About the Collection

The collection of Jan Williams Photos of Morton Feldman contains 56 slides taken during concert tours made by Feldman and Williams in 1974, 1977, and 1979. These slides were used to create color prints which were in turn used to create digital images. The tours were part of the activities of the Creative Associates and the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Locations of the images include Paris, London, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Barcelona, Perugia, Karlsrühe, Dartington and Harrogate, England, Hilversum, Shiraz, Iran, Padua, and Venice. Other musicians in the images include Lejaren Hiller, Eberhard Blum, Martha Herr Hanneman, Nils Vigeland, Dennis Kahle, David Gibson, Julius Eastman, Ralph Jones, Peter Gena, Jan Williams, Benjamin Hudson, Bunita Marcus, and Renée Levine, director of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts.

Jan Williams was born in Utica, New York in 1939. He earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees as a percussionist at the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Paul Price. Williams came to Buffalo as a Creative Associate at the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts in 1964. He became a member of the University at Buffalo Music Faculty in 1967 and Co-Director of the Center in 1974. Williams has been a mainstay of the international contemporary music scene, as percussionist, conductor, administrator, and educator.

Composer Morton Feldman (1926-1987) joined the University at Buffalo Music Faculty in 1972. He was Slee Professor, 1972-1973, Edgar Varèse Professor, 1975-1987, and the Director of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts, 1976-1980. Feldman also established the June in Buffalo festival in 1975 at the University. Under his leadership the festival was presented 1975-1978, and 1980.

Complete details about the collection can be found in the finding aid for the collection.