Sonneck Society for American Music

Bulletin, Volume XXIII, no. 2 (Summer 1997)

News of the Society


Thoughts of a New Sonneck President
I drove across country from Boston to Seattle to attend the 23rd Annual Meeting of the SSAM, at which I proudly became the Society's seventh president. The drive, while long, was never boring, and it reminded me once again of what a vast and varied country we have, especially in contrast to Germany, where I had just spent a month. It is no wonder that our music is also varied, as must be any group of people trying to encompass it. The Sonneck Society should be a place where all that variety can thrive, and where, whatever wonderful and odd specialty you pursue (and mine are among the oddest!), you may find company and encouragement. Now that we have so many ways to communicate--e-mail, the web page, the Bulletin, the journal American Music, and the Annual Meeting--that support and companionship can be found year-round, if only we will offer our ideas in the appropriate forum.

I look upon the Sonneck Society as a place where we can be informal, often experimental, and always friendly to new approaches and ideas. It was, after all, the lack of these qualities in existing organizations that originally caused us to form a new group. I heartily welcome all our moves toward academic respectability--our journal, our prizes for books, articles, and dissertations, our membership in the American Council for Learned Societies--but I hope we will never forget the value of quirkiness, of unabashed enthusiasm, even of naivete when it comes to our topic of study. We should welcome peple less for their degress--and degrees of sophistication--and more for their willingness to share ideas, to work, and to devote themselves to a common goal with many facets--the study and dissemination of American music.

In closing, I would like to thank my six predecessors for leaving me an organization in such good shape, with the vitality, traditions, and camaraderie that it has. I will try to carry on those traditions, and keep up the vitality and camaraderie. I hope to hear from many of the members in the next couple of years, either in person, by e-mail or in letter (in person or e-mail are best for quick reply--I like not having to find an envelope and stamp!). I look for your ideas, your suggestions, your complaints, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to share all of these with the Sonneck Society.

With great hopes for our mutual future,
Anne Dhu McLucas


Help Get out the Troops : American Music at NASM
Due in part to the efforts of the American Music in American Schools and Colleges Interest Group (see Report), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) has invited Sonneck President Anne Dhu McLucas to help organize an extensive look at American Music in our schools and departments of music at NASM's national conference in San Diego, November 22-25. There will be three hour-and-a-half sessions on Sunday, November 23 focusing on the teaching of American music in higher education. We would like Sonneck members to urge their Department Chairs, Directors, and Deans to attend ALL of the sessions in order to find out why and how American music should be a more integral part of our schools' curricula. Here is the program in outline:

Sunday, 23 Nov. 1997, 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Music Curricula nad the Expanding American Musical Culture
Mark Wait, Vanderbilt University, Tom Riis, University of Colorado, and as yet unnamed third panelist will discuss current ideas and issues concerning the teaching of American Music.

Sunday, 23 Nov., 1997, 10:15-11:45 a.m.
Resources and Curriculum Building
Anne Dhu McLucas will develop the ideas presented in the first panel as they pertain to the current and future College Curricula and give a sampling of the remarkable array of text, audio, video, and digital resources currently available.

Sunday, 23 Nov., 1997, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Curricular Case Studies
Several case studies representing different approaches for the integration of American Music will be discussed by several top-notch teachers, including Bulletin Editor Larry Worster, who will present the opinion of a faculty member in a small department trying to "do it all."

In addition, Francis Richard of ASCAP will present a major address on Monday morning, November 24, on the subject of American Music. The content of these sessions will be included in the "Notes and Sample Issues" section of the annual meeting packet and reported in the Proceedings of NASM.


Call for Nominations
The Nominating Committee of the Sonneck Society seeks candidates for President-elect and for three positions on the Society's Board of Trustees. Candidates should have a proven record of committment to the Society, and be willing and able to devote proper time to the fulfillment of the duties of these positions. If you have suggestions for candidates, or are yourself interested in standing for an office, please contact Paul Wells, Chair of the Nominating Committee or any of the other members of the committee--Dale Cockrell, Judith Tick, Josephine Wright, and Don Krummel. Because of the early fall Board meeting, please send your suggestions as soon as possible.


SSAM Board Actions

During the meeting of the Sonneck Society Board on 5 March 1997 the following actions were approved:

Financial Statement for Year Ending 12/31/96

INCOME
Dues $43,165.00
Advertising $ 225.00
Interest/Dividents $ 5,969.70
Transfer from F06 (Lowens) $ 400.00
Other Income
Contributions $ 6,240.00
Mailing Labels, Postage $ 1,851.17
Royalties $ 71.68
Other (back issues of Bulletin) $ 187.24
Total Income: $58,109.79

EXPENSES
Program
American Music $31,333.04
Bulletin $ 4,799.09
Directory $ 1,939.84
American Music Network $ 60.00
Recognitions/Awards $ 60.00
Lowens Awards $ 400.00
RILM $ 300.00
Other
$ 58.63
Total Program Expenses: $38,950.60

Management
Board Expenses $ 1,724.11
Office Expenses $ 1,047.98
Management Services $ 3,791.28
(Academic Services)
Fees and Miscellaneous
$ 804.04
Total Management Expenses:$ 7,367.41
Contingency
$11,791.78
Total Expenses: $58,109.79

RESTRICTED FUNDS
Life Membership $19,126.74
Discretionary $16,841.41
Student Travel $ 911.54
RILM $ 38.93
Lowens Memorial $11,976.05
Non-Print Publications $17,195.00
H. Earl Johnson $103,517.21
Conference $ 4,347.39
Dissertation Prize $ 965.75
Total Restricted Funds: $174,920.02

ACCOUNT BALANCES
Merrill Lynch $143,413.32
U.S. Trust $ 6,547.03
H. Earle Johnson Account $103,517.21
(Merrill Lynch)
Conference Account $ 4,730.76
(Merrill Lynch)
Total Account Balances:$258,208.32


Letter from the Editor


I am sure that by now you have discovered that the Bulletin has a new editor and a new look. Like one's first child, my first issue will undoubtedly be the most difficult that I will produce. If I have omitted something of importance, I sincerely apologize. Please communicate any suggestions so that I can continue to learn how best to serve the Society.

In the meantime, I would like to announce that this issue of the Bulletin is the first online publication of the Society. To see it, point your browser at http://www.iberia.vassar.edu/sonneck/ and follow the links.

Please keep me informed of the news. The Bulletin is your voice to the world and the world's window on Sonneck. Don't formet that the fall deadline for Bulletin submissions is September 15, and I prefer e-mail or digital submissions. To all of you who have helped me with this issue, THANK YOU. You know who you are.

Sincerely,
Larry Worster


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Updated 9/22/97