Ward Marston collection of Stokowski: The Philadelphia Years radio program recordings, 1934-1975 (bulk: 1974-1975).

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Marston, Ward, creator.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stokowski, Leopold, 1882-1977.

Stokowski, Leopold.

Philadelphia Orchestra.

Radio and music.

Music.

Genre:

open reel audiotapes

Penn Provenance:

Gift of Ward Marston, 2019.

This collection was housed at the Curtis Institute of Music between 1978 and 2013, and was known as the Morton C. Grad collection. It was transferred to the University of Pennsylvania in 2013.

Physical Description:

3 boxes (3 linear feet)

Place of Publication:

1934-1975

Biography/History:

Ward Marston was born on May 22, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Blind from birth, Marston developed an early passion for music and began studying piano as a child. He attended the Overbrook School for the Blind and later studied at Williams College. Marston became interested in historical recordings and broadcast engineering but was dissatisfied with existing commercial transfers. This led him to develop his own restoration techniques. Over the course of his career, Marston has restored and produced thousands of historical recordings for major labels including RCA, Naxos, Pearl, and Romophone. In 1997, he co-founded Marston Records, a label dedicated to preserving important performances from the early twentieth century. Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) was a British-born conductor renowned for his innovative approach to orchestral music and his lasting influence on classical music in the United States. Born in London on April 18, 1882, he studied at the Royal College of Music and began his career as an organist before turning to conducting. Stokowski gained international fame as music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1912 to 1936, where he developed the orchestra's rich, distinctive "Philadelphia Sound." Known for conducting without a baton and for his dramatic stage presence, he helped popularize classical music through innovative performances, recordings, and educational concerts. Stokowski died on September 13, 1977, in Hampshire, England.

Summary:

This collection contains open reel recordings of Ward Marston's radio series, Stokowski: the Philadelphia years, broadcasted on WUHY in Philadelphia from 1974 to 1975.