Title: Heinz Roemheld Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1915-1973

Creator:

• Roemheld, Heinz, 1901-

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 15

Quantity:

• 3 cubic ft. (11 boxes)
• 29 digital files (7.26 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

The Heinz Roemheld Music Collection consists of sheet music and musical scores handwritten in pencil or pen on standard and oversize score sheets and onion paper, a very thin white paper. Except for some frayed edges, the collection is in good physical condition. Some of the pencil scores are very light and difficult to read, and they are sketchy in detail. Filed among these handwritten originals are numerous reproductions of individual instrumental and vocal parts and arrangements. The bulk of this collection is undated, with the dated items ranging from 1915 to 1973.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0015

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

Born May 1st in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1901. Commenced piano lessons with mother at age 4, 1905. Soloed on piano at the Majestic Vaudeville Theater House on Wisconsin Avenue at age 12. Played in theater pit orchestras and ensembles at local theaters and hotels with his brother Edgar, a cellist, at age 14. Attended the Ring Street School, North Division High School, and graduated from the Wisconsin College of Music in 1920. Traveled to Germany to study with Hugo Kaun, Ferrucio Busoni, and Egon Petri. Debuted on piano with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1922. Returned to Milwaukee to conduct local orchestras at the Alhambra, Strand, and Wisconsin Theaters, as well as the Plankinton Hotel Orchestra, 1923-1927. Directed the Rialto Theater Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Returned to Europe and managed Milwaukee film magnate Carl Laemmle's European film houses and conducted the Berlin Symphony Orchestra's "pop" concerts for 2 years, 1928-1929. Moved to Hollywood to write the music for All Quiet on the Western Front, produced by Carl Laemmle, 1930. Received Academy Award for jointly scoring (with Ray Heindorf) the musical, Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942. Appointed Chief of Film, Theater, and Music Sections of the Information Control Division of the U.S. Forces in Europe, 1945. Affiliated with the Hal Roach organization, 1947. Wrote music for over 300 Warner Brothers, Paramount, MGM, and other film studio productions. Credits include All Quiet on the Western Front, Ruby Gentry, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Strawberry Blonde, and Shine on Harvest Moon. Premier performance of Serenade to a Ballerina, performed by the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Fish Creek, Wisconsin, 1964. Died February 11th in California, 1985.

The Roemheld Collection contains no personal correspondence or other papers, except for a brief biographical sketch written by the composer's sister Irmgard. Anecdotal in nature, this sketch covers Roemheld's early years up to his 20s, and except for a brief skeletal chronological outline which contains conflicting dates, it doesn't cover his Hollywood and later years and activities. This biographical sketch also contains eleven pages of photocopied photographs and musical programs. A small cut black paper silhouette of Roemheld and several feature articles published in the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1947, 1961, and 1964 are also included. While these feature stories are useful, very little documented information regarding Roemheld's personal life and professional career is available.

The collection contains a variety of musical compositions and consists of: Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements; Oversize Scores; Piano Music; Published Music; Quartets/Quintets; Songs-Manuscripts; and Strings with Piano.

The Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements comprises the bulk of the Roemheld collection. The eleven works occupying eight of eleven boxes generally include the original pen or pencil piano or vocal scores, the original onion and reproduced orchestral parts, and full orchestral scores. Many of these full orchestral scores are written on oversize paper and stored in the oversize box 11. This separation is indicated in the appropriate entries. Music entitled "Ruby with Six Variations," from the film "Ruby Gentry" (1952) is included in this series.

The Oversize Scores contains handwritten pencil full orchestral scores to eight works. These scores have been separated from the main series stored in the first ten boxes due to their size. These undated full orchestral scores are written on yellow score sheets which are large, bulky, and in most cases, loosely bound with string ties.

Piano Music contains onion paper scores and reproductions of seven works, five of which are dated 1968 to 1973, the composer's later years.

The Published Music consists of sheet music to four published songs written or orchestrated by Roemheld in 1915, 1917, 1924, and 1930.

Quartets/Quintets consists of five works composed or arranged for stringed instrument groups. A sixth folder contains an "ideas file" and includes "Cinema 1920" and other unnamed, undated musical sketches.

The Songs-Manuscripts contains the manuscripts to eleven songs orchestrated and/or written by Roemheld. Most of the handwritten originals and reproduced copies are undated.

The Strings with Piano contains three undated works for piano, and cello, violin, and viola.

The records are arranged in the following series:

1. Biographical Materials, 1947, 1964, undated
2. Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, 1930-1966, undated
3. Oversize Scores, undated
4. Piano Music, 1968-1972, undated
5. Published Music, 1915-1930
6. Quartets/Quintets, 1942-1952, undated
7. Songs-Manuscripts, 1931, undated
8. Strings with Piano, 1950, undated

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• Seven Arts Society Records. UWM Manuscript Collection 58.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Presented by Raymond Mueller, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 2, 1986.

Box   1 Folder   A	Series: 1. Biographical Materials, 1947, 1964, undated
	Series: 2. Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, 1930-1966, undated	⇧
Box   3 Folder   1	Concert Piece for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 18, undated Physical Description: Cello part on onion paper plus one copy, Orchestral parts on onion paper, Piano reduction on onion paper plus four copies, Sketches; Orchestral arrangement parts; Orchestral score-Pencil original
Box   9 Folder   2	Four Satiric Pieces, Opus 17, undated Physical Description: String parts on onion paper; Orchestral arrangement parts reproduced; Piano score on onion paper; Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   4 Folder   1	Fünf Lieder Aus Der Einsamiseit (sic), Opus 10, 1956 Physical Description: Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced; Orchestral accompaniment score (pencil); Piano/Vocal score on onion paper (2 copies); Piano/Vocal score reproduced
Box   9 Folder   1	Introduction & Scherzo (Fantasia), Opus 12, undated Physical Description: String parts on onion paper; Orchestral arrangement parts reproduced (2 folders); Sketches in pencil; Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   6 Folder   1	Milwaukee Industry on Parade, March, undated Physical Description: Arrangement for four Saxes (saxophones); Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced (2 folders); Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   9 Folder   3	Overture to Pitz Palu, 1930 Physical Description: Photocopy of piano reduction
Box   2 Folder   2	Ruby With Six Variations, Opus 13, 1953 Physical Description: Piano arrangement, Miller Music Corp., New York, String parts on onion paper, Original pencil score; Orchestral arrangement parts
Box   7 Folder   1	Serenade (To a Ballerina), Opus 11, 1964 Physical Description: Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced (2 folders); Orchestral score on onion paper, Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   5 Folder   1	Seven Preludes for Piano, Opus 23, undated Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper; Orchestral accompaniment parts (2 folders); Orchestral accompaniment parts on onion paper (2 copies); Orchestral score
Box   8 Folder   1	Sonatina, Opus 14 (Piano), "Dedicated to My Dear Gregory", 1966 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper; Piano score reproduced (2 copies); Orchestral accompaniment parts on onion paper; Orchestral accompaniment parts reproduced; Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   2 Folder   1	Symphonie Breve, Opus 9, undated Physical Description: Sketches, Pencil score
	Series: 3. Oversize Scores, undated	⇧
Box   11 Folder   2	Concert Piece for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 18, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   11 Folder   8	Four Satiric Pieces, Opus 17, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   11 Folder   7	Introduction & Scherzo (Fantasia), Opus 12, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   11 Folder   4	Milwaukee Industry on Parade, March, undated
Box   11 Folder   5	Serenade (To a Ballerina), Opus 11, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-one Pencil plus one onion paper copy
Box   11 Folder   3	Seven Preludes for Piano, Opus 23, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
Box   11 Folder   6	Sonatina, Opus 14, (Piano), 1966 undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
	Symphonia Breve, undated Physical Description: Orchestral score-Pencil
Electronic Folder     \Box11\   Folder01\	Digital Physical Description: 29 digital files (7.26 GB)
Box   11 Folder   1	Physical
	Series: 4. Piano Music, 1968-1972, undated	⇧
Box   10 Folder   2	Georgia Lullaby, undated Physical Description: Pencil score
Box   10 Folder   4	Mama Loves Papa, undated Physical Description: Piano score in pencil
Box   10 Folder   5	II Sonatina, Opus 15, "Dedicated to Stephen Swedish," 1968 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper
Box   10 Folder   6	III Sonatina, Opus 20, 1972 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper plus one reproduction
Box   10 Folder   7	IV Sonatina, Opus 22, "Affectionately dedicated to George Fillmore," 1973 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper plus one reproduction and one copy
Box   10 Folder   3	Suite for Piano, Opus 16, "Dedicated to Didi Koovshinoff," 1969 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper, Sketches
Box   10 Folder   1	Three Piano Pieces for Paul, Opus 19, 1971 Physical Description: Piano score on onion paper, Sketches
	Series: 5. Published Music, 1915-1930	⇧
Box   1 Folder   2	Champagne One Step, Published by the Marks-Goldsmith Co., Inc., Washington, D.C., 1915
Box   1 Folder   1	Flapper Dance, Lyrics by Arnold Krueger, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by the Hambitzer Music House, Milwaukee, 1924
Box   1 Folder   4	For You, Lyrics by William F. Dugan, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by Handman, Kent, & Goodman, Inc., New York, 1930
Box   1 Folder   3	Seminar March, Lyrics by Ralph Owen, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by Milwaukee Consolidated Music Co., 1917
	Series: 6. Quartets/Quintets, 1942-1952, undated	⇧
Box   10 Folder   14	A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Luther), undated Physical Description: String quartet score on onion paper
Box   10 Folder   16	Ideas Folder, undated Physical Description: Contains Cinema 1920 and various unnamed sketches
Box   10 Folder   11	Ihr Kinderlein Kommet for Violin, 2 Violas, Cello, and Bass, undated Physical Description: Variation on Back Tune: In the style of Bach, R. Strauss, Schumann, Chopin, Albeniz, Debussy, Dvorak, Brahms, Mozart, Tschaikowsky, Schubert, and J. Strauss. Note: parts for all are included, but user should note that some parts are written on the backsides of other parts
Box   10 Folder   13	Quartet, Opus 7, 1950-1952 Physical Description: Full score and string parts on onion paper plus one score reproduction
Box   10 Folder   15	Two Clementinas, Opus 5, 1942 Physical Description: String quartet score and original parts plus one reproduction
Box   10 Folder   12	Variations on Long, Long Ago, undated Physical Description: Various movements and parts for piano, violin, viola, and cello
	Series: 7. Songs-Manuscripts, 1931, undated	⇧
Box   1 Folder   5	Ballad, To Dr. C. Toepfer, Lyrics by John Masefield, Music by H. Roemheld, Milwaukee, 1931 Physical Description: Male Quartet
Box   1 Folder   14	Ballad, To John Tyers, undated
Box   1 Folder   7	Heaven Only Knows, Lyrics by Bill Carey, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   9	I Threw a Kiss (Into the Air), Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   8	I'm Just a Fool (Who's in Love), Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   10	Love's Philosophy, Lyrics by Percy R. Shelley, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	Paree Je T'aime, Lyrics by William L. Hendricks, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Polka With E's, Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated
Box   1 Folder   15	Prelude and Satan's Soliloquy, undated Physical Description: Pencil score; incomplete
Box   1 Folder   12	Three Songs of Herrick, Opus 1: To Electra, To Julia, To Angela, 1939 Physical Description: Stencil copies, piano/vocal (1 copy), Piano/Vocal on onion paper (1 copy) Orchestral accompaniment-Pencil score; Orchestral accompaniment parts-Reproduced
Box   1 Folder   6	Two Quiet Songs, Opus 24, #1 and #2, Transition, Beyond, undated Physical Description: Two photocopies of each
	Series: 8. Strings with Piano, 1950, undated	⇧
Box   10 Folder   10	Four Fragments for Viola and Piano, Opus 4, "To Thomas Arthur Cole, undated Physical Description: Viola and piano scores on onion paper (1 copy of each), plus one viola and two piano reproductions
Box   10 Folder   9	Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Opus 6, 1950 Physical Description: Violin and piano scores on onion paper
Box   10 Folder   8	To Kathy, undated Physical Description: Cello and piano scores on onion paper and two photocopies