Scope and Content Note
The Morton Subotnick Papers span from 1956 to 2014, the bulk of which date from 1976 to 1989. The collection documents Subotnick's innovative work and career, starting with his early acoustic pieces and his movement into electronic, mulitmedia, and electro-acoustic music beginning in the 1960s.
Four series comprise the Morton Subotnick Papers. The Music Series is divided into two subseries, the first of which contains workbooks of his music sketches, electronics schematics, patch diagrams, and performance instructions. Since Subotnick utilizes electronic sound modification, synthesizers, patches, and modulators in his work, these workbooks serve as the "scores" for many pieces since they do not require musical notation. The workbooks for his electro-acoustic pieces also contain musical sketches. Some workbooks contain ideas for multiple projects that he was engaged with simultaneously; these titles are cross-referenced. The second subseries contains full printed scores for his acoustic and electro-acoustic works.
The Performance Files consist primarily of programs, publicity, and reviews in addition to correspondence, rehearsal schedules, and equipment lists. The Subject Files series contains press about performances of Subotnick's works, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s. There is also correspondence and financial papers, as well as press and cover proofs for the first CD-ROM, "Making Music," from his Creating Music series for children. The Electronic Instruments and Equipment series contains the dancer's bodysuit used in Intimate Intensity , the amplifying box and other electronic equipment used in Before the Butterfly , and one of Subotnick's ghost boxes. These materials may be served with approval of the Head of the Music Division's Acquisitions and Processing section.