Series 14155
Centennial Commission (1947) Promised Valley production records
Dates: 1947
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
The director's script (dialogue and song lyrics) and master sheets of the musical score of Promised Valley,a musical drama which tells the story of the pioneer migration to Utah, and records relating to various performances make up this series. The fictional, two-act play was created in its entirety for the 1947 centennial celebration honoring Utah's pioneers. Broadway playwright Arnold Olaf Sundgaard (1909-) of New York City wrote the story and song lyrics. Utahn Crawford Marion Gates (1921-) composed the music over a six-month period. The condensed conductor's score was transcribed to full orchestration by Henry Maiben. Master sheets were then reproduced by the ozalid process (similar to a blue print). A staff of copyists made master sheets for each instrument (56 pieces) and vocal part. Many revisions caused a tremendous amount of re-orchestration and transposing during the last three weeks, with the overture being completed just 24 hours before opening night. Jay Blackton, musical director, gave many practical suggestions and personal help to the process of revision and correction of the scores. Staged in the University of Utah stadium, the original production was presented on seventeen nights between July 21 and August 10, 1947.
The musical score includes: Overture; Prologue (Winter Quarters); "The Shirt Song;" "The Wind Is a Lion;" "I Dream of a Valley Home;" "The Upper California;" "Sparking on a Sunday Night;" "Come, Come Ye Saints;" "My Heart Is Lost and Lonely;" "Caleb's Burial;" "The Cushioned Seat;" "This Is the Place!;" "The Choir Practice Song;" "It's So Good to Be Home Again;" "Love Is My Song;" "Think Not When You Gather to Zion;" "Golly, I'm Glad to Be Alive;" "I Wonder Why;" "Indian Chant;" Cricket-Gull Choral Ballet; Epilogue ("The Fair Scene"), and "The Harvest Song."
Included with the director's script is a folder filled with instrument check-off sheets (one is stamped June 19, 1958) and correction sheets believed to have been used in preparing to publish sheet music. The director's/conductor's orchestra notes for three performances at the June Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Tuesday, June 6, through Thursday, June 8, 1961, at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus) are found with several instrument scores.
Included with the processed records are a letter from the processing archivist to composer Crawford Gates and the original copy of Gates's three-page reply explaining various terms, explaining the reproduction process, and listing various performances for which the musical scores were used. Reproductions of both are attached as an appendix to this inventory.
Arrangement
By instrument class in the order they appear in the conductor's score
The arrangement of the musical score is according to instrument class in the order instruments appear in the conductor's score, with woodwinds on the upper staffs, followed in descending order by the brasses, percussion instruments, and the strings.
Related Records
Centennial event programs, press books, and advertisements from the Centennial Commission (1947), Series 2227, include "Promised Valley" Official Centennial Souvenir Program.
Reports from the Centennial Commission (1947), Series 2228, include progress reports and final reports (including financial summaries).
Publicity photographs from the Dept. of Community and Economic Development. Division of Travel Development, Series 2502, include photographs from performances of "Promised Valley" from the 1960s.
News clipping scrapbooks from the Centennial Commission (1947), Series 11963, include clippings of news coverage about "Promised Valley."
Minutes from the Centennial Commission (1947), Series 19313, document commission decisions regarding "Promised Valley."
Correspondence and subject files from the Centennial Commission (1947), Series 19316, include commission correspondence with the author and composer.
Custody History
Records of the Centennial Commission originally were deposited with the Utah Historical Society, which in 1949 was designated by Governor J. Bracken Lee as the official repository for the records of the commission. The newly independent Utah State Archives retained custody of the records following its removal from the Historical Society in 1969.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public.
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Gaps in Series
Several movements from Act II are missing from the full conductor's score. Missing are no. 22, prelude to Act II; no. 27, "Think Not When You Gather to Zion;" no. 30, interlude between scenes 2 and 3; no. 31, "Indian Chant;" no. 32, "Indian Ceremonial Dance;" no. 33, interlude between scenes 3 and 4; and no. 35, "The Wind Is a Lion" (reprise no. 3). Several movements are missing from individual instrument scores. No records relating to choreography are present.
Processing Note
Archivally processed by W. Glen Fairclough, Jr., in June 1997.
Indexing Terms
- Utah—Centennial celebrations, etc.
- Utah—Musical theater—Production and direction.
Container List
| BOX | FOLDER | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Director's script; Act I |
| 1 | 2 | Director's script; Act II |
| 1 | 3 | Check-off list, correction sheets: missing parts, instruction sheet, movements 1-12 |
| 1 | 4 | Check-off list, correction sheets: movements 13-38(c) |
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence between processing archivist and composer |
| 2 | 1 | Full conductor's score; Movement 1 |
| 2 | 2 | Full conductor's score; Movement 2 |
| 2 | 3 | Full conductor's score; Movements 3-11(b) |
| 2 | 4 | Full conductor's score; Movements 12-14 |
| 3 | 1 | Full conductor's score; Movements 15-18 |
| 3 | 2 | Full conductor's score; Movements 19-21(b) |
| 3 | 3 | Full conductor's score; Movements 23(a)-26 |
| 3 | 4 | Full conductor's score; Movements 28-34 |
| 3 | 5 | Full conductor's score; Movement 36 |
| 3 | 6 | Full conductor's score; Movements 38-38(a) |
| 3 | 7 | Full conductor's score; Movements 38(b)-38(c) |
| 4 | 1 | Wood winds scores; First Flute & Piccolo |
| 4 | 2 | Wood winds scores; First Flute & Piccolo |
| 4 | 3 | Wood winds scores; Second Flute |
| 4 | 4 | Wood winds scores; Second Flute |
| 4 | 5 | Wood winds scores; First Oboe |
| 4 | 6 | Wood winds scores; First Oboe |
| 4 | 7 | Wood winds scores; Second Oboe & English Horn |
| 4 | 8 | Wood winds scores; Second Oboe & English Horn |
| 4 | 9 | Wood winds scores; First Clarinet |
| 4 | 10 | Wood winds scores; First Clarinet |
| 4 | 11 | Wood winds scores; Second Clarinet & Bass Clarinet |
| 4 | 12 | Wood winds scores; Second Clarinet & Bass Clarinet |
| 4 | 13 | Wood winds scores; First Bassoon |
| 4 | 14 | Wood winds scores; First Bassoon |
| 4 | 15 | Wood winds scores; Second Bassoon |
| 4 | 16 | Wood winds scores; Second Bassoon |
| 4 | 17 | Brass scores; First Horn |
| 4 | 18 | Brass scores; First Horn |
| 4 | 19 | Brass scores; Second Horn |
| 4 | 20 | Brass scores; Second Horn |
| 4 | 21 | Brass scores; Third Horn |
| 4 | 22 | Brass scores; Third Horn |
| 4 | 23 | Brass scores; Fourth Horn |
| 4 | 24 | Brass scores; Fourth Horn |
| 4 | 25 | Brass scores; First Trumpet |
| 4 | 26 | Brass scores; First Trumpet |
| 4 | 27 | Brass scores; Second Trumpet |
| 4 | 28 | Brass scores; Second Trumpet |
| 4 | 29 | Brass scores; Third Trumpet |
| 4 | 30 | Brass scores; Third Trumpet |
| 4 | 31 | Brass scores; First Trombone |
| 4 | 32 | Brass scores; First Trombone |
| 4 | 33 | Brass scores; Second Trombone |
| 4 | 34 | Brass scores; Second Trombone |
| 4 | 35 | Brass scores; Third Trombone |
| 4 | 36 | Brass scores; Third Trombone |
| 4 | 37 | Brass scores; Tuba |
| 4 | 38 | Brass scores; Tuba |
| 4 | 39 | Percussion scores; Timpani |
| 4 | 40 | Percussion scores; Timpani |
| 4 | 41 | Percussion scores; Harp |
| 4 | 42 | Percussion scores; Harp |
| 4 | 43 | Percussion scores; Piano-Choral |
| 5 | 1 | Percussion scores; Piano-Choral |
| 5 | 2 | Percussion scores; Percussion 1 |
| 5 | 3 | Percussion scores; Percussion 1 |
| 5 | 4 | Percussion scores; Percussion 2 |
| 5 | 5 | Percussion scores; Percussion 2 |
| 5 | 6 | Percussion scores; Percussion 3 |
| 5 | 7 | Percussion scores; Percussion 3 |
| 5 | 8 | Percussion scores; Percussion, Miscellaneous (Incomplete) |
| 5 | 9 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 1 |
| 5 | 10 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 1 |
| 5 | 11 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 2 |
| 5 | 12 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 2 |
| 5 | 13 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 3 |
| 5 | 14 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 3 |
| 5 | 15 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 4 |
| 5 | 16 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 4 |
| 5 | 17 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 5 |
| 5 | 18 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 5 |
| 5 | 19 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 6 |
| 5 | 20 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 6 |
| 5 | 21 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 7 |
| 5 | 23 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 1 |
| 5 | 24 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 1 |
| 5 | 25 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 2 |
| 5 | 26 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 2 |
| 5 | 27 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 3 |
| 5 | 28 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 3 |
| 6 | 1 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 2 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 3 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 5 |
| 6 | 4 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 5 |
| 6 | 5 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 6 |
| 6 | 6 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 6 |
| 6 | 7 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 7 |
| 6 | 8 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 7 |
| 6 | 9 | Strings scores; Second Violin, Miscellaneous (Incomplete) |
| 6 | 10 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 11 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 12 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 13 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 14 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 3 |
| 6 | 15 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 3 |
| 6 | 16 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 17 | Strings scores; Viola, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 18 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 19 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 20 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 21 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 22 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 3 |
| 6 | 23 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 3 |
| 6 | 24 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 25 | Strings scores; Cello, Desk 4 |
| 6 | 26 | Strings scores; Cello, Miscellaneous (Incomplete) |
| 6 | 27 | Strings scores; Bass, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 28 | Strings scores; Bass, Desk 1 |
| 6 | 29 | Strings scores; Bass, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 30 | Strings scores; Bass, Desk 2 |
| 6 | 31 | Bass, Miscellaneous (Incomplete) |
| 6 | 32 | Instrument scores for unidentified orchestra pieces |
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.