Scores, Papers, and Recordings

Our special collections in music feature a rich selection of scores, papers, recordings, and more from famed composers, musicians, arrangers, conductors, and other figures.

Ignaz Brüll Scores

More than 100 first and early editions of scores by Austrian pianist and composer Ignaz Brüll (1846–1907). Brüll was a member of the Brahms circle in Vienna. His varied output includes symphonies, serenades, piano concerti, a violin concerto, chamber music, piano music, operas, and solo songs. 

See what items are in the Ignaz Brüll Scores collection. The scores have also been digitized, with many available in HathiTrust.

Glenn Osser Collection

Abraham “Glenn” Osser (1914–2014), a U-M alum, had a highly successful career as a musical arranger and conductor. The collection contains scores and parts for music he arranged and composed during his career as a staff conductor for the ABC network and music director of the Miss America pageant, among more general work.

There are 480 arrangements of Broadway show tunes, folk music, light classics, and popular hits of the day, as well as original compositions of theme and background music for television programs and examples of Osser’s compositions for radio and television commercials. 

See what items are in the Glenn Osser Collection. These materials are shelved offsite and must be requested in advance.

René Becker Collection

René Becker (1882–1956) was born in France and emigrated to the United States in 1904. Becker was a prolific composer of organ and piano music and his works range from large, multi-movement sonatas to small character pieces. Our collection includes more than 350 scores, and about 270 of them are holograph manuscripts. 

See what items are in the René Becker Collection.

Evangeline Lehman Papers

Evangeline Lehman (1896–1975) was an American composer, singer, and teacher born in Northville, Michigan, who studied extensively in France. Many of her compositions were widely performed in both France and the United States, and she appeared as a soloist with major American and European orchestras. Our collection contains printed music, music manuscripts, and writings of Lehman, as well as correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and medals. 

View the Evangeline Lehman Papers finding aid.

Leo Sarkisian Voice of America African Music Collection

Leo Sarkisian (1921–2018) was the creator and host of the long-running weekly radio program “Music Time in Africa” for Voice of America. 

Sarkisian documented music throughout Africa, while also helping newly independent African nations set up national radio stations. During five decades of traveling and recording music in Africa, he interviewed musicians and compiled an enormous collection of recordings reflecting the continent’s broad heritage of traditional and popular music. 

Our collection includes a digitized selection of 360 recordings. While most are of the radio broadcasts, the collection also includes unpublished field recordings. 

View the Leo Sarkisian Voice of America African Music Collection finding aid, which includes an index of the recordings.

Ivan Galamian Collection

Ivan Galamian (1903–1981) studied violin with Konstantin Mostras in Moscow and Lucien Capet in Paris before coming to the United States in 1937. He quickly established himself as a leading violin teacher. This collection contains more than 250 items, including scores given to Galamian by Mostras and Capet. The scores feature fingerings, bowings, and other markings written in Galamian’s hand, which provide valuable insights into his approach to teaching and performing these works. 

See what items are in the Ivan Galamian Collection.

Michael Rabin Collection

Michael Rabin (1936–1972), an American violinist who studied with Ivan Galamian, began his brilliant solo career while still a teenager. This collection contains 118 scores that feature fingerings, bowings, and other markings written either by Galamian during Rabin’s lessons with him or by Rabin himself in later years. 

See what items are in the Michael Rabin Collection.