Scope and Content of Collection

The collection comprehensively depicts David Tudor's participation in post-World War II experimental and avant-garde music. Scores by other composers, notably John Cage, Earle Brown, Morton Feldman, Christian Wolff, Sylvano Bussotti and Karlheinz Stockhausen, Tudor's realizations of their scores, and his electronic compositional materials, form the most significant part of the collection. Extensive project files concern the scheduling and development of his piano concerts and electronic compositions. Electronic research files with equipment catalogs and notes show how Tudor taught himself complicated mathmatics, equipment systems, and circuitry in order to gain the requisite technical knowledge to compose his electronic work. Articles and reviews, a nearly complete set of Tudor's programs, a large collection of audio tapes, videotapes, and photographs augment the documentation of his performing and composing activities.

Letters from colleagues and friends, dating from 1938-1996, exhibit the respect and devotion Tudor commanded as a serious interpreter and creator of avant-garde music. The collection also contains personal effects, including recipes, notes, and various materials concerning his spiritual beliefs, and his financial records.