H-55: History of American Music Printing and Publishing
16-20 June 2008
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Useful. Good context for class content. 2: Most useful was Crawford’s An Introduction to America’s Music, to refresh my general knowledge of the outline of American music history. 3: Helpful background and useful review; perhaps a bit more extensive than necessary for pre-course preparation. Better to have them than not, I suppose, but perhaps they could be prioritized within their categories, e.g., history, printing, &c. 4: Extremely useful and relevant. This is a reading list that I will continue to use. 5: In talking with classmates later in the week, I did not feel that pre-course readings helped a great deal. Instead, DK quickly gauged our knowledge and interests and designed the class accordingly. 6: Extremely useful. 7: They were useful as a general primer. 8: Quite useful, especially for laying the groundwork, getting a basic understanding. 9: Comprehensive, given the size of the subject; this subject cannot be encompassed in pre-course readings. 10: Good if you lack in basic knowledge. 11: The readings were very useful in giving a summary background to the subject. I found, personally, that the sources on American music history and printing history were more useful than the sources on music bibliography. 12: There were too many, and they weren’t discussed or even mentioned.
2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: Yes; really appreciated the updated bibliography. 2: The bibliography will come in handy. 3: Very useful in class for overview, organization, and notes, and will continue to be useful for review and for further study in the future. 4: The syllabus and materials distributed in class were most appropriate and will continue to be useful when I return to work. The bibliography is especially useful and is a resource I will share with my work colleagues. 5: Very much so. The bibliography was painstakingly assembled, and DK seemed to know the best times during the week to talk about sections of it. 6: Yes, but there were too many. The prioritization that was provided proved to be very helpful. 7: Yes. I think they will be especially useful after the class as I review my notes and work through the bibliography provided. 8: Extremely so, especially the course packet. 9: Yes and yes. 10: Yes. The bibliography is incredibly valuable. 11: They were, and the course bibliography (especially the websites listed) will be extremely useful once I get back to my home institution. 12: Yes! All very good. The handouts and bibliography are excellent.
3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: Loved the hands-on examination of sheet music; direct connection to my current research interests/agenda. Intellectual level was fine. 2: Most relevant was learning how to differentiate types of printing methods, and how to determine approximate dates of publication. 3: Greatest interest: tunebooks and c18 printing. Most relevant: c19 sheet music. The intellectual level was delightfully engaging while not becoming painfully exhausting. 4: The intellectual level of the course was very appropriate. I found all of the course content to be relevant to my purposes and very interesting. 5: Although our eyes crossed at certain times, the cumulative effect of studying and commenting on so much printed music could not have been otherwise accomplished. 6: The intellectual level of the course was appropriate. The aspects focusing on earlier music, particularly the early c19 was of greatest interest to me. 7: Learning about the business of music publishing, especially related to Tin Pan Alley. 8: I especially enjoyed looking at pre-Civil War materials and Confederate imprints. The units on sheet music were fascinating. 9: Good mixture of emphasis on totality of print culture as well as iconic cultural objects. 10: Intellectually, the class was stimulating. The tunebook and sacred music section was particularly interesting. 11: The aspects of learning the various printing techniques of the late c17 through mid c19 were the most interesting and relevant to me. The intellectual level was ideal. 12: I was especially interested in early American music printing and publishing, and that was the main focus of this session.
4) If your course left its classroom to visit Special Collections (SC) or to make other field trips away from your classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?
1: Yes. Seeing the Bay Psalm Book ‘live’ (as opposed to facsimile) was a great experience. 2: Yes. We were able to view several extremely rare and important objects. 3: Yes. I enjoyed both seeing material (Bay Psalm Book!) In SC, and also the UVa Music Library. 4: Definitely. This was time well spent. 5-6: Yes. 7: It was very well used. We took a trip to see copies of the Bay Psalm Book. We also toured the Music Library and learned about their digital sheet music project. 8: Our visit with the Bay Psalm Book was terrific. I probably didn’t need the visit to the Music Library. 9: Yes. Both the Bay Psalm Book display and UVa Music Library trip were useful. 10: Yes. 11: The class visited SC (which very conveniently was downstairs) to look at the Bay Psalm Book, which was a thrill, since very few copies of the book exist. We also visited the wonderful Music Library – time very well spent. 12: Yes.
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: I enjoyed the collegial atmosphere and the stories about music/publishers/musicians. Also really liked the variety of materials shown. 2: The camaraderie among my classmates, coupled with the intellectual generosity of our professor. 3: DK, whose own engagement and enjoyment pervaded every topic, every minute. The man wears his tremendous learning very lightly and shares it generously and with kindness and encouragement. 4: DK was a delightful lecturer and very interesting. The examples we saw in class were enlightening. I also enjoyed making contacts with other class members. Their varied interests and backgrounds and our resulting discussions enhanced the course content. 5: Building discussion around our collective knowledge. 6: I most enjoyed learning about the early printing types and about the engraving process. 7: First and foremost, the experience, wisdom, and patience of our instructor. 8: I signed up because of the instructor – and he didn’t disappoint! 9: High level of expertise both from DK and class members. 10: The instructor’s ability to engage the physical artifacts and tie them in to the larger history of American music was incredible. 11: I enjoyed DK’s comments and expertise; also the comments and discussion between the students, who were of the highest caliber. 12: DK and the great participants.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: Let us visit Lower Tibet! Even in short trips of 3-4 students at a time. It would be nice to have a true scope of what’s there, how it is set up, and to use when encouraging others to come. (Plus it just seems cool!) 2: It was great. It might have been fun to hear (recorded, or live?) examples from different eras. 3: It was a challenge taking notes with topics and ideas and information flowing so quickly. How could students share notes/note-taking so we can all capture the collective benefit? 4: Perhaps if the chairs in the classroom could be adjusted. I’m short and it was a little difficult to write at such a tall table. 5: There were two six-minute videos that were mentioned but not shown; possibly show these in class. 6: More time spent on early music, examining and discussing different kinds of type. 7: We had an especially large class of 13 students. It took a long time to pass around the examples. Perhaps a smaller class or better timing or more packets of materials would be ways to improve the class. Also, although the equipment (musical typewriter, engraving punches, and letterpress) was available to be used after class, perhaps setting aside class time to try these more. Also, the chairs were especially uncomfortable. The room, otherwise, was pleasant and well air-conditioned. 8: A little smaller class would have allowed us to cover more material. More hands-on time with engraving/typesetting tools would be great! 9: Might sub-divide topic into sub-courses. 10: It was excellent the way it was. 11: I would have enjoyed even more examples of c18 American music. 12: A little more organization would help. Participants could bring materials not held by RBS. The schedule could be tweaked, especially the evening activities.
7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa’s Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?
1: I thought all physical handling went well; no suggestions. 3: People were generally respectful and procedures reasonable, but they are teaching materials and need to be handled. 4: None, really. 5: All were given appropriate respect. 6: I thought that the handling of material was very well managed. 7: No suggestions. 8: The sheet music packets are stored in acidic envelopes, within acidic boxes; better not to, of course. The Mylar helps, but acid transfer is still a danger. [The polyester-enclosed originals never come into contact with the Higgs paper folders housing them; the folders, while not constructed of permanent/durable materials, are quite benign. -Ed] 9: Inability to locate materials alluded to is a major problem of coordination. Perhaps more staff are needed to keep track of course materials. 10: Some books should be put in a clamshell box. 11: No suggestions; they were appropriately handled. 12: I think there is too much concern; we are all experienced at handling rare materials. Why not let us see Lower Tibet? Why not put us to work with those materials? None of us are a threat to these materials.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or other evening lectures, were they worth attending?
1: N/A other than Sunday. Sunday was okay, but I was too tired to really focus. 2: The Archimedes lecture [No. 507 by William Noel] was a pleasant and fascinating surprise. The lecture on type [No. 508 by Sumner Stone] was good, but could have used some visuals (other than the handout). 3: Archimedes was more exciting and entertaining than expected; excellent use of slides by the speaker. The Wednesday night speaker needed to use his handout. 4: Yes. The Sunday lecture and weekday evening lectures were fascinating. The UVa Music Library field trip was a great idea. 5: I enjoyed the two I attended. 6: Yes. 7: I attended all three. The Monday evening lecture was quite interesting, as I already had heard about the Archimedes project. The Wednesday evening lecture suffered from a lack of visuals, and was a little to dense for my tastes. I wish he would have provided some general introduction and background to his topic. 8: I attended all three lectures, and all three were worth the time, though the Monday lecture (Archimedes palimpsest) was particularly engaging. 9: Yes. Archimedes palimpsest lecture was a nice treat. 10: Yes. 11: I wish I’d attended the Monday evening lecture; I heard it was very good. 12: The Stone lecture was interesting, but not really relevant. Please either schedule the lectures at 4:30 or 6:30, so we can eat dinner.
9) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?
1: Yes. This is a very useful course for anyone interested in the physical music produced in America. Knowing more about American music history is most helpful; many of the major American figures make an appearance, and it helps put everything in context. I won’t look at everything the same way again – I’ll pay much more attention to detail! 2: Yes! Advice is don’t be apprehensive about your level of knowledge. There was a spectrum in our class but it made no difference in the experience. 3: Both I and my institution got more than “our money’s worth.” Kudos to RBS and DK! 4: Yes. I definitely got my money’s worth and then some. I will encourage my co-workers to take this course in the future. 5: Time very well spent and a pleasure! 6: Absolutely. It was a privilege to take this course with DK. He has so much knowledge in this area, and it is obvious that he enjoys sharing his knowledge. 7: Definitely! I feel that many interesting aspects of early printed music were discussed, and that all the examples provided context to the various types of hymnals, tunebooks, sheet music, and other music. 8: Absolutely. I’m already planning my next RBS vacation! Thanks! 9: No more expensive than most 3-credit semester courses at the graduate level at a major university, and uniquely valuable for breadth and context provided. Any extra time participants can get to absorb readings is to their advantage. 10: It is one of the finest learning experience I have ever had. DK is a gentle soul with an encyclopedic brain and a gift for teaching. This class is worth far more than the money. 11: Yes! Advice is to take full advantage of all the RBS activities, or as many as possible. 12: Yes! The bookshops should stay open longer, or perhaps they could bring relevant materials to campus?
Number of respondents: 12
PERCENTAGES
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
58% 67% 33% 25%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
17% 25% 42% 58%
N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived
employed, re- employed, with friends nearby
tired, or had retired, or or lived at
summers off scholarship home
25% 8% 25% 17%
There were 3 music librarians (25%); 2 general librarians with some rare book duties (17%); 2 general librarians (17%); 2 teachers/professors (17%); 1 full-time student (8%); 1 archivist/manuscript librarian (8%); and 1 music cataloger (8%).