Mahlon Merrick Papers,

Transcription

1 Overview of the Collection Creator Merrick, Mahlon Title Mahlon Merrick Papers Dates (inclusive) Quantity 6, (7 linear feet of shelf space.), (121 items.) Collection Number Cage 361 Summary Published and unpublished musical compositions and arrangements, principally for television; also an opera and a symphony. Included are copies of compositions by Merrick's arranger, Carl Brandt. Repository Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Terrell Library Suite 12 Pullman WA Telephone: mascref@wsu.edu Access Restrictions This collection is open for research use. Languages Sponsor English Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Biographical Note Hailing from Centralia, Washington, Mahlon Merrick graduated from Washington State University in 1923 with bachelors degrees in both education and music. After a brief teaching experience in schools in the Redmond, Washington, Merrick devoted himself to a career in music. Beginning as a saxophonist at the Old Italian Gardens in Spokane s Davenport Hotel, Merrick s career led him to Hollywood where he was associated with a number of popular television series including The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and The Bob Cummings Show. For thirty years he remained the musical director for comedian ack Benny. A versatile composer, a number of his works appear under the pseudonym, "Gene LaGrande." In 1965, Mr. Merrick retired to Palm Springs, California. In September of the following year, however, he made a guest appearance at Washington State University for the first performance of the Cougar Marching Song which he had composed for his alma mater. On August 7, 1969, at the age of 69 years, Mr. Merrick succumbed to cancer. Content 1

2 The Mahlon Merrick collection of musical compositions includes marches, television background music and themes, listening music, an opera, and a symphony. The Gillette Look Sharp March is Merrick's best known composition. Use of the Collection Preferred Citation [Item ]. Cage 361, Mahlon Merrick Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA. Administrative Information Arrangement Series 1, Compositions and Arrangements, consists of sheet music, orchestrations, and original manuscripts. Although most of these compositions are unrelated, two comprehensive works are included: the opera, Sun Stone and the symphony Song of Youth. Series 2, Miscellaneous Papers, consists of Mr. Merrick s arrangements of the background music for the National Football League television programs, mementos of his career, and compositions by his arranger, Carl Brandt. The compositions are arranged in alphabetical order in each series; however, the indicated oversize material has been placed at the end of the collection in alphabetical sequence. Acquisition Information The Mahlon Merrick collection was deposited in the Washington State University Libraries by Mrs. Mahlon Merrick in une of 1977 ( ). Detailed of the Collection The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. Series 1: Compositions and Arrangements Container(s) Box/Folder 1 / 1 Anyone for Venice 1 / 1 April Prelude 1 / 1 Baby You're the Sweetest One 2

3 Container(s) 1 / 1 Benny Medley 1 / 1 The Bee, original 1 / 1 The Be Sharp March 1 / 1 Bridge of Sighs 1 / 1 Come and See 1 / 1 Concerto for Lefthanded Glockenspiel 1 / 1 Crinoline Curtain 1 / 1 Curfew 1 / 1 The Curious Cat 1 / 2 Dancing Slipper 1 / 2 December Song 1 / 2 Drifting Sands 1 / 2 Ebony Rhapsody 1 / 3 The Gillette Look Sharp March 1 / 4 Hearse Race 1 / 4 Highway to Oblivion 1 / 4 I Ain't Down Yet 1 / 4 I'm Wearing the Latest Shade of Blue 1 / 4 Impact Theme 1 / 4 Infinite Melody 1 / 4 ust Another April 3

4 Container(s) 1 / 4 Katy Did 1 / 4 Kickoff March 1 / 4 Lady of the Evening 1 / 4 Last Dance 1 / 4 Lasting Love 1 / 4 Little Walk 1 / 4 Main Event (part in oversize, folder C) 1 / 4 Main Title 1 / 4 Mike's Dream 1 / 4 Mister Moon 1 / 4 Montage 1 / 4 Morning is Crying 1 / 4 Music for Playboys to Play by 1 / 4 Musical Show 1 / 5 Nellie 1 / 5 Nevertheless 1 / 5 Night Mare 1 / 5 October Prelude 1 / 5 Paradise 1 / 5 Park Avenue Promenade 1 / 5 Practical Dreamer 4

5 Container(s) 1 / 5 Private Secretary 1 / 6 The Red and Gold 1 / 6 Richard Couer de Lion 1 / 6 Rochester Opening 1 / 6 Romantic Dance 1 / 6 Romantic Reunion 1 / 6 Six Flags over Texas (part in oversize, folder C) 1 / 6 Stringers Assorted 1 / 6 Strange Enchantment 1 / 6 Stranger in the Manger 1 / 6 Summer Idyl 1 / 6 Sweet and Lovely 1 / 6 Swinging Q 2 / 7-8 Symphony #1 in B flat- Song of Youth (part in oversize, folder G) 2 / 9 To a Wild Rose 2 / 9 Tommy the Timid Little Turkey 2 / 9 Two Gentlemen from Siam 2 / 9 Two to Go 2 / 9 When You Belong to Me 2 / 9 Whispering Pines (part in oversize, folder H) 2 / 9 Picnic for Percussion 5

6 Container(s) 2 / 10 The Wistful Corpse 2 / 10 With the Rain and Wind 2 / 10 The Woman on the Gentleman's Mind 2 / 10 When You Say 2 / 10 Wind Bells 2 / 10 You're my Particular One 2 / 10 Zigeunerweisen 2 / 10 Zulu Wu Wu Oversize / B Cherry Coke Cougar Marching Song Criminal Humnal Crisis Crooks Tour Death at Dawn Dialogue Dialogue for Piano and Orchestra The Dixie Drag Encore Espanola The Fickle Finger of Fate Homicide Sweet Homicide How are You Fixed for Blades 6

7 Container(s) The Impatient Corpse Lethal Leer The Little Noose March #1 Mayhem in the AM Main Event (part in Box 1, folder #4) Max Factor Signature Optional Signature Seven Winds Six Flags over Texas (part in Box 1, folder #6) Oversize / D Oversize / E-F Songs of the Islands The Sun Stone Oversize / G Symphony #1 in B~ - Song of Youth (part in Box 2, folder #7) Oversize / H Whispering Pines (part in Box 2, folder 9) Oversize / H Zigeunerweisen Series 2: Miscellaneous Papers Container(s) Dates Box/Folder 2 / 11 Mementos 8 items / 12 Carl Brandt compositions 7

8 Container(s) Dates 2 / 12 Morning After 2 / 12 Prairie Duster 2 / 12 Snow Flurries 2 / 12 Song of the Wind 2 / 12 Wind of the Southern Sea 2 / 12 Wind in the Reeds Oversize / K Voo-Doo Woo Woo N.F.L. Program Assault and Battery The Atlantans Bone Breaker March Bonus Boy Broker Field Chicago Bears Down the Field 8

9 Container(s) Dates First Quarter He Flies Thru the Air Kick Off The N.F.L. March The N.F.L. Signature Point After Run Back Tight End Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Music -- Manuscripts Personal Names : Brandt, Carl Merrick, Mahlon, ca Archives (creator) Occupations : Composers--Washington (State)--Manuscripts Finding aid prepared by Pat Graham Pidcock 2012 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West: 9

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