Leopold Stokowski All-American Youth Orchestra, 3 programs from 1940 & 1941

Description

An archive of three programs for the All American Youth Orchestra directed by Leopold Stokowski. Two are from 1940 and the third is from 1941.
1. First Latin-American Tour, Summer 1940. 24 pages plus covers. Measures about 9 1/8" x 12". Staple-bound.
Contents include a letter from Secretary of State Cordell Hull, a letter from L.S. Rowe, Director General of the Pan American Union, background on Stokowski, a statement from Stokowski, a letter from Aubrey Williams, Director of the National Youth Administration, How the All-American Youth Orchestra was Selected, photographs of the participants, an article by Stokowski entitled The Acoustical Reflector and the New Seating of the Orchestra, an article on Columbia records, program notes by Stokowski, and more.
Front cover has edge tears which have been mended with clear tape on the inside. Covers remain attached but are coming loose from staple-binding.
2. Concert program for Leopold Stokowski conducting the All-American Youth Orchestra at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 1940. One sheet of paper measuring about 9" x 12" folded in half to make four pages. Condition is very nice; there is one visible fold mark across the center.
3. Second Tour, 1941. 22 pages plus covers. Measures about 9" x 11 7/8". Staple-bound.
Contents include a letter from Aubrey Williams, Administrator of the National Youth Administration, background on Stokowski, maps of the first, second, and (planned) third tours, background on associate conductor Saul Caston, photographs of the participants, material about Columbia Masterworks, an article by Stokowski entitled "The Acoustical Reflector and the New Seating of the Orchestra, program notes by Stokowski.
Front cover has an unmended edge tear at upper left measuring about 1 3/8".
Leopold Stokowski (1882 – 1977) was one of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century. He is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was especially noted for his free-hand conducting style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from the orchestras he directed.
Stokowski was music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of the Air and many others. He was also the founder of the All-American Youth Orchestra, the New York City Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra.
Stokowski conducted the music for and appeared in several Hollywood films, most notably Disney's Fantasia, and was a lifelong champion of contemporary composers, giving many premieres of new music during his 60-year conducting career. Stokowski, who made his official conducting debut in 1909, appeared in public for the last time in 1975 but continued making recordings until June 1977, a few months before his death at the age of 95.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our father was a bibliophile who collected rare books, letters, and ephemera for more than 60 years. For now and into the foreseeable future, we will be listing rare paper items from his estate.
Take a look at all our items for sale. We combine shipping upon request. Please LET US KNOW if you’ve purchased multiple items so we can combine.