Items related to musical theatre collected by scholar and musician Alan Poulton. Includes programmes, books, research and other items relating to the work of Stephen Sondheim, and other items relating more widely to the world of musical theatre including journals, books and recordings.

Papers relating to the Athletics Union, comprising correspondence concerning the purchase and equipping of College sports grounds, 1919-1934, and an accounts book, 1937-1944; correspondence of the Sports Club, 1912 and 1942; minutes of the Architectural Society, 1894-1919; programmes and posters relating to the Bedford Light Opera Group, [1960-1970]; copies of Bots Up, the magazine of the Botany Department, 1972-1974; copy of Bio-Log, the magazine of the Biological Society (and successor to Bots Up), 1977; copies of Ho, the magazine of the Psychology Department, 1972-1974; minutes and member lists of the Geological Society, 1910-1944.

The records of Musica Reservata comprise original notes, company minutes, correspondence, lyrics and programmes, 1960-1992, notably including manuscript and typescript notes and proofs compiled by Michael Morrow describing the development of Renaissance music for talks, lectures and his published works, [1960-1985]; minutes of the company Council, 1972-1978; company reports, 1972-1974; rehearsal notes, itineraries and tour plans, 1972-1974; correspondence with Michael Morrow and others, mainly concerning the organisation of concerts including fees, 1960-1981; assorted manuscript and typescript lyrics of early modern music, [1960-1980]; programmes and leaflets advertising Musica Reservata performances, 1960-1989; press cuttings on early music, including reviews, 1971-1989.

Records of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 1880-1986, including financial accounts; prospectuses; concert programmes, including concerts given by the Guildhall Orchestral Society; scrapbooks including newspaper cuttings and photographs concerning the school's activities, recitals, prize-givings, new staff, successes of pupils past and present and so on; and publications relating to the history of the school.

Correspondence, 1905-1984, of Maurice Cole, pianist and former student of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, relating to musical matters, particularly concert performances.

Records of the Royal Choral Society. The archive is divided into seven sections: administrative records, including a series of individual concert files; financial records; membership records, which include attendance registers and audition files; concert records and programmes; publicity records including posters and newspaper cuttings; files of printed musical scores, arranged by piece, and including programmes for concerts featuring the work; miscellaneous records, which comprise information and programmes relating to other choirs, magazines of the society, or which include articles on the society or choral singing in general, and photographs of choir members, soloists and conductors.

Highlights of the collection include a comprehensive, although not complete, series of concert programmes from 1873-1985, including the programme for the last concert to be held in the Queen's Hall before its destruction during World War II. There are also manuscript copies of "Eryri" by Alun Hoddinott. This piece was composed for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969 and the collection has a copy both of the original score, for 16 soloists, chorus and orchestra, and the revised version for baritone solo, chorus and orchestra.

Records of the Barbican Centre Committee, Court of Common Council, comprising minutes, 1978-2006.

The Committee's minute books from 1978 contain policy and executive decisions necessary for the administration of the Barbican Centre, whilst the files of the same dates contain the reports and correspondence material to those decisions. Because of the special nature of the Barbican Centre as an arts venue, outwith the more usual experience of Local Authories, it was always seen as different to other Corporation Committees, comprising Members with particular commercial experience and of high calibre, and with higher expenditure and a slightly different ethos. The Committee supervised the residency at the Barbican Centre of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1982-2002) and the London Symphony Orchestra, although both bodies had been involved in the planning stages of the construction of the Barbican Centre since the 1960s with the Barbican Development Committee (COL/CC/BRD) and the Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party (COL/CC/BRA).

From 1978 to 1984, the Committee's Executive Sub Committee tended increasingly to take all the executive decisions respecting the Centre, and the Grand Committee met only to ratify its decisions, which led to reform of the Committee of 1985.

In common with all Corporation of London Committees, the minute books contain records only of decisions taken, and not details of arguments or debates which led to those decisions.

Records of the Alexandra Palace Concert Society of German Internees, including concert programmes, retrospect of the Concert Society including names of musicians, lists and analysis of works performed, and watercolour portrait by a prisoner.

Records of the London County Association of Church Bell Ringers, including general committee minutes, Northern District Committee minutes and Southern District Committee minutes; Southern District financial accounts; peal books; steepleage books; annual reports; dinner menus and programmes; photograph and article about the history of the Association.

Records of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, bell-ringing society, comprising: name books, 1747-1999 (Ms 21658, 33995); peal books, 1748-1989 (Ms 21659, 34393); minutes, 1887-1989 (Ms 33996), rules, 1931 (Ms 33997); and notebook of ringing methods, [1924-35?] (Ms 33998). They were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff between 1986 and 2006.

Some of the records were microfilmed in 1985 and Mss 21658-9 are positive copy microfilms deposited in the Library on indefinite loan by the Society which has retained the master negatives. The originals of Ms 21658 and Ms 21569/1 were deposited on 21 July 2003 (USE OF MICROFILM COMPULSORY), but the Society retains the original manuscript of Ms 21659/2. Permission to take reproductions from the films or to publish extracts from the records should be sought from the Society (enquire at the information desk for contact details).

Records of the Uxbridge Choral Society. The collection consists of minutes, general and concert administration, finance, printed material including programmes and posters and some photographs of rehearsals.

Records of Keith Waithe, musician, comprising published recordings from Essequibo Music and The Macusi Players with business card and promotional card.

Papers of the City Music Society (1939-2005), including: typescript minutes of the City Music Society, 1944-1994; administrative correspondence between the City Music Society and various organisations and individuals concerning various matters including membership, concert arrangements, musicians, concert pieces and other general matters, 1945-1999; programmes for City Music Society concerts, predominantly at the Bishopsgate Institute and Goldsmith's Hall, 1943-2002; annual reports of the City Music Society, 1943-2002; promotional leaflets and lists of City Music Society concerts, c1949-2005; two scrapbooks of press cuttings and typescript transcriptions of reviews of City Music Society concerts and advertisements, 1949-1981; cash account book of the City Music Society, 1943-1948; duplicate loose copies of `Westerham Press' City Music Society programmes, c1950-1969; invitations for City Music Society concerts, 1948-1999; early Society invoices and accounts, 1947-1962; rules and accompanying correspondence between and regarding founder members, 1949-1988; papers and correspondence regarding the 21st and 50th anniversaries of the City Music Society, 1964-1993; photographs of the City Music Society 50th anniversary concert at Goldsmith's Hall, 1993; papers, press cuttings and other material regarding Ivan Sutton's death and memorial service, 1996; non-City Music Society concert programmes, 1939-1963; members circulars, newsletters and publicity material, 1944-2005; handwritten alphabetical list of musicians who appeared at City Music Society concerts, n.d; annual general meeting, membership and subscription papers, 1949-2000; correspondence regarding works commissioned by the City Music Society with various composers, including correspondence files with Peter-Paul Nash, John McCabe and Geoffrey Burgon, 1970-1988; musical scores commissioned by and performed at City Music Society concerts, c1950-c1999; miscellaneous papers, including artist photographs, invitations and programmes, 1948-2001.

The Palace of Delights, by Alan Wilson, November 1985. Audio recording on tape and CD.

Where the clocktower stands in the Mile End Road c 2001. Audio recording on CD.

Programme and papers relating to the Christmas concert 2007.

Scores of pieces written by Alan Wilson including 'Ode to Music' for Robert Tong's retirement; Christmas carol arrangement for 'Wish you a Merry Christmas'; QMUL and Westfield College songs; Palace of Delights vocal and orchestral score.

The Palace of Delights correspondence, posters, notes connected to the play; programmes 1979-1999; flyers for events 2013.

Records of Bechstein of Berlin and London, piano-makers, 1880-1946, and of the Bechstein Hall and Wigmore Hall, 1901-1951, comprising sales books of Bechstein, giving names of purchaser and details of instruments purchased, 1880-1927; wages book of Bechstein staff, 1890-1912 and stock book, 1946; sales ledger, 1916-1921; instrument hire account book, 1912-1917. Bechstein Hall, day book, 1901-1916 (also includes day book of Arts Council of Great Britain, 1916-1951); hire day book, 1911-1916; cash book, 1912-1916 (and Wigmore Hall, 1934-1916). Wigmore Hall cash book, 1917-1924; daybook, 1930-1946; ledger, 1938-1946.

Papers of Thomas Frederick Dunhill, comprising personal and business correspondence, 1912-1944 (mainly 1931-1940), including correspondence relating to performances of the comic opera Tantivy Towers by Dunhill and Alan P Herbert; notebooks of lectures by Dunhill, including 'British music of today', lecture for the Royal Albert Institute 11 Mar 1913, 'Sir Hubert Parry' to the British Music Society 8 Mar 1922, and 'The importance of the British composers of the later 19th century' to the Society of Women Musicians, 7 Jul 1922; musical notebooks; lists of Dunhill's compositions; manuscripts of articles and talks by Dunhill, including 'The chamber music of Anton Dvorak', and `English comic opera'; correspondence with the BBC regarding talks by Dunhill, including a version of Dunhill's Tantivy Towers for broadcast, 1937, 1941, 1945; correspondence regarding finances of the Musicians' Benevolent Fund, 1937-1938; correspondence with B W Smith and F J Whitmarsh on their proposed operetta 'Something in the city', 1937-1939s; cuttings of articles by or on Dunhill, 1915-1938; programmes featuring Dunhill's music; obituaries, 1946.

Papers of or relating to Giovanni Battista Viotti, 1798-1905, comprising a manuscript autobiography 'since his entry into the world until 6 Mar 1798'; manuscript by Viotti on the origin of the 'Rans des vaches', the Swiss mountain melody sung or played to summon cows, recording his own experience of hearing it in Switzerland, undated; holograph will of Viotti, 13 Dec 1822; 5 manuscript letters from Viotti to Caroline Chinnery, Baron de la Ferté, Monsieur Cailheux, Madame Simon, and Monsieur Choron, 1798-1822; 9 letters from Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (1774-1850), on musical matters, c1813-1817; letter from George Canning to Mrs Chinnery, on the death of George Chinnery, 31 Oct 1825; letter from Samuel Rogers, poet, [to the Chinnery family], undated; portraits, sketches and prints of Viotti and the Chinnery family; article by E van der Straeten on Viotti, from the journal Die Music, 1902; various letters, 1885-1901 to Edward Heron-Allen on the provenance and content of his collection of Viotti material.

Musical scrapbook of Jenny Lind, 1847, containing manuscript transcriptions of six songs in German, with signatures and dedications of Luigi Lablache, Sigismond Thalberg, Arthur Saint-Léon and Fanny Cerito, London, Aug 1847; three account sheets relating to Lind's financial affairs, 1870-1871, including accounts, 1847-1848; statement of condolence from Royal College of Music on the death of Otto Goldschmidt, 16 Mar 1907; letter from Gill Bevan, Jenny Lind's grand-daughter, to Sir Ernest Bullock on provenance of the volume, 13 Jul 1959.

Notebook of Liz Karger (née Rosenberg) on lectures made by Wanda Landowska, 1929-1930, including notes on performance of various keyboard pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Programmes, press cuttings, articles and transcripts relating to the composer Anthony Milner, used by James Siddons in his Anthony Milner: a Bio-Bibliography (Westport, CT, 1989), comprising scrap books of reviews of Milner's music and articles by or on Milner, 1951-1960; press cuttings relating to Milner's liturgical compositions in regard to the introduction of English in the Roman Catholic liturgy, and Milner's views of the translation of the order of mass into English, 1964-1970; music programmes (with some reviews) of concerts featuring Milner's works, 1958-1985; reviews and press cuttings of Milner's work and performances, c1958-1979; brief biographical notes on Milner, and schedules and itineraries of his lecture tours of Canada and USA, 1964-1985; transcript of 'Anthony Milner on his 50th birthday', a talk on 'Music weekly', BBC Radio 3, by Hugh Wood, 11 May 1975; 'Anthony Milner - a comment on his work' typescript article by Stephen Dodgson (MS 5866). Three published articles by Milner, with covering to Sir Keith Falkner, on the problem of the vernacular in the Roman Catholic liturgy, 'Music in a vernacular Catholic liturgy' paper read to the Royal Musical Association, 4 Jan 1965; 'The instruction on sacred music', Worship vol 41 no 6 Jun-Jul 1967; 'Music and liturgy', The Month, 1965-1966 (MS 6995)

Papers of Dolmetsch, including press cuttings of reviews and programmes of concerts by Dolmetsch and the Dolmetsch family, the death of Dolmetsch in 1942, and later performances of his works with related correspondence, 1929-1980; draft of a talk on conducting; his The art of orchestral conducting (Bosworth and Co, London, 1942), with newspaper cuttings of reviews; notebooks containing catalogue of his music library, lists of works and performances of his works, compiled by Dolmetsch and his wife Millicent Dolmetsch, 1930s-1960s.

Correspondence and papers of Margaret Macintyre, 1889-1902, comprising 30 letters from various admirers and acquaintances including Fitzroy Gardner, H Rider Haggard, Sims Reeves, Giulio Ricordi, Arthur Shadwell, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Ellen Terry, (Francesco) Paolo Tosti, Charles H Wade, Cosima Wagner, Siegfried Wagner; correspondence with Adolf von Gross, Bayreuth Festival, regarding her appearance as Sieglinde, 1895; contracts for appearances at Covent Garden, 1889, 1892, 1897; passes for Royal Opera Company performance at Windsor Castle, 24 May 1895; undated cutting from Il Trovatore on Macintyre's performance as Elisabeth in Tannhauser.

Papers of Mary Garden, comprising three undated letters (c1900-1910) and a thankyou card, one letter including her programme for a proposed concert; contract for her performance as Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels, Belgium, Jan 1907.

Papers of Graham Carritt, comprising letters to Carritt, 1935-1962, mainly relating to his recitals, including letters from Gerald Finzi, Finn Hoffding, Yrjö Kilpinen, Jan Masaryk, Robin Milford, Edmund Rubbra; programmes and cuttings of Carritt's lecture-recitals, 1934-1937.

Correspondence of Constant Lambert (personal and business in relation to music), 1930-1950; papers relating to a proposed biography of Constant Lambert by Angus Morrison, comprising unfinished drafts for the book and related correspondence from Angus Morrison, Dora Foss, Edward Sackville-West, J McKay Martin, Maurice Lambert, Kit Lambert, George G Harrap & Co, 1953-1955; notes on Constant Lambert by Angus Morrison; letters from friends, acquaintances and musical organisations about Constant Lambert, principally to Angus Morrison in response to Morrison's requests in the national press for information on Lambert, 1954-1955; miscellaneous biographical notes, sketches and articles on Constant Lambert (articles etc), 1929-1951; Constant Lambert: various verses and poetry.

Papers of or relating to the Wessex Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor Reginald Goodall, mainly comprising correspondence with composers, singers, musicians, orchestral managers, agents and artists, relating to the foundation of the orchestra, performances of the orchestra during World War Two, the hiring and dismissal of musicians, the arranging of concerts, discussion of programmes (including music by Britten, Elgar, Poulenc, Rubbra, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Walton and many others), payments and disbursements made, arrangements for accommodating visiting soloists and conductors etc, mainly addressed to Maisie Aldrich, with a large number of letters from Goodall, and others including Adrian Boult, Harriet Cohen, H C Colles, George Dyson, Anatol Fistoulari (about Anna Mahler), Beatrice Harrison, Arnold Haskell, Julius Isserlis, Gordon Jacob, Eileen Joyce, Kathleen Long, Reginald Morley, Albert Sammons, Malcolm Sargent, Kendall Taylor, Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Papers of Serge Prokofiev, [1915]-1936, mainly comprising private and business correspondence relating to the performance and publication of Prokofiev's compositions. Much of the collection consists of personal correspondence concerning his working relationship with other artists including conductors Albert Coates, Sir Henry Wood, Sergei Koussevitsky, Hermann Scherchen, and Ernest Ansermet; soloists Joseph Szigeti, Pablo Casals, Robert Soëtans and Fyodor Shalyapin; composers Igor Stravinsky, Nikolai Miaskovsky, Maurice Ravel and practically all French composers of the 1920s and 30s; theatre directors Vsevolod Meyerhold and Alexander Tairov; the Director of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev; poets and writers such as Konstantin Balmont and Vladimir Maiakovsky; and chess grandmaster José Capablanca. The papers also include financial material such as bills and accounts, legal papers and correspondence concerning concerts in the USA, France, Italy, Spain, England, the Soviet Union and Germany; and the publication and copyright of Prokofiev's work. Individuals and companies with which Prokofiev dealt in these matters included musical societies such as the Aeolian Company in the USA, Concerts Populaires de Bruxelles, and Concerts Pasdeloup in Paris; music publishers such as Breitkopf and Härtel in Leipzig, Russicher Musikverlag in Berlin and Edition Russe de Musique in Paris; and Soviet music publishing and arts authorities including the State Publishing House, the Moscow and Leningrad conservatories, and the Direction of State Theatres. There is also correspondence regarding the composition of ballets and operas, notably The Love for Three Oranges, Chout, the Fiery Angel and Le Pas d'Acier. The remainder of the collection consists of diaries, personal notes and press cuttings relating to Prokofiev's work.

Papers of Lina Prokofiev, [1920-1987], including personal material such as copies of letters written by Serge Prokofiev; copies of correspondence between Lina's family and Prokofiev, [1931-1938]; copies of financial material, 1929-1935; correspondence and official papers relating to Lina's attempts to leave the Soviet Union and later to remain in Europe, [1973-1978]; personal correspondence of Lina, 1974-1989, with correspondents including her children and grandchildren, authors writing books on Prokofiev and Lina, and musical societies and orchestras requesting permission to perform Prokofiev's works; business correspondence, [1977-1985], regarding the setting up of the Serge Prokofiev Foundation and the collection of archival material, as well as legal matters relating to the Prokofiev estate and Lina's autobiography; papers relating to Lina's visit to the USA in 1976-1977, including schedules, correspondence, press cuttings and programmes; material relating to Lina's performance as the narrator in Peter and the Wolf at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts, 1984-1985; family photographs. The collection also includes transcripts from taped interviews with Lina covering topics such as her family background, the early life and musical training of Serge Prokofiev, Prokofiev's composing methods, health, politics and relationship with his children, the public reception of Prokofiev's music, Lina and Prokofiev's courtship and marriage, and life in Soviet Russia; texts of articles and broadcasts by Lina, [1982-1984], on topics including Prokofiev's relationship with Stravinsky, and the writing of Romeo and Juliet and the Third Piano Concerto; articles by various authors relating to Prokofiev, [1976-1977, 1980-1982]; pamphlets, press cuttings and articles relating to Prokofiev's life and work, and to performances of his music, [1975-1987]; copies of the Moscow News, 1934-1935; and pamphlets, published works and cassettes concerning Christian Science.

Records of the organisation known variously as the Polytechnic Sports Club, the The Institute of the Polytechnic Sports and Social Clubs, and The Polytechnic Sports Club Committee, as well as records of the Polytechnic's Men's and Women's Council, and Joint Council.

This collection includes all records relating to the organisation of sports and social activities by members of the Polytechnic except for records of the individual clubs themselves, which are catalogued as separate collections. However it does include correspondence with the clubs by the Secretary and Committees. This collection also includes papers relating to the award of Polytechnic-wide medals and trophies, including the Elsie Hoare Trophy, Studd Trophy and Ditchman Trophy.