Scope and Content Note
The Irwin Bazelon Papers date from 1913 to 2009, with the bulk spanning Bazelon's musical career from 1944 to 1995. The majority of the materials are in the Music series, which is divided into four subseries. The series includes scores, parts, and sketches of Bazelon's concert works, as well as his works for film and television and pieces composed during his musical studies. It also contains music by others, primarily film and television works by composers discussed in Bazelon's Knowing the Score.
The Writings and Lectures consist of works by and about Bazelon. It includes both written materials as well as transcripts and notes of Bazelon's talks and lectures. A large portion of the series pertains to Bazelon's text, Knowing the Score, including drafts, interviews, photographs, and other materials.
In the Correspondence series are letters to and from Bazelon, as well to his wife, Cecile Gray Bazelon, after his death. It includes both business and personal correspondence; many letters are photocopies that Bazelon possibly made due to the physical condition of the originals. There is also some correspondence in the Business Papers in addition to contracts, performance notifications of Bazelon's works, and other business-related documentation.
The Programs and Promotional Materials document performances of Bazelon's works as well as those in which he appeared as a performer or conductor. In addition to programs, the series consists of press releases, program notes, mailings, and flyers. Reviews of Bazelon's works and newspaper and magazine articles pertaining to his career are found in the Clippings series.