The ideal reference book would be one in which each bit of data is self-evident with
no explanations needed. Perhaps in heaven that ideal has been achieved. In the mean-
time, here are some tips on the ground rules applied in this catalog, made as brief
and painless as possible.
WHAT
All the musical works, complete or incomplete or at present unlocated, known to
have been composed or arranged by Henry Cowell. The works are cited in their
order of composition as nearly as possible, with brief descriptions (especially in regard
to length and completeness) of the known autograph music manuscripts and any
important copies, plus information about vocal texts, instrumentation, details of
first performance and publication (by sale or rental) plus comment on other ger-
mane matters.
WHERE
The principal sources for this catalog are housed in two great libraries. A majority
of HC's holograph music manuscripts are in the Cowell Collection, Music Divi-
sion. Library of Congress, Washington, DC ("CC at LC"). If no location is given
for a music manuscript it can be assumed to be at LC-except for the 85 anniver-
sary pieces ("AP") given by the composer to his wife, Sidney Robertson Cowell
("SRC"), on their anniversaries. Christmases, her birthdays, and a few other occa-
sions from their marriage in 1941 until his death in 1965; these pieces are in the
Cowell Collection, Music Research Division, New York Public Library at Lincoln
Center ("CC at NYPL"). More important in CC at NYPL are many hundreds of
letters (both by and to HC) and other Cowell papers. Together with a voluminous
collection of programs and a clipping file, plus various odds and ends, these make
NYPL (which also has Cowell music, programs, and other matter in its general col-
lections) a unique source of information about HC's life and career. The Library
of Congress, too, has important HC music (and some letters) in Music Division col-
lections other than the CC there. Finally, the Fleisher Collection in the Philadelphia
Free Library ("FC at PhFL") has a considerable number of orchestral works by
HC in copyists' manuscripts, plus some photocopies of HC holographs.