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George Mulfinger Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Sean Molinaro
Date: 2012

Biography

George L. MulfingerGeorge Leonidas Mulfinger (1900-1988) taught in Syracuse University’s School of Music for forty years, during which time he composed, performed, and drew upon the unique music education he received to help inspire others.

Mulfinger was born in Chicago in 1900, but spent most of his youth growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He began composing original pieces at age 11 and settled on music as a potential career soon after. Mulfinger graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Music of Meadville in 1915, and two years later, at age seventeen, he traveled to Cleveland to continue his studies with private instructors. He studied piano and organ under the Riemenschneider brothers, who themselves had studied under European composers Theodor Leschetizky, Charles-Marie Widor, and Alexandre Guilmant.

In 1918, Mulfinger returned to Chicago to continue his piano studies and begin new educational pursuits. His piano instruction came from Adolf Brune, who was one of Chicago’s most celebrated pianists and composers at the time. Mulfinger also attended the University of Chicago, from where he received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree with a major in English in 1923.

While teaching at a Chicago music school, Mulfinger heard that students of Emil von Sauer, a music professor and composer in Germany, were struggling due to the hyperinflation of the German post-war economy. He organized a fundraising effort that collected $100 for the benefit of these students. Von Sauer was deeply grateful for the young Mulfinger's kindness. In response, the professor offered him an open invitation to come to Germany to study with him and other influential musical figures in Europe. Mulfinger eagerly took von Sauer up on his offer and left for Germany immediately after finishing his degree in Chicago.

Von Sauer, who had studied with the renowned pianist Franz Liszt, taught Mulfinger through private instruction and exposure to new professional experiences in Germany, Spain, and Austria. After arriving in Austria, Mulfinger also began studying composition and orchestration under composer Franz Schmidt.

By 1926, Mulfinger began performing concerts in Germany and Austria. When his extended stay in Europe ended later that year, he returned to the United States to tour as a concert pianist. He played concerts in Chicago, New York City, and other cities across the U.S. for two years. His performances were well received, though he soon chose to take a teaching position in addition to performing and composing.

In 1928, Mulfinger began his career at Syracuse University as a professor of piano and piano literature at the University’s School of Music. He once stated that he found composing music and teaching students to be more rewarding than performing, so his new position at Syracuse University allowed him to focus primarily on what was most fulfilling to him. He also received a Master of Music degree in composition from the University in 1936.

Mulfinger became a prominent figure in the School of Music during his 40 years as a professor there, and upon retiring in 1968, he was granted the title of Emeritus Professor of Music. In addition to being noted for his teaching ability, the music Mulfinger composed during this time also endeared him to the local music community. He composed dozens of scores for piano, strings, voice, and full orchestras. He also performed many of these pieces during his time at Syracuse, though he would not travel to perform as much as he did as a younger man.

Mulfinger bowed out of Syracuse University with a farewell concert. He played original compositions from a span of over 30 years to a full house at Crouse Auditorium in November 1967.

Scope and Content Note

The George Mulfinger Papers contains musical compositions and recordings from 1925 to 1982.

The Recorded performances series contains lacquer discs with performances of Mulfinger's compositions; half are performed by Mulfinger himself and half are performed by others. One record contains two performances by his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he often performed.

The Scores series contains musical compositions from a span of nearly sixty years. Mulfinger mostly composed pieces for piano, but scores for other instruments, such as the cello and violin, also appear multiple times in the series. The most extensive work within the collection is his overture to An Imaginary Opera, which includes the complete score and the score for each individual instrument. Though most of the scores in this series are photocopies, some of them are original printings, such as Passacaglia for Organ, which is also signed by Mulfinger with a dedication.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Syracuse University Archives also holds a clipping file and a portrait file on Mulfinger.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Mulfinger, George.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Composers -- 20th century.
Composition (music)
Music -- 20th century.
Music.
Pianists -- 20th century.
Piano music.
College teachers.
Composers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Lacquer discs.
Scores.
Sheet music.
Sound recordings.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

George Mulfinger Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transferred from Syracuse University Libraries from 1972-1983, gift of Debbie Mulfinger in 2003 and Jeffrey Wagner in 2023.

Processing Information

Items were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Lacquer discs were removed from an acidic album book.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically, except for the overture to An Imaginary Opera, which is arranged in orchestral score order.

Table of Contents

Recorded performances

Scores

Inventory