Alexander Semmler :
- Author:
- Semmler, Alexander, 1900-1977.
- Call Number:
- MSS MSS-131 local
- Abstract:
- The collection consists primarily of music written by Alexander Semmler, both in manuscript and in print. Among the compositions are symphonic works, chamber music, and works for various instruments, including piano and voice. There are also sketches for later compositions and notebooks with melodic ideas. The papers also include music written by Semmler under the pseudonym Ralph Sandor, which is more commercially oriented than those pieces signed in his own name. Also included in the papers are certain items kept with his musical compositions by Alexander Semmler, such as notes, correspondence, and reviews.
- Historical Note:
- Alexander Semmler was born in Dortmund, Germany, on November 12, 1900. He began composing music in adolesence and toured Europe and the United States as a pianist at the age of fiteen. He studied piano with Josef Pembaur and composition with Gustav Jenner, and later studied philopsphy and susicology at the universities of Marburg, Berlin, and Munich. He emigrated to the United States as a young man and became an American citizen in 1930. Semmler worked as a pianist with the CBS Symphony and later as a staff conductor and composer at CBS, writing music both under his own name and under the pseudonym Ralph Sandor (Zandor). He served as the American administrator for the Rundfunk im Amerikanischen Sektor (RIAS) in Berlin from 1951 to 1952. He was later invited to Mexico, where he was instrumental in organizing the Centro de Compositores Mexicanos. From 1955 until 1970, he was the New York music director for TRF Music, Inc. and Picture Scores, Inc. During that same time, he served as program director of the Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, N.Y. Semmler died in Kingston, N.Y., on 24 April 1977.
- Physical Description:
- 10.5 cu ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Alexander Semmler Papers, 1914-1977. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York.
- Subjects:
- Composers United States 20th century, Symphonies, Piano music, Organ music, Chamber music, Vocal music, Songs, Incidental music, Radio music, Dance music, Tangos, Amateur films Songs and music, Jazz, Amateur films, Chamber music, Composers, Dance music, Incidental music, Jazz, Organ music, Piano music, Radio music, Songs, Symphonies, Tangos, and Vocal music
- Genres/Forms:
- Sheet music. aat and Songs and music
- Names:
- Semmler, Alexander, 1900-1977, Pembaur, Josef, 1875-1950, Jenner, Gustav, 1865-1920, Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965, Burnet, Dana, 1888-1962, Castañeda, Daniel Perez, 1901-1980, Lear, Edward, 1812-1888. Owl and the pussy-cat, Knab, Armin, 1881-1951, Machado, Antonio, 1812-1896, Herrmann, Bernard, 1911-1975, Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 1547-1616. Don Quixote, Burnet, Dana, 1888-1962, Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965, Herrmann, Bernard, 1911-1975, Jenner, Gustav, 1865-1920, Knab, Armin, 1881-1951, Machado, Antonio, 1812-1896, and Semmler, Alexander, 1900-1977
- Corporate Names:
- Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc, Rundfunk im Amerikanischen Sektor (Berlin, Germany), Volkswagenwerk, Columbia Broadcasting System, inc, Rundfunk im Amerikanischen Sektor (Berlin, Germany), and Volkswagenwerk
- Chronological Terms:
- 1900-1999 fast
- Geographic Terms:
- Woodstock (N.Y.), New York (State) Woodstock, and United States
- Titles:
- Don Quixote (Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de) and Owl and the pussy-cat (Lear, Edward)
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