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Readers of this blog will notice recent mentions of composer Richard Moryl, who, as stated in an earlier post, lived in Danbury for a time in the 1970s. For three decades, Moryl served as a music and composition professor at WestConn in Danbury, CT, as well as the University of Connecticut and Smith College.

Essentially, the interest in Moryl began with a score for an experimental piece that was finally cataloged after it had been lying around untouched for many years (another story). Intrigued by the score, the archivist (me) began looking for music in WestConn’s collection by Moryl.  An interesting and exciting revelation that came out of that search was that Moryl worked with WestConn students in the 1970s for one of his recordings.  Unfortunately, that LP which was listed in the Library’s catalog was missing.  Fortunately, that same archivist was able to find for sale a sealed copy of the record online.  It was purchased and donated to the archives.

What we have is an interesting artifact that shows the intersection of this college with cutting edge composers.  It also bears a Peaches Records price tag ($.49) – truly an artifact from the 1970s.  Click the image for more information on the record.

Among the Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Papers is a piece of sheet music that was cataloged today entitled: A second sett of favorite airs and a march : arranged as rondos for the piano… Is this her autograph?  It appears to be the initials of this Bohemian female composer from the early 19th century.

There’s this gem released in 1972 of late 60s recordings from CT-born composer, Barbara Kolb, and Richard Moryl, who lived in Danbury for a short time.  The album is pretty iconic as well.

And this 1978 recording of pieces by Francis Thorne and Richard Moryl – Sonorous reflections.

For more Richard Moryl – see: https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/items/show/7982

Richard Moryl composed: Madrigals (so, that I would like to die) : for chamber choir (playing perc. instrs.) and amplified piano in Danbury between 1973 and 1974.

Moryl (b. 1929, d. 2018) attended Columbia and Brandeis Universities and was the founder and director of the Charles Ives Center for American Music (CICAM).  Later he founded and directed the New England Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Here is a digitized version of his piece, Madrigals (so, that I would like to die) : for chamber choir (playing perc. instrs.) and amplified piano

Just 4 days before the armistice on November 11, 1918 at 11AM, Mrs. Hawley, who had learned of the death of her son a couple of weeks prior, received a condolence letter from her sister. Because of the military operations involving U.S. troops in the fall of 1918, this letter was one of many similar pieces of correspondence that were sent to American families that November. After the Second World War, November 11th changed from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day.

https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/items/show/2578
George B. Hawley Papers

The devastating tragedy in Libya resulting from failing dams reminds us of the number of dams in the Danbury area. In 1869, the Kohanza dam broke in Danbury, which resulted in water and ice crashing into downtown Danbury.  According to Harper’s, 13 were killed and it wrought $100,000 in damages (something like 2.2 million today). Take a look at the Harper’s Weekly that reported on the local event.

“SPECIAL FEATURES FOR SUMMER NORMAL SCHOOL: SCHOOL TO BE CONDUCED IN DANBURY –OPENS JULY 31.” Hartford Courant, June 7, 1917. https://wcsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/special-features-summer-normal-school/docview/556476455/se-2.