Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1928-1989] (Creation)
Extent and medium
1 large box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born the son of an RAF pilot in 1946, Christopher Palmer was educated at Norwich School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Initially studying modern languages at Cambridge, he switched courses to music. His career was wide and varied: he was a writer, producing biographies, sleeve notes, radio scripts, reviews and articles, mainly on British music; he was also a talented orchestrator and arranger of film scores and classical music; and a record producer who particularly benefited unsung British composers. Palmer had an enthusiasm for Prokofiev, Ravel and Britten, and collaborated with Oleg Prokofiev on the publication of Serge Prokofiev, Soviet Diary, 1927 and other writings (Faber and Faber, 1991). His work on a new biography of Prokofiev was cut short by his untimely death in 1995.
Archival history
GB 2217 CP [1928-1989] Subfonds of The Serge Prokofiev Archive 1 large box Palmer , Christopher , 1946-1995 , musician and music critic
Born the son of an RAF pilot in 1946, Christopher Palmer was educated at Norwich School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Initially studying modern languages at Cambridge, he switched courses to music. His career was wide and varied: he was a writer, producing biographies, sleeve notes, radio scripts, reviews and articles, mainly on British music; he was also a talented orchestrator and arranger of film scores and classical music; and a record producer who particularly benefited unsung British composers. Palmer had an enthusiasm for Prokofiev, Ravel and Britten, and collaborated with Oleg Prokofiev on the publication of Serge Prokofiev, Soviet Diary, 1927 and other writings (Faber and Faber, 1991). His work on a new biography of Prokofiev was cut short by his untimely death in 1995.
Deposited by the executor of Christopher Palmer in 1995.
Papers of Christopher Palmer, [1928-1989], comprising scrapbooks collated by Palmer containing printed articles, press cuttings, draft articles and programme notes relating to the work of Serge Prokofiev, including sections on Prokofiev's operas, ballets, symphonies and orchestral works, as well as general biographical material. There is also material relating to Palmer and Oleg Prokofiev's edition of Serge Prokofiev's Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings, (Faber and Faber, 1991), including corrections and editorial notes; and various drafts of articles and programme notes on Prokofiev written by Palmer, [1988-1992].
Unsorted.
By appointment only. Please contact the curator for details.
At the discretion of the Curator.
Russian, English
Unlisted.
The Serge Prokofiev Archive also holds the papers of Serge, Lina and Oleg Prokofiev.
Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings by Serge Prokofiev, translated and edited by Oleg Prokofiev, associate editor Christopher Palmer (Faber and Faber, 1991).
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Feb 2002 Ballet Biographies Classical music Dance Eastern Europe Literary forms and genres Literature Musical styles Opera Palmer , Christopher , 1946-1995 , musician and music critic Prokofiev , Serge Sergeevich , 1891-1953 , composer Prose Theatre USSR Performing arts
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by the executor of Christopher Palmer in 1995.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Christopher Palmer, [1928-1989], comprising scrapbooks collated by Palmer containing printed articles, press cuttings, draft articles and programme notes relating to the work of Serge Prokofiev, including sections on Prokofiev's operas, ballets, symphonies and orchestral works, as well as general biographical material. There is also material relating to Palmer and Oleg Prokofiev's edition of Serge Prokofiev's Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings, (Faber and Faber, 1991), including corrections and editorial notes; and various drafts of articles and programme notes on Prokofiev written by Palmer, [1988-1992].
System of arrangement
Unsorted.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment only. Please contact the curator for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
At the discretion of the Curator.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Russian, English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Serge Prokofiev Archive also holds the papers of Serge, Lina and Oleg Prokofiev.
Finding aids
Unlisted.
Access points
Subject access points
Description control area
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Language(s)
- English