Scope and Content Note
Materials in the Henry Donch Performance Library date from 1811 to 1928, with the bulk spanning from 1880 to 1910. The collection is divided into two series, Music and Miscellany. The Music series primarily contains parts for small orchestra and band that Donch used with the ensembles he hired and conducted for society events such as dances, picnics, graduations, and theatrical productions in Washington, D.C. and at summer resorts during the Gilded Age, 1870s-1910s. Though most of the works are printed, there are sets of manuscript parts. Donch occasionally did his own arranging to save money and to allow him to tailor the music to the players’ abilities and the instrumentation available to him at any given time.
The Orchestra subseries largely consists of printed sets of parts without scores for small orchestra. Very few works are written for full orchestral forces. In addition to popular songs, folk tunes, drinking songs, marches, and dance music, there are medleys, selections, and "potpourris" of tunes from operas and operettas by composers such as George M. Cohan, Gaetano Donizetti, Victor Herbert, Gioachino Rossini, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Franz von Suppé. The Band subseries chiefly consists of manuscript arrangements for band and brass band of overtures, marches, dance music, and popular songs, some of which are drawn from operas and operettas. The Chamber Music subseries contains music for one to four instruments or voices, including works for piano, voice or instrument with piano accompaniment, instrumental duets, and quartets. Tunes from operas and operettas continue to appear in this series, as well as popular songs and marches. Classical music makes an appearance in this collection with the instrumental duets and quartets. This subseries contains music with family connections, including the juvenilia of Donch's son John, a work by his grandson Alvin McNish Jr., and a work published by his brother William. Method books, etudes, and studies for clarinet, violin, and double bass comprise the Method Books subseries.
The Miscellany series contains photographs, a program, and a membership certificate and lyric sheets for the Washington Saengerbund.
Please note that there are works in this collection with demeaning titles.