Philip Gordon Collection

Umbrella Collection name: Music Educators National Conference Historical Center

Individual Collection name: Philip Gordon Collection

Repository name: Special Collections in Performing Arts, Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland

Type: Performance, publicity, and business files, published and non-published music, sound recordings, literary publications, correspondence, and personal items.

Collection dates: 1924-1985

Extent: 41 linear feet

Description:Performance and publicity files; photographs which include Gordon and other musicians;  published and non-published music written or arranged by Philip Gordon; published scores of band, orchestra, instrumental ensemble, and choral arrangements of Philip Gordon; selected recordings of the same; literary writings by Philip Gordon; correspondence between various persons and Philip and Julia Gordon (includes letters from Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, and Randall Thompson).

Statement of provenance: Published music was willed to the MENC Historical Center by Philip Gordon and was received in December 1984. Additional materials were received from Julia Gordon, Philip Gordon's widow, in October 1989.

Governing documents:  Unsigned Deed of Gift attached to letter dated 12/7/84; 1979 signed Memorandum – Final Disposition of Books and Music Owned by Philip Gordon; accession record (85-98-MENC) dated 12/3/84.

Finding Aid:  An unpublished finding aid by Elaine Phelps (1990) revised by Stephanie Keller (March 2001) is available in the repository. 

SCPA shelf location: Collections Room, MENC aisle J 

Biography: Philip Gordon (1894-1983) contributed to the lives of many through his roles as composer, arranger, educator, and conductor. Philip began studying the violin at age 6 in Newark, New Jersey. He later studied violin with James Efross and violin, harmony, and piano with Mandel Svet. Educated at Columbia University, Gordon received Bachelor and Master degrees in English Literature and Germanic Languages, "The German Singspiel" being the topic of his Master's thesis. He also received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Columbia, publishing his doctoral dissertation, "Contemporary Music for Performing Groups," in 1950.

Gordon served as Director of the Orchestra Department of the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum in New York (1931-34) and as conductor of the Bach Cantata Society in New York (1927-28), the YM-YWHA Symphony in Newark, and the Newark Civic Symphony (1932-35). In cooperation with the Works Projects Administration (WPA), Gordon organized several orchestras and bands which performed concerts in parks, schools, community centers, hospitals, and other institutions, providing jobs for professional musicians and entertainment for the public. Through his leadership of these groups, Philip Gordon contributed to the enhancement of the cultural life of Newark and New York.

The Newark Civic Symphony, founded in 1932, became a WPA group in 1933. Its performances included extensive cycles of the works of Beethoven, Boccherini, and Brahms. In addition, the symphony presented a series of radio broadcasts over WOR and the Mutual Broadcasting System. Most performances were arranged, annotated, and conducted by Gordon, who volunteered his services.

Philip Gordon was dedicated to music education. He served as Director of the Music Department of the NJ Educator's Association, President of the New Jersey Music Educators Association (1945-47), National Vice-Chairman of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Committee on Contemporary Music, and charter member, composer-in-residence, and Executive Board member of the New Jersey American String Teacher's Association (ASTA) Summer String Conference. While at South Side High School, Gordon taught orchestra, chorus, harmony, music appreciation, and music fundamentals. He was also on the faculties of Chicago Musical College, Westminster Choir College, and Seton Hall University.

As a composer, Philip Gordon desired to write works which were needed and strove to organize the experimental ideas and techniques of the 20th century and to balance them with previously established compositional techniques. He also believed that hearing the performance of one's composition was vital to one's growth as a composer. Thus, he often created works for existing groups to perform at specific occasions. As a Music Teacher at South Side High School in Newark (NJ), Gordon wrote and arranged many compositions for the instrumentation of his performing groups (orchestra and chorus), contributing much to the repertoire of school music. These compositions reflect Gordon's desire to provide high caliber music for young music students.

Gordon composed songs to lyrics by Ilo Orleans. In the spring of 1952, these songs were broadcast as "Funday Songs". Each show, organized by topic, comprised several songs woven into 15-minute radio scripts which were broadcast three times weekly on WBGO, the FM radio station of the Newark Board of Education, and directly into classrooms.

In the 1950's, he married Julia Weber, noted author and nationally respected educator, and moved to Princeton. Approximately ninety percent of his published compositions were published between 1955 and 1980. As demand for his musical compositions increased, Gordon limited his teaching activities to the college level. His contributions as composer, conductor, and educator contributed greatly to the appreciation and enjoyment of music by many. 

Elaine Phelps 1990-1991

Life Chronology::

1894	Born, December 14, Newark, New Jersey
1927-1928	Conductor of the Bach Cantata Society in New York
1931-1934	Director of the Orchestra Department of the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum
1932-1937	Conducted Newark Civic Symphony Orchestra for the WPA
1942-1945	Member, Board of Directors, In-and-About New York Music Educators Club
1944	Conductor of the New Jersey All-State High School Orchestra
1944-45, 1948	Member of the Board of Directors, Department of Music of the New Jersey Education Association
1945-1947	President, Department of Music of the New Jersey Education Association
946-1948	Chairman, Committee on Contemporary Music, Eastern Conference
1950	Published his doctoral dissertation, "Contemporary Music for Performing Groups"
1952	Composed songs were broadcast as "Funday Songs" weekly on WBGO FM radio
1955-1980	Active as a composer
1983	Dies, October 11, Princeton, New Jersey

Series Arrangement:

Series I: Performance and Publicity Files
Series II: Photographs 
Series III: Business Files
Series IV: Music 
Series V: Sound Recordings
Series VI: Writings 
Series VII: Correspondence
Series VIII: Personal

Description of Series:

Series I: Performance and Publicity Files 
This Series contains materials, spanning the years 1924-85, which detail PG's musical contributions. Subseries are grouped by clippings, concert programs, reviews, and other promotional materials. Each subseries is arranged chronologically or alphabetically, either by title or publisher, into folders.

Series II: Photographs 
This Series contains two photographs which include Philip Gordon and other musicians.

Series III: Business 
This Series consists of unofficial [royalty statement] record books, royalty statements, and correspondence regarding royalty statements.

Series IV: Music
This series consists of published and non-published music written or arranged by Philip Gordon, including those works written under his pen name, Peter Williams. Subseries are divided by non-published and published scores.

Series V: Sound Recordings
The recordings have been given a PGR# and are located in the Paged Collections Room. They are listed alphabetically in the finding aid by title of work.

Series VI: Writings
Literary writings by Philip Gordon are categorized by their intended genre of publication, book or article. 

Series VII: Correspondence
Correspondence between the following persons and Philip/Julia Gordon, arranged alphabetically. Includes letters from Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, and Randall Thompson. Spans the years 1924-83. 

Series VIII: Personal
Includes miscellaneous items and a biographical memorial statement by colleagues of PG.

Materials from this collection must be used in the Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10 to 5, Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator.

Or for a specific question about the collection feel free to ask the curator.