Marion Verhaalen Collection on Camargo Guarnieri and Twentieth Century Brazilian Music, 1923-2004

Biographical Note

Dr. Marion Verhaalen, a faculty member of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and member of the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee, holds a doctorate degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and is an experienced teacher of music. A scholar of Brazilian composers, Verhaalen has traveled widely in Brazil on research and teaching trips. In 1969, Verhaalen spent ten months in Brazil sponsored by a grant from the Organization of American States to conduct research for her dissertation on composers Camargo Guarnieri (1907-1993) and Francisco Mignone (1897-1986). Both Guarnieri and Mignone were distinguished composers, performing their works in Brazil and internationally. Verhaalen interviewed the two extensively, studied their various musical works and influence on Brazilian music, and also collected music from other twentieth-century Brazilian composers on her first and subsequent trips in Brazil.

In 1970, Verhaalen organized a four-day music festival at Alverno College in Milwaukee in honor of Camargo Guarnieri and twentieth-century Brazilian music. The composer attended at Verhaalen’s request. Verhaalen’s dissertation, entitled The Solo Piano Music of Francisco Mignone and Camargo Guarnieri, was published the following year. She has since authored and co-authored a number of books on Brazilian music, including a biography, Camargo Guarnieri: expressões de uma vida (2001) and an analysis of his composition and style, Camargo Guarnieri, Brazilian Composer: A Study of His Life and Works (2005). Verhaalen has also published several articles for musical publications and has composed piano music of her own.

Scope and Contents Note

Written works, research materials, concert programs, musical compositions, correspondence, and audiovisual material created or collected by Marion Verhaalen in her research on 20th-century Brazilian music. Arranged in four subgroups representing Marion Verhaalen, Camargo Guarnieri, Francisco Mignone, and 33 other Brazilian Composers.

The first subgroup,    Marion Verhaalen, illuminates her research activities for her doctoral dissertation and her subsequent publications, including collected scholarly articles, audio recordings, and news clippings. Also included are eight articles she authored on the music of Guarnieri. Correspondence and news clippings in English and Portuguese highlight Verhaalen’s role in organizing the Alverno College Festival of Brazilian Music in 1970.

The second subgroup,    Camargo Guarnieri, contains published and holograph scores of Guarnieri’s works for orchestra, piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, and voice. Includes correspondence of Guarnieri and Vera Silvia Guarnieri documenting their relationship with Marion Verhaalen. Guarnieri is represented through clippings and interview transcripts detailing his musical activities and personal life. Predominantly in Portuguese.

The bulk of the third subgroup,    Francisco Mignone, contains published and holograph works for solo piano. Includes notes and interviews, and printed material analyzing Mignone’s compositions.

In subgroup four,    Other Brazilian Composers, each composer is represented by his or her music and in some cases, biographical material and catalog of works.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: , Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

Box and Folder Inventory