Greetings music majors and music lovers alike! I’d just like to take a quick minuet to conduct some music related business. Little do people know, the Archives & Special Collections has a vast collection of material pertaining to the music department. Yet this is but a prelude, because perhaps even more fascinating is our collection of Leroy Ostransky papers!
Leroy Ostransky was an American composer, educator, and author born in 1918. During his career as a musician he obtained his Doctorate in musical arts before becoming the professor emeritus of music and composer-in-residence right here at the University of Puget Sound! In addition to founding one of America’s earliest experimental jazz bands, he also published many books on jazz before his death in 1993.
How lucky are we to have had such a sharp staff member here at UPS?! A true cymbal of the tone of our university, as our current staff most certainly measures up! If you aim to be in tune with what’s going on here in the Archives, I highly recommend coming by to reed through Ostransky’s collection. We have original compositions, publication drafts, photographs, newspaper clippings, composition notes, correspondence, research, unpublished works, and even recordings! Peer into his life and see what major developments emerge within your own! I realize with our busy schedules it is often difficult to find the time to take a rest from what you’re currently tambourine with to snare some personal research materials, without a minor setback, but you never know what you may discover on accident! I don’t mean to harp you about it, but it is sure to be a repeat offense.
I’d also like to pitch one finale idea! If music isn’t your forte, the Archives & Special Collections is guaranteed to have materials that won’t de-bass your interests, so please come by and check it out!
On a high note, I will cease trying to be clef-er before my jokes fall flat. It only ever leads to treble.
http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv13647
The Archives & Special Collections is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.
By Monica Patterson