Leslie Bassett Papers, 1946-2005

Summary

Creator:

Bassett, Leslie, 1905-

Abstract:

Leslie Bassett is a composer and professor of music at the University of Michigan. Bassett's papers, consisting of correspondence, collected memorabilia, photographs, lectures, scrapbooks, and music, document his career as a composer and professor of music.

Extent:

35 linear feet (in 47 boxes and various sizes)
5 oversize volumes
115 GB (online)

Language:

English

Call Number:

0601 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Polly Reynolds and Thomas E. Powers, January 2006

Background

Scope and Content:

The Leslie Bassett Papers consist of correspondence, collected memorabilia, photographs, lectures, scrapbooks, and musical compositions documenting his career as a composer and professor in the School of Music of the University of Michigan.

This collection contains the following series: Correspondence, Memorabilia, Topical Files, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Sound Recordings, and Compositions.

Biographical / Historical:

Leslie Bassett is a composer and professor of music at the University of Michigan. He was born in Hanford, California on January, 23, 1923 and was exposed to music when he first learned to play the piano as a child. In high school, he continued piano and also picked up the trombone. After a few semesters at Fresno State University, he served in World War II in the 13th Armored Division Band of the US Army as a trombonist, but also composed and arranged music.

He earned his Bachelor's degree from Fresno State University in 1947 and then received both his master's degree (1949) and his doctorate (1956) in music composition at the University of Michigan, studying under Ross Lee Finney. In 1950, he was a Fulbright Fellow, studying at the École Normale de Musique in Paris. Bassett began teaching at the University of Michigan in 1952, remaining there until he retired in 1991. While at the University of Michigan, he helped to found the Electronic Music Studio and also headed the Composition Department.

Bassett earned many prizes and awards for his composing and his teaching. Most notably, he won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for Variations for Orchestra in 1966 and in 1984 was named the Henry Russel Lecturer, "the highest honor to be awarded a senior faculty member and the first time that the lectureship had gone to a musician or artist." (Johnson, p.3).

He composed his music for a variety of different instruments and genres including music for orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber music, choral music, brass, solo voice, instrumental solos, organ, piano as well as electronic music.

Acquisition Information:

The collection was donated by Leslie Bassett (donor no. 9672 ) through Charles Reynolds, U-M Music Library in November 2005.

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related resources

Additional biographical information as well as comprehensive lists of his major works can be found on his personal website at http://www.lesliebassett.com/ and in Ellen Johnson's book Leslie Bassett: a bio-bibliography (1994).

Alternative Form Available:

Digitization: The Library has undertaken the digitization of a number of sound recordings within this collection. The resulting audio files are available for playback only in the Bentley Library Reading Room. Links to item images and additional information are available within this finding aid. Original sound recordings are only available for staff use.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Composers -- United States.
Concerts -- United States.
Composers.

Formats:

Photographs.
Sound recordings.

Names:

University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan. School of Music.
Bassett, Leslie, 1923-
Bassett, Anita Denniston.