again withdrew support of its own series. It was at this time that the decision was again made by Yellow Springs residents to continue their tradition of chamber music performances with the refounding of their volunteer organization as Chamber Music Yellow Springs. Each year since, CMYS has hosted a concert series of four performances ending with its Annual Competition for Emerging Professional Ensembles. Although they provide a venue for a number experienced and established chamber music groups each season, the core of CMYS's mission is to attract and support up-and-coming ensembles, with a special focus on local performers. The performances hosted by CMYS take place at the First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Avenue (U.S. 68) in Yellow Springs. (This section contains information from the Chamber Music Yellow Springs website - http://www.cmys.org/)

Extent

9.8 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The materials contained in the Chamber Music Yellow Springs (CMYS) Records document both the original Yellow Springs chamber music organization (Chamber Music in Yellow Springs, 1957-62) and its successor group founded in the early 1980s (Chamber Music Yellow Springs). The Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records include concert programs and promotional materials; information about and contracts with chamber music artists; administrative materials, including board meeting information and board member correspondence, budgets and financial statements, and records of ticket sales and fund-raising activities; and a collection of recordings on compact disk of CMYS concerts and competitions.

Statement of Arrangement

The Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records is arranged into Five series and two subseries:

  1. Series I: Chamber Music in Yellow Springs (1957-62)
  2. Series II: Concert Programs
  3. Series III: Chamber Music Artist Information
  4. Series IV: Administrative
  5. Subseries IVA: General Administrative
  6. Subseries IVB: Financial
  7. Series V: Audio

Technical Requirements

The collection includes a number of older computer disks with financial information that require appropriate hardware and software to access their data.

Acquisition Information

The Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records were donated to Wright State University Special Collections and Archives by the originating organization (Chamber Music Yellow Springs) in March of 2009.

Accruals

This is an ongoing collection, with the expectation of annual additions of materials from Chamber Music Yellow Springs.

Related Material

MS-43, Miami Valley Arts Council Records; MS-102, Paul Katz Papers; MS-170, Patricia Adelaide O'Brien Papers; MS-287, Dayton Civic Music Association Records; MS-314, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Records

Title
Guide to the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Records (MS-425)
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sandra Bialik and Phillip Elam, March 2011
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092