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Alfred Heinemann Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SCA-0020-001

Scope and Contents

The collection contains compositions and personal papers of Alfred Heinemann covering his lifelong work as composer, pianist, and lecturer. The majority of the material relates to his work as a composer. Included are compositions from 1920-1964 in various stages of completion. There is also: correspondence; legal papers; a list of compositions and notes on works; performance programs; academic lectures; clippings; musical story ideas and outlines; drawings; a manuscript for a children’s instructional piano book; and a poem written about Alfred Heinemann by his daughter.

Dates

  • 1920-2010

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Staff may restrict access at its discretion on the basis of physical condition.

Biographical/Historical

Alfred Heinemann was a German composer, concert pianist, and lecturer. Born in Bueckeburg, Germany on April 10, 1908, he began playing piano at age three and started composing by age 10.

In 1936, Heinemann immigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa. By 1944, he moved to Cape Town and it was at this time that he conducted the Cape Town Municipal Youth Orchestra. While in Cape Town, Heinemann also taught Composition and Orchestration at Stellenbosch University, conducting numerous piano recitals and lectures. The Cape Town Symphony Orchestra performed several of Heinemann’s compositions, including Galaxy, Pax Hominibus, and March of the Neanderthal Men.

Alfred Heinemann immigrated to the United States in 1949 and took up residence just outside of Queens, New York. The same year, Heinemann won a competition for best new composer in Queens with his Concert Overture. The piece was performed for the first time by the Queens Symphony Orchestra on September 29, 1949. In 1956, Heinemann’s String Quartet was performed at the Barnard Hall of Columbia University by the Music of Our Time String Quartet.

In 1967, Heinemann joined the staff of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) as a member of their foreign department. He retired in 1975 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he volunteered for eight years teaching Music Appreciation at the Washington Adult Center. He continued to perform and lecture at various community centers in the Phoenix area. Alfred Heinemann died on October 9, 1995 at age 87.

His major works include Piano Concerto (1941), Violin Concerto (1942), March of the Neanderthal Men (1946), Symphony (1959-1964), the opera Torso (1958), and the ballets Galaxy (1941), Roulette (1946), La Manie des titres et des abbreviations (1953) and Kobold (1963).

Sources consulted:

Heinemann, Gerda. (1995, October). “Alfred Heinemann Obituary.” The Arizona Republic.

Slonimsky, N. (1978). Baker's biographical dictionary of musicians. New York: Schirmer Books.

Extent

5.5 Linear Feet (9 document boxes, 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Alfred Heinemann (1908-1995) was a German composer, concert pianist, and lecturer. The collection is comprised of Heinemann’s compositions from 1920 to 1964 and is in various stages of completion. The collection also includes notes on the compositions, lecture notes, programs from performances, correspondence, an audio recording of a performance of Heinemann’s String Quartet, and personal papers.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically and by subject in two series:

Series I: Scores, 1920-1964

Series II: Personal Papers, 1941-2010

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to Queens College by Gelia Dolcimascolo, Alfred Heinemann’s daughter, in 2010.

Related Archival Materials

Karol Rathaus Papers, Queens College, New York

Leopold Sachse Collection, Queens College, New York

Legal Status

The Alfred Heinemann Collection is physically owned by the Queens College Libraries. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assignees. The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Queens College assumes no responsibility for the infringement of copyrights held by the original authors, creators, or producers of materials.

Source

Creator

Title
Alfred Heinemann Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Print and machine readable finding aids prepared by Fiona Gorham, Fall 2013, and approved by Alexandra Dolan-Mescal, Fall 2013
Date
Fall 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Queens College (New York, N.Y.) Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Queens College Library, CUNY
Benjamin Rosenthal Library RO317
65-30 Kissena Boulevard
Flushing 11367 USA us