Title: Edward J. Zielinski Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1946-1980

Creator:

• Zielinski, Edward J., 1907-

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 50

Quantity: 1.0 cubic foot (3 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries' Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

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

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Edward J. Zielinski, a musician and conductor of the Milwaukee Catholic Symphony Orchestra, including personal correspondence, biographical sketches, minutes of the advisory board and programs of performances of the Symphony, drafts of program notes written by Zielinski, news clippings, and music scores of Polish Christmas carols composed and transcribed by Victor Prawdzik. Also included are a few other programs from Milwaukee orchestras occasionally conducted by Zielinski.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00050

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

Edward Zielinski, conductor of the Milwaukee Catholic Symphony Orchestra, was educated at Marquette University, from which he received a Master's degree in mathematics, and at Wisconsin State Teachers College, where he earned a degree in music (flute and conducting). For forty-one years he taught math and music at Pulaski High School until his retirement in 1974. Zielinski also taught flute and conducting at the Wisconsin College of Music, and conducted the school orchestra. Professionally, Zielinski joined the Milwaukee Catholic Symphony in 1944, one year after the orchestra's founding by Fr. Stanley Bartnicki. Zielinski has conducted the Orchestra since that time, preparing it for two concerts at Alverno College each year. In addition, Zielinski acted as guest conductor with the Milwaukee Civic Orchestra and Music Under the Stars, and played flute with the Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Cudahy Municipal Band (which he also directed). Although he no longer plays flute, Zielinski continues conducting the seventy musicians of the Milwaukee Catholic Symphony. Several members of the Zielinski family have been associated with this orchestra and its counterpart, the Catholic Youth Symphony, including Zielinski's wife Cynthia, his sister Sylvia, and his children John and Kathryn.

Included with the collection are both personal and professional papers of Edward Zielinski. There are biographical sketches of Edward and Kathryn Zielinski, clippings of concert reviews and articles, and correspondence pertaining both to personal matters and to arrangements and plans of the Milwaukee Catholic Symphony. Also pertaining to this orchestra are a few minutes of the advisory board, and a lengthy run of symphony programs and flyers announcing concerts. From 1958 to 1960 Zielinski wrote program notes for upcoming Milwaukee Symphony concerts; there are drafts of these notes present, some of which are written on mathematics tests or homework papers. There are two boxes of music scores, which are orchestrated medleys of Polish Christmas carols and other music composed and arranged by Victor Prawdzik. Prawdzik, organizer and director of the choir at St. Stanislaus Church, was trained in Poland prior to his immigration to Milwaukee. Included with the scores are four cycles of the Pasterka (Christmas Eve Mass), which Prawdzik composed and arranged for the small orchestra at St. Stanislaus (The Kyrie and Gloria of the Pasterka were Prawdzik's own compositions). Each year a different cycle was used, beginning with number 3 in 1946, as noted on the covers of the scores. Edward Zielinski played flute for the Christmas Eve Mass, and occasionally conducted secular Christmas music before the service.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Edward J. Zielinski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1980-1981. Accession Number: M81-48, M81-373

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, September 1981.

Milwaukee Mss 50 Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical sketches
Box   1 Folder   2	Clippings
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   3	Milwaukee Catholic Symphony, 1947-1968
Box   1 Folder   4	Personal, 1954-1967
	Milwaukee Catholic Symphony
Box   1 Folder   5	Minutes of Advisory Board, 1955, 1957?
Box   1 Folder   6	Symphony programs and flyers, 1958-1980
Box   1 Folder   7	Miscellaneous, 1956-1971
Box   1 Folder   8	Program notes written by Zielinski, 1958-1960
	Music scores
Box   2 Folder   1	Pasterka, No. 1
Box   2 Folder   2-4	Pasterka, No. 2
Box   3 Folder   1	Pasterka, No. 3
Box   3 Folder   2	Pasterka, No. 4
Box   3 Folder   3	“With Glory Lit, The Midnight Air Revealed”
Box   3 Folder   4	“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Box   3 Folder   5	Koledy (carols)