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== '''Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings''' ==

== '''Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings''' ==

The Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings (HSR) is a distinguished archive housed within the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale University. The collection preserves and provides access to historical recordings by significant performers in the realms of Western classical music, jazz, American musical theater, drama, literature, and history—including oratory and political speech. It is considered among the finest collections of its kind in the world.

The Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings (HSR) is a distinguished archive housed within the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale University. The collection preserves and provides access to historical recordings by significant performers in the realms of Western classical music, jazz, American musical theater, drama, literature, and history—including oratory and political speeches. It is considered among the finest collections of its kind in the world.

Many recordings represent performers important in their own right or through association with a particular composer, author, playwright, performance, or production. Some recordings also document when a notable author or composer was personally involved, whether performing or supervising. A significant portion of the general HSR collection features former Yale faculty, students, and ensembles. In addition to the commercially released recordings, some of which are no longer commercially available, HSR houses numerous private discs, test pressings, radio broadcast transcription discs, and wire recordings.

=== History ===

=== History ===

HSR was founded through the efforts and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence C. Witten II, who donated their private collection of early vocal recordings. Their gift focused on capturing the vocal styles and performance practices of nineteenth-century singing, laying the foundation for what would become a globally respected research archive.

HSR was established in 1961 and founded through the efforts and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence C. Witten II, who donated their private collection of early vocal recordings. Their gift focused on capturing the vocal styles and performance practices of nineteenth-century singing, laying the foundation for what would become a globally respected research archive. After their initial gift, HSR began to collect extensively in the areas of solo instrumental and ensemble concert music, drama, literature, blues and jazz, interviews, and public addresses.

=== Collection and Purpose===

=== Collection and Purpose===

The collection supports a broad range of academic and artistic inquiries, particularly in the study of romantic-era performance practices. It is widely used by scholars, musicians, and students alike. In addition to recordings, the collection also includes documentation, liner notes, ephemera, and scholarly commentary.

The collection supports a broad range of academic and artistic inquiries, particularly in the study of romantic-era performance practice. It is widely used by scholars, musicians, instructors, and students alike. In support of the recordings, HSR also maintains a large library of printed material that provides biographical and historical information about composers and performers, background information on the record industry, and discographical information useful in locating and dating recordings in the collection.

Recordings are preserved in various formats and are made available for research and teaching purposes. The archive continues to expand through acquisitions, digitization projects, and collaborations.

The circa 280,000 recordings that comprise the collection are preserved in various formats and are made available for research and teaching purposes. Those formats include cylinders, 78 rpm discs, radio transcription discs, test pressings, wire recordings, reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, DAT tapes, LPs, CDs/CD-Rs, and digital files. Researchers may come to the HSR studio to listen to an early recording or request a digital copy.

=== Leadership ===

=== Leadership ===

Since 2013, Mark Bailey has served as the head of the Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings. Under his leadership, the archive has expanded its engagement with international scholarship and performance studies. Bailey also serves as the artistic director of The American Baroque Orchestra and teaches choral conducting at the Mahanaim School. He regularly lectures and presents on topics related to HSR’s holdings and is the founding administrator of “Celebrating Romantic-Era Performance Practice,” a network of nearly 500 scholars and performers worldwide. Bailey is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the Yale School of Music, and a fellow of Davenport College at Yale.

The first curator of HSR was Jerrold N. Moore, followed by Richard Warren Jr., who held the position for forty-five years. Since 2013, Mark Bailey has served as the head of HSR. Under his leadership, the archive has expanded its engagement with international scholarship and performance studies. Mr. Bailey also serves as the artistic director of The American Baroque Orchestra and teaches choral conducting at the Mahanaim School. He regularly lectures and presents on topics related to HSR’s holdings and is the founding administrator of “Celebrating Romantic-Era Performance Practice,” a network of nearly 500 scholars and performers worldwide. Mr. Bailey is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the Yale School of Music, and is a fellow of Davenport College at Yale.

=== Access and Use===

=== Access and Use===

The HSR is accessible through the Yale Music Library, supporting teaching, research, and performance. Special emphasis is placed on historical authenticity, artistic interpretation, and the contextual understanding of sound recordings.

HSR is accessible through the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale, supporting teaching, research, and performance.

=== Online streaming sets of recordings===

[https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/6/resources/5878 Seven-inch Berliner and related disc collection (open access)]

[https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/6/resources/10404 Charles Ives rare and non-commercial sound recordings (semi-open access)]

[https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/6/resources/5898 Robert Shaw papers: sound recordings (semi-open access)]