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Summary
- Abstract:
- This collection documents the musical career of Yella Pessl, a harpsichordist, pianist and organist.
- Extent:
- 13 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English , German .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Yella Pessl Sobotka Papers, 1918-1979. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pessl Sobotka Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
This collection contains Yella Pessl's correspondence, 1930-1979; musical manuscripts, arrangements, and fingered sheet music, primarily of the keyboard works of J. S. Bach, undated; scrapbooks pertaining to her concert career, 1924-1956; 78 commercial and private recordings of her performances on harpsichord and piano, primarily from the 1940s and 1950s; and printed materials.
The collection also contains 194 12-inch records, 39 10-inch records by Pessl. In addition, there are 50 12-inch records and 16 10-inch records either not by Pessl or unidentifiable.
- Biographical / Historical:
Gabriella Pessl Sobotka was a harpsichordist, pianist and organist who performed under the name Yella Pessl. Born in Vienna, she had a musical career in Europe before immigrating to the United States in 1931.
Pessl was best known for her interpretations of Bach and was founder and director of the Bach Circle, a New York group specializing in lesser-known works of Bach and other Baroque composers. Pessl toured extensively in the United States, performing in as a soloist and with orchestras. She also had her own radio program and was on the faculty of Columbia University.
Pessl died at the age of 85 in 1991 in Northhampton, Mass. Her husband, Dr. Harry Sobotka, predeceased her in 1970.
- Acquisition information:
- The M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections Archives acquired this collection from Yella Pessl-Sobotka in 1978 .
- Processing information:
Processed in 2003 December by M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University at Albany, SUNY.
- Arrangement:
The collection is not processed. Some boxes are described at the box level. Others are described at the item level.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Per the donor agreement, rights to the published works of Yella Pessl Sobotka are held according to applicable copyright laws. Rights to any unpublished work will first be held by the donors Yella Pessl and her sister Mrs. Richard (Margit) Cartwright, and then by the University Libraries, University at Albany. Ms. Pessl died in 1991.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Yella Pessl Sobotka Papers, 1918-1979. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pessl Sobotka Papers).