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Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 11 Jan 2007
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| 6 Jul 2012 | inventory updated (MBD) |
Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | Annunziata, Michael R. |
| Title: | Michael Annunziata Papers |
| Dates: | 1921-1969 |
| Quantity: | 6 linear ft. |
| Abstract: | Annunziata was an Italian violinist, pianist, composer and music instructor. Correspondence, clippings, writings, published music, mostly from his time in Utica, New York where he lived and worked for most of his life. He was a student of Syracuse University music professor William Berwald. |
| Language: | English, Italian |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Michael (Michele) Raffaelle Annunziata (1897-1968) was an Italian (later American) violinist, pianist, composer and music instructor who spent much of his life in Utica, New York.
Born Michele Annunziata in Ottaviano near Naples, Italy, Annunziata and his family came to the United States in 1908. After a short residence in Baltimore, Maryland his family settled in Utica, New York where Annunziata attended a local Catholic school. He went to Italy for college, graduating from the University dei Terroni in Taranto, and then returned to Utica where he remained for the rest of his life, composing and teaching music. At some point, possibly when he became an American citizen in 1944, his name was Americanized to "Michael."
Originally a violinist, he later came to concentrate on the piano. He studied with Syracuse University music professor William Berwald. His works included chamber music, music for voice and piano, music for violin and piano, solo piano, string ensembles, orchestral suites and symphonies, two masses and several operas.
Annunziata was a member of the Italian Actors' Union, the American Federation of Labor, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He died in Utica in 1968.
The Michael Annunziata Papers are divided into Biographical material, Correspondence, and Writings. Biographical material includes identification and membership papers (naturalization certificate, draft card, Italian Actors' Union membership) and memorabilia (newspaper clippings, concert programs, obituary). Correspondence comprises letters from fellow musicians (including William Berwald) as well as music organizations and music publishers, in both English and Italian. Writings includes poems (possibly intended as lyrics), libretti, and manuscript scores of many of Annunziata's works including his operas. Also included are a few of Annunziata's published pieces. Most of the material in the Writings series is in Italian.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
The collection originally included 19 record albums. These have been transferred to Belfer Audio Archive. One of the albums was a recording of Annunziata's work, sung by Daniel Monti. The remainder were well-known classical composers such as Verdi and Beethoven, and singers such as Enrico Caruso. For a complete list, please inquire.
The papers of Syracuse University music professor William Berwald, with whom Annunziata studied, are held by the Syracuse University Archives.
Persons
Annunziata, Michael R.
Associated Titles
L'idre dell' egeo.
Mysterious Island, for orchestra (op. 43)
Piece Exotique.
Pompei, a symphonic suite (op. 35)
T'enebre e luce.
The Witch (La strega di Salem)
Urania, poeme mystique for orchestra and piano (op. 55)
Subjects
Chamber music -- 20th century.
Italian Americans -- New York (State) -- Utica.
Masses -- 20th century.
Music -- Manuscripts.
Operas -- 20th century.
Places
New York (State), Utica.
Genres and Forms
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Librettos (documents for music)
Manuscripts (document genre)
Photographs.
Scores.
Occupations
Composers.
Musicians.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Michael Annunziata Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Transferred from Setnor School of Music
Biographical material
Correspondence
Writings
| Biographical material | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Identification and membership papers 1951, 1963, 1944, 1965, undated - selective service card, naturalization certificate, diploma from Universiti dei Terroni, Rosicrucian membership card; few papers bear the name "Aniello Annunziata" | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Memorabilia 1921, 1937, 1964-1965, 1968, 1969, undated - clippings, photographs, concert programs, obituary | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Memorabilia (oversize) - Italian Actors' Union membership certificate; first piece of music, ca. 1920; photo on metal plate | ||||||||||
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | General correspondence, 1922-1968 (with gaps) | ||||||||||
| Writings | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | List of compositions | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Libretti | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Poetry/lyrics | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Published music | ||||||||||
| Scores | |||||||||||
| Box 3 | Chamber music for violin and piano | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Chamber music for wind instruments | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Concerto in F | ||||||||||
| Oversize 3 | L’Idre Dell’egeo, opera in quarto atti sul poema The Cosair di Byron | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Music for piano and voice | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Mysterious Island, for orchestra (op. 43) | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Operatic works (various) | ||||||||||
| Box 4 | Orchestral works | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Piano solo music | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Piece Exotique | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Pompei, a symphonic suite (op. 35) | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | String orchestra (ensemble) works | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | T’enebre e Luce, melodrama in due atti ed un Episodio by Antonio Perrotta | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Urania, poeme mystique for orchestra and piano (op. 55) | ||||||||||
| Oversize 3 | The Witch (La Strega di Salem), a melodrama in one act by Antonio Perrotta; Music by Michael Annunziata | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Miscellaneous parts and unrelated bits | ||||||||||