Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1959-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
8 cm of textual records (1 box)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Myron Schaeffer was born on November 11, 1908 in Barberton, Ohio. He studied at Oberlin College and Conservatory, and then at Western Reserve University, where he received his Doctor of Music (1937). He then continued his studies in Europe with Sir Donald Tovey and the Solesmes monks, before returning to New York to study composition with Joseph Schillinger. In 1940-1941, he taught graduate seminars at Columbia University and then accepted a post in Panama as Dean of the College of Arts and Science and director of the Inter-American Institute of Folklore Investigation. Following some time in Mexico, England, Switzerland, and Germany, he accepted a position at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. There, he founded Canada's first Electronic Music Studio (UTEMS) with Arnold Walter, director of the Faculty of Music, in May 1959. Schaeffer continued as director of the Studio until his death in 1965.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Materials were transferred to the Music Library with the tape collection from the University of Toronto Electronic Music Studio (UTEMS) and some personal papers of Gustav Ciamaga (A2020-05). Both Schaeffer's and Ciamaga's papers were left in the Studio. The administrative records of UTEMS are held at the University of Toronto Archives.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of Myron Schaeffer's notes and drafts for lectures, articles, and an unpublished book on electronic music. The fonds also contains condolence correspondence following his death, his obituary, and scores and sketches for a couple of his electronic compositions.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Fonds contains three series : (A) Compositions ; (B) Lectures, articles, and books ; (C) Postmortem documents.