Catalog Record:
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
Acquired in 1953 as a gift from Anna Mikhaĭlovna Bratenskaya Medtner (widow of Nikolay Medtner), with additional gifts by Sofiia Aleksandrovna Satina, Olga Conus (Konius), and Dr. Alfred J. Swan.
No further accruals are expected.
The Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers were processed by Patrick Domico and George Kipper in 2011. George Kipper coded the finding aid for EAD format in 2011.
Institutions with significant Medtner holdings include: the Glinka Museum in Moscow (a large source of Medtner materials, especially pre-1921); British Library in London (six boxes of materials collected by Medtner pupil Edna Iles which includes manuscripts, correspondence, notes, and scores annotated in Medtner's hand); University of Leeds Special Collections Library in England (an unknown quantity of private papers, diaries, letters, photographs, ephemera and audio cassettes presumably related to Medtner's acquaintance with Richard Holt); University of Virginia Special Collections Library in Charlottesville, Va. (the Alfred Swan Papers includes correspondence, diaries, and other source materials for Swan's writings on Medtner); Library and Archives of Canada in Ottawa (the Alfred Laliberté fonds Collection contains significant correspondence, a few manuscripts, and other materials); and a privately owned archive recently acquired by Yevgeny Sudbin.
The Library of Congress Music Division holds numerous special collections that contain correspondence, music, or publications related to Nikolay Medtner. These include: the Rachmaninoff Archives (documents); the
Materials from the Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
The Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers contain letters, programs, clippings, photographs, scores, books, realia, and other items related to Medtner's family life and career as a concert pianist. These materials date from 1826-1954, with the majority dating from 1914-1954. The Correspondence series takes up nearly half the collection and consists of family and general correspondence written between 1914 and 1954, containing over 1,900 letters in Russian, German, English, and French. Family correspondence (1914-1936) consists of approximately 500 letters by Nikolay and/or wife Anna to Ėmiliĭ Karlovich Metner with over 400 letters in reply. The general correspondence (1921-1954) contains significant letters and transcripts to and from Sergei and Nataliia Rachmaninoff, Leon and Olga Conus, Sofiia Aleksandrovna Satina, Konstantin Klimov, Madeleine Laliberté (Mrs. Albert Laliberté), Bernard and Cecile Pinsonneault, Abbé J.G. Turcotte, and smaller holdings of letters by other musicians and admirers. This series also contains condolence letters sent to Anna upon Nikolay’s death and a large quantity of unidentified letters.
The Programs series largely documents concerts given by Medtner in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Russia between 1907 and 1946. There are also programs featuring Medtner’s works, presumably collected by the family. The Articles series (1910-1952) consists chiefly of newspaper clippings (often collected in scrapbooks, transcribed, and occasionally translated) and several longer articles written about Medtner. In addition, there is a brief article written by Medtner on the topic of musical inspiration. Aside from one photograph of Medtner himself, the Photography series is confined mostly to inscribed photographs of various musicians presented to Medtner, including two by Rachmaninoff.
The Miscellany series includes analytical notes, advertisements, and reviews pertaining to the Medtner Society's recordings; catalogues from Ėmiliĭ's publishing house Musaget' dating from 1912-1913; a 1927 address (with English translation) signed by 111 Moscow musicians and given to Medtner upon his visit to Russia; a diploma (1928) from the Royal Academy of Music; and a humorous scroll dated 1936. A bronze bust of Medtner executed by Karen Vogel and a posthumous plaster cast of Medtner's hands are included in this collection. Among the books are poetic works by Pushkin and Tiutchev, with Medtner's annotations, Medtner's personal copy of
The Music series consists of printed scores and three manuscripts in Medtner's hand:
A few explanatory words regarding transliteration of the composer's surname: although the correct transliteration of the Russian-born composer's surname would be more precisely rendered according to the Library of Congress's transliteration system as "Metner," the composer himself favored the Germanic spelling of his name, "Medtner," in Roman script; the latter form, through which the composer gained renown in the West, has therefore been retained within this document. Conversely, the Library of Congress transliteration system has been adhered to in transliterating the name of the composer's brother, Ėmiliĭ Metner (who neither cultivated a career in the West, nor adopted the Germanic spelling of his surname). Alternate spellings for Russian names and titles that appear in this finding aid--including those defined by convention as well as standardized transliteration--have been included in an appendix to facilitate searching. A modified Library of Congress transliteration system, excluding ligatures and accent marks, has been adopted in this finding aid.
The Nikolay Karlovich Medtner Papers are organized in seven series:
Letters by Nikolay and/or Anna Medtner and Ėmiliĭ Karlovich Metner (Nikolay's brother) to one another, condolence notes/letters written by others to Anna Medtner at the time of Nikolay's death in 1951, and correspondence by friends and colleagues of Nikolay Medtner.
The series is arranged into two subseries: the first contains correspondence between Medtner family members; the second contains correspondence by non-family members to Nikolay Medtner. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent's last name, and chronologically therein.
Also includes: handwritten eight page narrative by Iles; 1946 and 1948 concert programs.
Includes transcriptions of letters, undated letters, notes.
Additional writing added by Walter Legge.
Programs for concerts given by Medtner in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Russia, as well as programs featuring performances of Medtner's works by others.
Arranged chronologically.
March 13, 1930 program autographed by Sir Dan Godfrey, conductor.
Newspaper clippings (often collected in scrapbooks, transcribed, and occasionally translated) and several longer articles written about Medtner. Includes a brief article written by Medtner on musical inspiration.
Arranged alphabetically by author's last name, and chronologically therein.
Collection of individual issues of
Includes an unbound book (109 pages) containing typed transcripts taken from newspapers and articles.
Includes a letter (dated 1952) to Anna Medtner, presumably from Il'in.
Two copies.
Russian language publication containing article featuring Rachmaninoff.
Chiefly photographs of various musicians inscribed to Nikolay Medtner. Included are two inscribed photographs of Rachmaninoff and a photograph of Medtner.
Arranged alphabetically by last name of individual, and chronologically therein.
Inscribed to Medtner.
Note written to Medtner from Armin on verso.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Inscribed to Medtner.
Inscribed to Anna and "Nicola."
Inscribed to Medtner.
Not signed. Photograph has been identified as: "The composer, Georg Catoire."
Four inscribed photographs, one being an image of Laliberté's music room.
Inscribed.
Inscribed on verso.
Inscribed with musical quotation.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Inscribed.
Two photographs.
Inscribed.
Analytical notes, advertisements, and reviews pertaining to the Medtner Society's issued recordings; catalogues of 1912-1913 of Ėmiliĭ Metner's publishing house Musaget'; a 1927 address (with English translation) signed by 111 Moscow musicians given to Medtner upon his visit to Russia; a diploma (dated 1928) from the Royal Academy of Music on the occasion of Medtner's election as an honorary member; and a humorous banner given to Medtner from Russian friends soon after his arrival in London in 1936. A bronze bust of Medtner executed by Czech sculptor Karen Vogel and a posthumous plaster cast of Medtner's hands are also included in this collection.
Arranged alphabetically by subject, and chronologically therein.
The original address was signed by 111 musicians.
Includes the original copy with signatures and a typed translation.
A humorous paper scroll signed by several Russian individuals (London, 1936) encouraging Medtner to "apply himself with all diligence and perseverence to the learning of the barbarous Tongue of the hospitable Tribe we live amongst ...".
Includes "His Master's Voice" announcement of the founding of the Society, programs of issued recordings (volumes 1-3), published reviews of the Society's recordings and other publicity.
Two catalogues.
The diploma was given to Medtner on the occasion of his election as an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music.
Collection files paperwork describes this as a posthumous plaster cast of Medtner's hands.
Consult Reference staff for assistance in examining this item.
Eleven items, including two volumes of Pushkin's poems, single volumes of Lermontov and Tiutchev, all with Medtner's marginalia and musical sketches, as well as Medtner's personal copy of
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Contains notes and other marginalia.
Book of poems by Lermontov including Medtner's marginalia and musical sketches (page 9).
Inscribed to N. Medtner by Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser, noted Russian piano pedagogue.
This volume was used by Medtner when composing his songs based on Pushkin's texts.
Contains Medtner's musical sketches, marginalia.
Volume of poems by Tiutchev used by Medtner when composing his songs based on Tiutchev's texts.
Contains Medtner's musical sketches, marginalia.
Marginalia found on page 269, which contains an article ("Tiutchev v muzyke" by Sergei Durylin) mentioning Medtner.
Three holograph scores and two printed music items. The holographs include: an undated score titled
Arranged alphabetically by composer/compiler's last name.
Songs with piano.
Musical settings of Pushkin's poems.
The title page contains a written dedication to N.K. Medtner in memory of the composer, initialed by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Manuscript is dated 1896.
Melody with words.
Manuscript is undated.
Manuscript is undated but believed to be circa 1940.
(Alternate spellings for names in parentheses)