Series 14155

Centennial Commission (1947) Promised Valley production records, 1947.

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

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, musicaldirector, 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 inpreparing 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.

Research Note

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.

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.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

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.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

Archivally processed by W. Glen Fairclough, Jr., in June 1997.

Related Material

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.

Container List

BoxFolderDescription
11Director's script; Act I
12Director's script; Act II
13Check-off list, correction sheets: missing parts, instruction sheet, movements 1-12
14Check-off list, correction sheets: movements 13-38(c)
15Correspondence between processing archivist and composer
21Full conductor's score; Movement 1
22Full conductor's score; Movement 2
23Full conductor's score; Movements 3-11(b)
24Full conductor's score; Movements 12-14
31Full conductor's score; Movements 15-18
32Full conductor's score; Movements 19-21(b)
33Full conductor's score; Movements 23(a)-26
34Full conductor's score; Movements 28-34
35Full conductor's score; Movement 36
36Full conductor's score; Movements 38-38(a)
37Full conductor's score; Movements 38(b)-38(c)
41Wood winds scores; First Flute & Piccolo
42Wood winds scores; First Flute & Piccolo
43Wood winds scores; Second Flute
44Wood winds scores; Second Flute
45Wood winds scores; First Oboe
46Wood winds scores; First Oboe
47Wood winds scores; Second Oboe & English Horn
48Wood winds scores; Second Oboe & English Horn
49Wood winds scores; First Clarinet
410Wood winds scores; First Clarinet
411Wood winds scores; Second Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
412Wood winds scores; Second Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
413Wood winds scores; First Bassoon
414Wood winds scores; First Bassoon
415Wood winds scores; Second Bassoon
416Wood winds scores; Second Bassoon
417Brass scores; First Horn
418Brass scores; First Horn
419Brass scores; Second Horn
420Brass scores; Second Horn
421Brass scores; Third Horn
422Brass scores; Third Horn
423Brass scores; Fourth Horn
424Brass scores; Fourth Horn
425Brass scores; First Trumpet
426Brass scores; First Trumpet
427Brass scores; Second Trumpet
428Brass scores; Second Trumpet
429Brass scores; Third Trumpet
430Brass scores; Third Trumpet
431Brass scores; First Trombone
432Brass scores; First Trombone
433Brass scores; Second Trombone
434Brass scores; Second Trombone
435Brass scores; Third Trombone
436Brass scores; Third Trombone
437Brass scores; Tuba
438Brass scores; Tuba
439Percussion scores; Timpani
440Percussion scores; Timpani
441Percussion scores; Harp
442Percussion scores; Harp
443Percussion scores; Piano-Choral
51Percussion scores; Piano-Choral
52Percussion scores; Percussion 1
53Percussion scores; Percussion 1
54Percussion scores; Percussion 2
55Percussion scores; Percussion 2
56Percussion scores; Percussion 3
57Percussion scores; Percussion 3
58Percussion scores; Percussion, Miscellaneous (Incomplete)
59Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 1
510Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 1
511Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 2
512Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 2
513Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 3
514Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 3
515Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 4
516Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 4
517Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 5
518Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 5
519Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 6
520Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 6
521Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 7
522Strings scores; First Violin, Desk 7
523Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 1
524Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 1
525Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 2
526Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 2
527Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 3
528Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 3
61Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 4
62Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 4
63Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 5
64Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 5
65Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 6
66Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 6
67Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 7
68Strings scores; Second Violin, Desk 7
69Strings scores; Second Violin, Miscellaneous (Incomplete)
610Strings scores; Viola, Desk 1
611Strings scores; Viola, Desk 1
612Strings scores; Viola, Desk 2
613Strings scores; Viola, Desk 2
614Strings scores; Viola, Desk 3
615Strings scores; Viola, Desk 3
616Strings scores; Viola, Desk 4
617Strings scores; Viola, Desk 4
618Strings scores; Cello, Desk 1
619Strings scores; Cello, Desk 1
620Strings scores; Cello, Desk 2
621Strings scores; Cello, Desk 2
622Strings scores; Cello, Desk 3
623Strings scores; Cello, Desk 3
624Strings scores; Cello, Desk 4
625Strings scores; Cello, Desk 4
626Strings scores; Cello, Miscellaneous (Incomplete)
627Strings scores; Bass, Desk 1
628Strings scores; Bass, Desk 1
629Strings scores; Bass, Desk 2
630Strings scores; Bass, Desk 2
631Bass, Miscellaneous (Incomplete)
632Instrument scores for unidentified orchestra pieces