Dear Friends Recordings, 1982-2000, 1982-2000

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Dear Friends Recordings
Creator
Dear Friends (Musical group)
Collection Number
CAM.DF.2013
Extent
4 boxes The collection consists of 93 recordings stored in four boxes.
Date
1982-2000
Abstract
Dear Friends was the ensemble-in-residence at the Stephen Foster Memorial from 1982 through 2000. The ensemble was originally devoted to performing 19th century American Music, much of which was drawn from the Center for American Music's Foster Hall Collection, but expanded their repertory to reflect the diverse musical life of 19th and 20th century America, as well as traditional European and Latin Music. This collection contains recordings of live performances, performances aired on radio, and six commercially released recordings.
Language
English .
Author
Kathryn Miller Haines
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Processing Information

Processed by Kathryn Miller Haines in 2021.

Acquisition Information

This collection was gifted to the Center for American Music by Joe Newcomer in 2013.

Biographical/Historical

Dear Friends was the ensemble-in-residence at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh from 1982 through 2000. The ensemble was originally devoted to performing 19th century American Music, much of which was drawn from the University's Center for American Music's Foster Hall Collection, but expanded their repertory to reflect the diverse musical life of 19th and 20th century America, as well as traditional European and Latin Music. Concert venues included the Stephen Foster Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, Eventide Festival on Cape Cod, and the Chautauqua Institution. A series of six programs, American Holidays with Dear Friends, has been aired on public radio stations in over thirty states, including on Pittsburgh's WQED. Voice of America, ChukyoTV-Nagoya, Japan, and US Information have also broadcast music by Dear Friends.

Members of the group originally included director and flutist Jean Thomas; tenor Guy Russo; pianist Mark Graf; classical guitarist James Ferla; and mezzo-soprano Kate Young. Other performers over the years have included cellist Kathryn Logan; tenor Deane Root; pianist Andrea Doyle; guitarist John Marcinizyn; tenor, Richard Walter; pianist Diane Owens; LeAnn Overton; Judith Meibach; Thomas Critchfield; Robert Rocco; Claudia Benack; and Curt Scheib.

Jim Cunningham of WQED radio Pittsburgh, served as the host for most of the programs aired on radio.

Over the course of their existence the group released six albums, including The Blues and the Grays (1987), Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts (1989), Sweet Emerald Isle (1991), Roll on Monongahela (1994), Songs of Heart and History (1998), and Light and Splendor (2000).

Scope and Contents

This collection contains 81 recordings on cassette, three on CD, and 6 on reel to reel tapes. The majority of the recordings are live performances, though a few were recorded for radio play and six were commercially released. All recordings were made between 1982 and 2000. Most live recordings were engineered by Norm Simeone. The commercially released recordings (6) were recorded at Thomas Studios.

Preferred Citation

Dear Friends Recordings, 1982-2000, CAM-DF.2013,, Center for American Music, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Copyright

All rights reserved. University of Pittsburgh. Permission has been granted by individual performers to share these recordings online.

Access Restrictions

No Restrictions.

Arrangement

The albums in this collection are organized chronologically in three boxes. The fourth box consists of all of the reel to reel master recordings, which do not have CAM accession numbers. The collection is arranged chronologically, starting with undated recordings. The only items that are not chronological are the master recordings, which because of their size, are stored in Box 4.

Related Materials

Dear Friends Records, MSS 0372, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Dear Friends (Musical group)

    Personal Names

    • Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864 -- Performances
    • Nevin, Ethelbert -- Performances

    Geographic Names

    • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Songs and music

    Genres

    • Sound recordings

    Other Subjects

    • Popular music -- United States -- To 1901
    • Minstrel music -- United States
    • Piano music
    • Christmas music
    • Folk music -- Ireland

Container List