Donal Michalsky papers

The Michalsky Collection is the most complete selection of music by Donal Michalsky available anywhere. One hundred seventy compositions have been cataloged with references to supplemantary materals available elsewhere in the Library at California State University, Fullerton. The collection consists of damaged and undamaged original scores and sketches, as well as extra xerox and printed copies for public use.

Donal Michalsky was born in Pasadena, California on July 13, 1928 ond died in Newport Beach, California on January 1, 1976. He began clarinet studies in 1937 and concluded study (with Kalman Bloch) in 1948 in deference to composition. Attended the University of Southern California from 1948 to 1957; earning a Bachelor of Music degree in 1952 and a Master of Music degree in 1957; studied composition and orchestration under Ingolf Dahl, and theory under Halsey Stevens. Attended the State Academy of music in Freiberg in 1958 studying composition under Wolfgang Fortner. Taught composition and music history at the California State University, Fullerton from 1960 till his death i n 1976. Earned a Doctor of Musical. Arts (Composition) at the University of Southern California in 1965.

Several unique guidelines were used for the organization of this collection: First of all, many of the original scores were lost or damaged in a fire. I have duplicated any damaged scores that can be edited or reconstructed for performance. Secondly, Michalsky often referred to his works by different names. Whenever possible , I have classified works by the title located at the top of a manuscript's first page. Thirdly, damaged fragments that were left incomplete after just a few measures are unclassified.

My thanks to Roy V. Boswell, Barbara Davis, Chuck Estes, Margo Mayer, and the staff of Special Collections for their help in organizing this collection.