IMAGE
Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
- Date
- 1927, 1959-1987
- By
- Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987
- Reference
- ATL-Group-00041
- Description
Contains scores, sheet music, personal memorabilia, and recordings related to the career of Hungarian violinist Alex Osvath between 1927 and 1987.
Scores and sheet music comprise show tunes, well-known classical works, European folk music, and popular songs, including material by Austro-Hungarian composers (Franz Lehár, Rezső Seress, Jenő Huszka). Contains manuscript scores and sheet music, as well as printed scores from European publishers. Printed material has often been modified by Osvath: usually numbered and sometimes supplemented with manuscript parts for violin. Material likely forms part of a performance library used by Osvath, the Continental Trio or any other groups Osvath played with.
Personal memorabilia mainly relates to performances at weddings, restaurants, and special events by Osvath or the Continental Trio. This includes menus from restaurants where they performed (Orsini's, Il Casino, Embassy Restaurant, The Pines), programmes from weddings or events, newspaper clippings, and photographs of Alex Osvath, Simon Peels, and Adrian de Ruiter, either performing or posing with restaurant patrons and wedding guests. Correspondence comprises thank you cards and letters from individuals and organisations.
Recordings were made for radio broadcast or are of live concerts. Also contains published recordings dubbed onto other tapes, as well as related printed matter including a list of the contents in Osvath's tape library and a transcript in Hungarian.
Part of the Archive of New Zealand Music.
Alex Osvath migrated to New Zealand from Hungary with his family in 1957. In 1959 he joined the Wellington group the Continental Trio, also sometimes called Simon Peels' Continental Trio and Simon Peels' Accordion Harmonists. Other members included leader Simon Peels (accordion), Doug Brewer (bass), and Adrian de Ruiter (bass). They performed at Wellington clubs and restaurants, and social functions or special occasions. Osvath also performed solo.
Quantity: 8 box(es). 5 5" reel(s). 1 3" reel(s).
Provenance: Donated by Osvath Family, 2016.
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted material
- Format
- 8 box(es), 5 5" reel(s), 1 3" reel(s), Scores, Ephemera, Photographs, Sound recordings
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Copyright
Unknown
Memorabilia album
Date: [ca 1965-1975]
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
By: Royle, Greig Gordon, 1913-2005
Reference: MSZ-1694
Description: Album containing photographs, event programmes, newspaper clippings, menus, and correspondence related to performances by the Continental Trio and Alex Osvath, circa 1965-1975. Performances were mainly at weddings, restaurants (Orsinis, The Embassy, Timos), and special events (a "Marriage Guidance Dinner", New Zealand Locomotive Engineers' Firemen and Cleaners' Association 60th Jubilee 1968, New Zealand Hospital Officer' Association 23rd Conference 1969). Correspondence comprises thank you cards and letters from individuals and organisations, including Sir Walter Nash, the Rothmans Cultural Foundations, and the Royal Society of St. George. Some correspondence is in Hungarian, including one letter from STAR Film Production and Film Distribution Inc (1927). Photographs were taken by Grieg Royle and unidentified photographers. They depict Alex Osvath, Simon Peels, and Adrian de Ruiter performing, as well as posing with resturant patrons or wedding guests. Images also depict Osvath playing the violin alone, including at a performance for the Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson (circa 1966). English translation of letter from STAR Film Production and Film Distribution Inc is available in collection backfile. Quantity: 1 album(s) containing pasted-in and loose material. Physical Description: Photograph album, 23 x 33cm Transfers: Material originally interleaved inside MSZ-1694 is now held at MS-Papers-12082-10 and MS-Papers-12082-11..
Numbered scores 206-555
Date: Date unknown
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-18
Description: Contains 23 published scores, either vocal scores or in orchestral parts. Some scores include a handwritten part for violin. Titles comprise: 206: Cavalleria Rusticana / Emile Tavan 212: Turandot ; Selection for Orchestra / Giacomo Puccini 309: Song of the Vagabond / Rudolf Friml 312: Selection "The Pirates of Penzance" / Arthur Sullivan 316: Tip-Toes / George Gershwin 325: The Yeoman of the Guard - Selection / Arthur Sullivan 339: Rêve de Valse / Oscar Straus 352: Amour Tzigane / Franz Lehar 418: Rhapsodie Caucasienne / Francis Salabert 419: Rapsodie Slave / Ferruccio Volpatti 422: A Wedding-Trip Through Scandinavia / Emil Juel-Frederiksen 425: Nordische Lyrik / Selim Palmgren 429: Hungaria / Bohuslav Leopold 437: Arabia / Bohuslav Leopold 442: Musikalische Telegramme / Ernst Rubach 441: Hawaiian Selection / His Majesty King Kalakaua [and] Ignacio Libornio 446: Dur und Moll / Adolf Schreiner 447: Suite-Japonaise / Koscak Yamada 518: Songs of Song-ah-tah / Homer Grunn 522: Danza delle Ore / Amilcare Ponchielli 547: Suite Orientale / Francis Popy 552: Rhapsodie Chinoise / Hans Ourdine 555: Aus dem Nordlande / Emil Juel-Frederiksen Quantity: 1 box(es) containing 23 A4 and A5 scores.
Hungarian music operettas
Date: [ca 1959-1987]
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-03
Description: A scrapbook containing handwritten sheet music, photocopied sheet music, and published scores collected by Alex Osvath during his career. The cover reads "Magyarzene operett [Hungarian music operettas]". Material is mainly vocal scores. Scrapbook also contains typescript copies of the Hungarian songs or poems "Magyar Nótacsokor", "Könyvek, könyvek, könyvek", and "Oda van a virágos nyár". Titles on handwritten music include "Are You Lonesome Tonight". "Lavotta Serenade", "Ōreg idő, szálló idő...", "Kis kut, kerekes kut", "Gloomy Sunday (Sombre Dimanche)", "Mar minalun baby (my baby)", "Mar ezutan", "Delicately tinted are the yellow roses". Published titles comprise: Wie wärs doch so schön dannauf Erden / Albert Heidlberg [orchestral parts] Casino-Csárdás / Barta Henrik [orchestral parts] You are my Heart's Delight ; Song from the musical play The Land of Smiles / Franz Lehár Gyerünk bodri kutyám / Rezső Seress Lemondás / Balázs Árpád Most Kezdődik a tánc... / György Kubányi [photocopy] Haragszik az édes anyám ; Mother don't be angry / Henry Vertes [photocopy] Imádság már az is / Lázlo Jávor, Jenő Sándor [photocopy] Hej, szidó lány ; Judenmädchen / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Madár az ágon ; Das ist der Frühling / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Esik eső majd lesz mező ; Wie es rinnt, wie fällt der regen / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Lányok, lányok, lányok a faluba'... ; Mädchen, mädchen, mädchen und junge frau'n/ [composer unknown] [photocopy] Lyuk, lyuk, lyuk ; Löchrig, löchrig, löchrig / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Magaa a kaszárnya ; Hoch ist die kaserne / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Még azt mondják ez se szép, az se szép ; Sagt man's auch, ich wär' nicht schōn / [composer unknown] [photocopy] Valahol egy kis faluban... / Geyzáne Dulácska [photocopy] Hamis a rózsám... / Pista Dankó [photocopy] Csalj el édes / Aladár Várady [photocopy] Hogy mondjam meg néked / Tibor Kalmár [photocopy] Hungaria / Jo Knümann [accordion] Hungaria / B Leopold Hungarian moods / [published by] Zodiac Music Corp A gőzkocsi hat kereke / Huber Sándor Népszerü zeneszerzök dalai / Mihály Eisemann Népszerü zeneszerzök dalai / Szabolcs Fényes Tangó Parádé 24 ; Magyar Tangó / Kola József Operettejeiből I / Lehár Ferenc Operettejeiből II / Lehár Ferenc Operettejeiből III / Lehár Ferenc Zigeunerliebe-Walzer / Lehár Ferenc Lili Bárónő / Jenő Huszka A Kalotaszegi Madonna / Dénes Buday Bob Herczeg / Jenő Huszka Álom, álom, édes álom... / [composer unknown] Csak egy szép lány ; Nur ein mädchen / János Németh Ha gondolsz az orgonakra, jazminokra / István Bogdán Néha, néha, viszajönnek a tavaszi álmok / Albert Hetényi-Heidelberg Ungariche Tänze / Johannes Brahms [violin and piano] Ungariche Tänze / Franz Drdla [violin and piano] Victoria and her Hussar / Paul Abraham Magyar népdalok ; Hungarian folksongs / Béla Bartók Virágim, virágim /Jenő Ádám Zöld a kökény / Ferenc Farkas Rumänische volkstänze / Béla Bartók [violin and piano] Second Famous Rhapsodie / Franz Liszt [violin, piano, cello, voice] Rákóczi Induló / Ferenc Rákóczi Hungarian Medley / Lawrence Wright Hunyady Lázló / Karl Huber [violin and piano] Title taken from item. Translated from Hungarian into English. Quantity: 1 box(es) containing scrapbook. Physical Description: Loose scores and sheet music tied together between cardboard covers with string, 31.5 x 25cm,
Concert I
Date: [ca 1959-1980]
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-08
Description: Contains handwritten sheet music, photocopied sheet music, and published scores. The cover reads "Készenlét [Standby]". Titles on handwritten sheet music include "Gipsy Princess", "Erdőszélen nagy a szivaj larmá", and "Szeretnek május ejszakán". Published sheet music includes copies of "Happy Birthday", "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow", and "The Wedding March". Published titles are arrangements for piano or vocal scores. They comprise: Féltékenység; Jalousie / Jacob Gade, Miklós Szabó Akácos üt / Tibor Kalmar Only One Girl / [Composer Unknown] [photocopy] Volt nekem egy fehér szárnyú bóbitás galambom / Mihály Eisemann vocal [photocopy] Rákóczi metérése / Pongrác Kacsóh [photocopy] Sárbogárd! Dombovár! / Róbert Stolz [photocopy] Deres Nár a határ... / Lehár Ferenc Az a szép, az a szép / Pista Dankó [photocopy] Szeretnék még egyszer húszéves lenni / Sally Géza Casino-Csárdas / Henrik Barta [photocopy] Hungarian Dance / Johannes Brahms (piano and violin) [photocopy] The Celebrated Czardas / V Monti Title transcribed from item. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Concert II
Date: [ca 1959-1980]
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-09
Description: Contains handwritten sheet music, published scores, and photocopies of both. Titles on original and photocopies of handwritten sheet music for violin include "Christmas Tree", "Beer Barrel Polka", "If you know, Susie", "Happy Days Are Here Again", "Trink, Trink, Brüderlein Trink", "Ich hab mein herz in Heidelberg Verloren", "Graf of Luxemburg", "Fascination", "Anniversary Waltz", "Autumn Leaves", 'Viennese Melody", "Kolnidrei", "Hatikwah", "The Rabbi Wants Us to be Merry", "Funiculi-Funicula", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "Happy Days are Here Again" Published titles are arrangements for piano or vocal scores. They comprise: Vienna Forever / Johann Schrammel [photocopy] On the Beautiful Blue Danube / [Johann Strauss] [photocopy] The Loveliest Night of the Year / Juventino Rosas [photocopy] Bésame Mucho / Consuela Velázquez ’O sole mio / Giovanni Capurro [photocopy] Serenata / Enrico Toselli Tis the Day / Ruggiero Leoncavallo So Deep is the Night / [arranged by] Mario Melfi Intermezzo sinfonico aus der Oper Cavalleria Rusticana / Pietro Mascagni O Belle Nuit / Jacques Offenbach [photocopy] This is my Song / Charles Chaplin Werke für Violine und Klavier / Fritz Kreisler Dance, Everyone, Dance! ; Havah Nagilah / Sid Danoff Somewhere, my love ; Lara's theme from Doctor Zhivago / Maurice Jarre [photocopy] Kalinka / [composer unknown][photocopy] Title transcribed from item. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Material in the following folders was originally delivered together: fMS-Papers-12082-2, fMS-Papers-12082-3, MS-Papers-12082-07, MS-Papers-12082-09..
Index cards and packaging
Date: Date unknown, 1962, 1970, 1974
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-12
Description: Contains original index cards and images of original packaging delivered with Alex Osvath's sound recordings. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: The six items originally delivered with material in MS-Papers-12082-12 are held at MST3-0145, and at MST5-2852 to MST5-2856..
Cassette tape recordings
Date: 1976-1981
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-13
Description: Contains dated lists of songs written on note paper or index cards, almost entirely in Hungarian. Material is possibly set lists and lists of songs on recordings in Osvath's tape library. Also contains a five-page handwritten transcript in Hungarian. Original enclosure reads "Tape felvételek [Cassette tape recordings]" and "Ajándék tapek műsora [The gifted cassettes' programme]". Title taken from item. Translated into English from Hungarian. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Concert II
Date: 1960, 1980
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: fMS-Papers-12082-2
Description: Contains newspaper clippings about Wellington restaurants where Alex Osvath performed, including Marcel's, Orsini's and Il Casino. Page from the "Capital Visitor" includes a picture of Osvath performing for restaurant patrons at Il Casino. Also contains a menu from Marcel's and a December 1960 issue of "New Zealand Listener" including an illustrated article about the Continental Trio. Title transcribed from item. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Material in the following folders was originally delivered together: fMS-Papers-12082-2, fMS-Papers-12082-3, MS-Papers-12082-07, MS-Papers-12082-09..
Concert II
Date: [ca 1959-1980]
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: MS-Papers-12082-07
Description: Contains a copy of a New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation script titled "An Awful Silence" by Vincent Ley, and a vocal score titled "Könnyü melodiák". Title transcribed from item. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Material in the following folders was originally delivered together: fMS-Papers-12082-2, fMS-Papers-12082-3, MS-Papers-12082-07, MS-Papers-12082-09..
Concert II
Date: 1980
From: Osvath, Alex, 1904-1987: Collection relating to music career of Alex Osvath
Reference: fMS-Papers-12082-3
Description: Contains an Orsini's menu and two copies of the "Capital Visitor" including articles about Wellington restaurants where Alex Osvath performed. Also contains some loose handwritten and published sheet music. Title transcribed from item. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Material in the following folders was originally delivered together: fMS-Papers-12082-2, fMS-Papers-12082-3, MS-Papers-12082-07, MS-Papers-12082-09..