Daniel Bonade Papers Finding Aid

Scope and Content | Biography | Chronology | Series Description

Introduction

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

Type: Papers

Collection dates: 1813-1979, with the bulk of the collection between 1917 and 1960.

Extent: approximately six linear feet.

Description: Written, photographic, recorded materials, reeds and reed cases, and personal items created or collected by Daniel Bonade. Brochures, programs and photographs of Maud Bonade La Charme, wife of Daniel. Programs, photographs and memorabilia of Louis and Esther Bonade, parents of Daniel, are also included. Gift to the University of Maryland Libraries from Linda Pierce as part of the Jerry Pierce collection.

Finding aids: Unpublished finding aids, both in paper and in a wordprocessed format, are available in the repository.

Processing note: Finding aids, and work on processing this collection, was done under the direction of the Curator of the Special Collections in Performing Arts (SCPA) of the Performing Arts Library of the University of Maryland, Bonnie Jo Dopp. The Supervisor of Operations for SCPA, Vin Novara, supervised all the processing. Processors who worked on this collection were (in chronological order) Vin Novara and Phyllis Crossen-Richardson. Phyllis Crossen-Richardson organized the finding aid and wrote its biography of Daniel Bonade, reproduced below.

Provenance: Daniel Bonade gave some of these materials to his student, Jerry Pierce. After Bonade's death in 1976, Maud Bonade, gave the remaining materials to Pierce. When Pierce died, his wife, Linda Pierce, gave all the Bonade papers to the library.

Organization: The materials have been arranged in series and subseries as appropriate, described briefly below.

Scope and Content Note

The professional and personal papers, photographs, reed cases, personal items, and recording of Daniel Bonade (1896-1976), distinguished clarinetist, pedagogue, and writer fill 10 boxes. The collection consists of correspondence; writings; published programs, newspaper articles, brochures; contracts; itinerary; copyright and patent certificates; photographs; recording; reeds and reed cases; personal and gift items, and brochures and sketches relating to Maud Bonade La Charme and her family.

Biography

Daniel Bonade (1896-1976)

Daniel Bonade, Swiss-born American clarinetist, teacher and writer, was born in 1896 in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the son of two prominent musicians; Louis and Esther Bonade. He began studying the clarinet at the age of eight with Ferdinand Capelle in Geneva. After Louis Bonade's death, the family moved to France where Bonade studied with Henri Lefebvre, outstanding pupil of Cyril Rose. Bonade's sister, Marie, later married Lefebvre.

In 1910, Bonade entered the Paris Conservatoire and in 1913 won the prestigious Premier Prix while studying with Proper Mimart. In 1917 while touring the United States with Diaghileff's Ballets Russes, Bonade played for Leopold Stokowski who offered him the principal clarinet position of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1930 Bonade left the Philadelphia Orchestra and continued his orchestral career with positions in the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, the Columbia Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, and the NBC Orchestra.

Bonade's impact on American clarinet playing was profound. As a faculty member of the Curtis Institute of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Juilliard School of Music he trained many of the most successful clarinetists in the United States from 1920 to 1960. His students became members of top-ranked American orchestras and included Robert McGinnis, Robert Marcellus, Mitchell Lurie, Ignatius Gennusa, Anthony Gigliotti, and Bernard Portnoy. He was a devoted teacher and his correspondence reveals a man who took great interest in his students.

Through Bonade's affiliation with the G. Leblanc Corporation, a leading-clarinet manufacturer in Paris, France and Kenosha, Wisconsin, he developed and marketed his mouthpiece, ligature, and reeds. He also published several books on clarinet playing and wrote articles for The Leblanc Bandsman and Symphony magazine. Called the "Dean of American Clarinet Teachers," Bonade's legacy continues through his students and his students students; many who are teaching at major U. S. conservatories and universities today.

Chronology

April 4, 1896 Born in Geneva, Switzerland
1913 Won the Premier Prix of the Paris Conservatoire
1916 Married Baroness Maud Gladys Grenier
1916-1917 Toured with Diaghileff's Ballets Russes, under Pierre Monteux and Ernest Ansermet
1917-22 & 1924-30 Principal Clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Leopold Stokowski
1924-1940 Taught clarinet at The Curtis Institute of Music
1920 Became a U.S. naturalized citizen
1931-1933 Principal Clarinetist with the Columbia Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, under Howard Barlow
1933-40 Principal Clarinetist with the Cleveland Orchestra, under Arthur Rodzinski
1933-1942 Taught at The Cleveland Institute of Music
1940 Toured South America with the NBC Orchestra, under Artur Toscanini
1948-1960 Taught at The Juilliard School of Music
1955 Began his affiliation with the G. Leblanc Corporation, which distributed his products and publications as well as sponsored him as a clinician.
1957 Attained a patent for his famous clarinet ligature, which is still sold and used today.
1960 Retired to Cannes, France and continued teaching
November 11, 1976 Died in Cannes, France

Series Description

Series I Correspondence (Box 1)

This series consists of professional and personal correspondence arranged alphabetically and then chronologically. Correspondence can also be found in Series VI: Scrapbook.
I-1 Professional Correspondence(Box 1)
I-2 Personal Correspondence (Box 1)

Series II Writings (Box 2)
Writings include Daniel Bonade and Henri Lefebvre's revisions to the Celebrated Method for the Clarinet by Hyacinthe-Éleonore Klosé.

Series III Teaching Materials (Box 2)
This series includes teaching contracts, articles about Bonade, promotional materials by G. Leblanc Corporation, information about his students, copyright and patent registrations and his Solfège book.
III-1 Contracts (Box 2)
III-2 Articles (Box 2)
III-3 G. Leblanc Corporation (Box 2)
For many years Bonade was affiliated with G. Leblanc Corporation. In this subseries materials used to promote Bonade's products, publications, and his services as a clinician are included.
III-4 Students (Box 2)
III-5 Copyright and Patent Information (Box 2)
III-6 Solfège

Series IV Programs and Performance (Box 2)
This series includes orchestral and chamber music programs and related newspaper articles, brochures, and itinerary arranged chronologically. Programs and related items can also be found in Series VI: Scrapbook.

Series V Diaries (Box 3)
There are 48 diaries/datebooks, 1916-1944, 1946-1964, in this series. There is also a telephone/address book.

Series VI Scrapbook (Box 4)
This scrapbook includes newspaper clippings, programs, letters, telegrams, brochure, and an article by Bonade from his years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1913-1930.

Series VII Personal Documents (Box 4)
This series includes biographical and financial information, U.S. naturalization certificate, art and music related materials of Maud Bonade La Charme, and the marriage certificate of his sister, Marie Bonade and Henri Lefebvre.
VII-1 Biographical Information (Box 4)
VII-2 Financial Information (Box 4)
This subseries contains student payment letters, investments, real estate information, and death benefits.
VII-3 U.S. Naturalization Certificate (Box 4)
VII-4 Art and Music of Maud Bonade La Charme (Box 4)
This subseries concerns Bonade's wife, Maud Bonade La Charme. It contains art gallery brochures of her exhibits; magazine articles about her work; her musical booking brochure; and her sketch of Toscanini.
VII-5 Marriage Certificate of Marie Bonade and Henri Lefebvre

Series VIII Photographs (Boxes 5 and 6)
Photographs of Bonade, his friends and family as well as autograph photographs are two boxes. Box 5: 5 x 7 or larger and Box 6: 3 x 5 or smaller. See also Box 10 for oversized photographs of the Bonade and Grenier families.
VIII-1 Daniel Bonade (Boxes 5 and 6)
VIII-2 Family and Friends (Boxes 5 and 6)
VIII-3 Autographed Composers/Conductors/Performers (Box 5)

Series IX Recording (Box 7)
This series consists of a reel-to-reel tape recording of Bonade playing with the RCA Victor Orchestra.

Series X Reeds and Reed Cases (Box 7)
This series consists of two boxes of Bonade-brand reeds and five reed cases. The cases are in various shapes and sizes. Some cases still contain reeds.
X-1 Reeds
X-2 Reed Cases

Series XI Gifts and Personal Items (Boxes 7 and 8)
The items in this series are made of silver, silver plate, stainless steel, or tortoise shell and includes a serving bowl, pen knife, match box, flask, and lighter.

Series XII Oversized Items (Boxes 9 and 10)
XII-1 Contract
This subseries contains the Académie de Musique orchestra contract of Henri Lefebvre, teacher and brother-in-law of Daniel Bonade.
XII-2 Musical Scores
Four manuscript vocal scores copied by Esther Bonade and photocopied parts for one woodwind chamber music piece are in this subseries.
XII-3 Prints and Drawings
An ink drawing of the Bonade's home in Pennsylvania, two coat of arms, and a signed print, by Nedobeck, are in this subseries.
XII-4 Portraits and Photographs
In this subseries there is a pencil portrait of Daniel Bonade at age 10; photographic portraits of Esther Bonade and Louis Bonade; and photographs of Maud Bonade La Charme's father, Baron Laurent Grenier and her brother, Laurent Grenier.

Series XIII Miscellaneous Items (Box 9)
This series contains the personal newspaper and magazine clippings of Daniel and Maud Bonade and envelopes and scraps of paper used by Maud Bonade to label and send items to Jerry Pierce.
XIII-1 Personal Clipping File
XIII-2 Packing Envelopes

Materials from this collection must be used in the 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.

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