Title: Paul Freeman conductor scores and recordings, 1987-2009
More Extent Information
34 linear feet (58 boxes)
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in four series, with Series 2 containing four subseries.
Series 1, Scores (inventory list is arranged alphabetically by composer, with scores physically stored by format)
Series 2, Audio Recordings, 1987-2009
- Subseries 1, Chicago Sinfonietta, 1987-2009 (arranged chronologically)
- Subseries 2, Paul Freeman Conducting, 1987-2006 (arranged chronologically)
- Subseries 3, Non-Commercial Recordings, 1990-2007 (arranged by format and then alphabetically by performer/composer)
- Subseries 4, Commercial Recordings, 1982-2006 (arranged by format)
Series 3, Video Recordings, 1983-2006 (arranged alphabetically by title)
Series 4, Personal Papers, 1992, 2009
Abstract
Paul Douglas Freeman is an African American orchestral conductor, composer, and founder of the Chicago Sinfonietta. The Paul Freeman scores span from 1987-2007 and include scores, audio and video recordings, and a small amount of personal papers. A majority of the scores are annotated by Freeman, and the recordings include non-commercial performances by the Chicago Sinfonietta and other orchestras conducted by Freeman.
Administrative/Biographical History
Paul Douglas Freeman is an African American orchestral conductor, composer, and founder of the Chicago Sinfonietta. He is recognized as the world’s first African American orchestral director. Freeman was born on January 2, 1936, in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and studied conducting at the Hochschule für Musik (University for Music) in Berlin, Germany with Ewald Lindemann. Freeman served as conductor of the Opera Theater of Rochester (1961-1966), associate conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (1968-1970), composer-in-residence of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (1970-1979), and conductor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (1979-1989). In 1987, Freeman co-founded the Chicago Sinfonietta, a group noted for providing opportunities to African American conductors and composers. In 1996, Freeman was named music director of the Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague. After retiring from the Chicago Sinfonietta in 2011, Freeman was named Emeritus Music Director.
