University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Roemheld, Heinz, 1901- .

Papers, 1915-1973.

UWM Manuscript Collection 15

3 cubic ft. (11 oversize boxes)

ABSTRACT: The Heinz Roemheld Music Collection consists of sheet music and musical scores handwritten in pencil or pen on standard and oversize score sheets and onion paper, a very thin white paper. Except for some frayed edges, the collection is in good physical condition. Some of the pencil scores are very light and difficult to read, and they are sketchy in detail. Filed among these handwritten originals are numerous reproductions of individual instrumental and vocal parts and arrangements. The bulk of this collection is undated, with the dated items ranging from 1915 to 1973.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection contains a variety of musical compositions and consists of: Published Music; Songs-Manuscripts; Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements; Piano Music; Strings with Piano; Quartets/Quintets; and Oversize Scores.

The Published Music consists of sheet music to four published songs written or orchestrated by Roemheld in 1915, 1917, 1924, and 1930.

The Songs-Manuscripts contains the manuscripts to eleven songs orchestrated and/or written by Roemheld. Most of the handwritten originals and reproduced copies are undated.

The Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements comprises the bulk of the Roemheld collection. The eleven works occupying eight of eleven boxes generally include the original pen or pencil piano or vocal scores, the original onion and reproduced orchestral parts, and full orchestral scores. Many of these full orchestral scores are written on oversize paper and stored in the oversize box 11. This separation is indicated in the appropriate entries. Music entitled "Ruby with Six Variations," from the film "Ruby Gentry" (1952) is included in this series.

Piano Music contains onion paper scores and reproductions of seven works, five of which are dated 1968 to 1973, the composer's later years.

The Strings with Piano contains three undated works for piano, and cello, violin, and viola.

Quartets/Quintets consists of five works composed or arranged for stringed instrument groups. A sixth folder contains an "ideas file" and includes "Cinema 1920" and other unnamed, undated musical sketches.

The Oversize Scores contains handwritten pencil full orchestral scores to eight works. These scores have been separated from the main series stored in the first ten boxes due to their size. These undated full orchestral scores are written on yellow score sheets which are large, bulky, and in most cases, loosely bound with string ties.

The Roemheld Collection contains no personal correspondence or other papers, except for a brief biographical sketch written by the composer's sister Irmgard. Anecdotal in nature, this sketch covers Roemheld's early years up to his 20s, and except for a brief skeletal chronological outline which contains conflicting dates, it doesn't cover his Hollywood and later years and activities. This biographical sketch also contains eleven pages of photocopied photographs and musical programs. A small cut black paper silhouette of Roemheld and several feature articles published in the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1947, 1961, and 1964 are also included. While these feature stories are useful, very little documented information regarding Roemheld's personal life and professional career is available.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Born May 1st in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1901. Commenced piano lessons with mother at age 4, 1905. Soloed on piano at the Majestic Vaudeville Theater House on Wisconsin Avenue at age 12. Played in theater pit orchestras and ensembles at local theaters and hotels with his brother Edgar, a cellist, at age 14. Attended the Ring Street School, North Division High School, and graduated from the Wisconsin College of Music in 1920. Traveled to Germany to study with Hugo Kaun, Ferrucio Busoni, and Egon Petri. Debuted on piano with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1922. Returned to Milwaukee to conduct local orchestras at the Alhambra, Strand, and Wisconsin Theaters, as well as the Plankinton Hotel Orchestra, 1923-1927. Directed the Rialto Theater Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Returned to Europe and managed Milwaukee film magnate Carl Laemmle's European film houses and conducted the Berlin Symphony Orchestra's "pop" concerts for 2 years, 1928-1929. Moved to Hollywood to write the music for All Quiet on the Western Front, produced by Carl Laemmle, 1930. Received Academy Award for jointly scoring (with Ray Heindorf) the musical, Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942. Appointed Chief of Film, Theater, and Music Sections of the Information Control Division of the U.S. Forces in Europe, 1945. Affiliated with the Hal Roach organization, 1947. Wrote music for over 300 Warner Brothers, Paramount, MGM, and other film studio productions. Credits include All Quiet on the Western Front, Ruby Gentry, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Strawberry Blonde, and Shine on Harvest Moon. Premier performance of Serenade to a Ballerina, performed by the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Fish Creek, Wisconsin, 1964. Died February 11th in California, 1985.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Roemheld, Heinz, 1901- . Papers, 1915-1973. UWM Manuscript Collection 15. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Raymond Mueller, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 2, 1986.

RELATED COLLECTION:

Seven Arts Society (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1934-[ongoing]. (UWM Manuscript Collection 58)

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Composers--United States--20th century.
Music--Manuscripts--United States.
Orchestral music--Scores.
Piano music.
Piano with string orchestra--Scores.
String quartets--Scores.
String quintets--Scores.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 15	BOX	FOLDER
Biographical Materials, 1947, 1964, undated	1	A
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Concert Piece for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 18 , undated [Cello part on onion paper plus one copy, Orchestral parts on onion paper, Piano reduction on onion paper plus four copies, Sketches; Orchestral arrangement parts; Orchestral score-Pencil original]	3	1
Orchestral Music and/ or Arrangements, Four Satiric Pieces, Opus. 17, "For my friend Bill Rosar", undated [String parts on onion paper; Orchestral arrangement parts reproduced; Piano score on onion paper; Orchestral score-Pencil]	9	2
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Fünf Lieder Aus Der Einsamiseit (sic), Opus 10, 1956 [Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced; Orchestral accompaniment score (pencil); Piano/Vocal score on onion paper (2 copies); Piano/Vocal score reproduced]	4	1
Orchestral Music and/ or Arrangements, Introduction & Scherzo (Fantasia), Opus 12, undated [String parts on onion paper; Orchestral arrangement parts reproduced (2 folders); Sketches in pencil; Orchestral score-Pencil]	9	1
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Milwaukee Industry on Parade-March, undated [Arrangement for four Saxes (saxophones); Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced (2 folders); Orchestral score-Pencil]	6	1
Orchestral Music and/ or Arrangements, Overture to Pitz Palu, 1930 [Photocopy of piano reduction]	9	3
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Ruby With Six Variations, Opus 13, 1953 [Piano arrangement, Miller Music Corp., New York, String parts on onion paper, Original pencil score; Orchestral arrangement parts]	2	2
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Serenade (To a Ballerina), Opus 11, 1964 [Orchestral parts on onion paper; Orchestral parts reproduced (2 folders); Orchestral score on onion paper, Orchestral score-Pencil]	7	1
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Seven Preludes for Piano, Opus 23, undated [Piano score on onion paper; Orchestral accompaniment parts (2 folders); Orchestral accompaniment parts on onion paper (2 copies); Orchestral score]	5	1
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Sonatina, Opus 14 (Piano), "Dedicated to My Dear Gregory", 1966 [Piano score on onion paper; Piano score reproduced (2 copies); Orchestral accompaniment parts on onion paper; Orchestral accompaniment parts reproduced; Orchestral score-Pencil]	8	1
Orchestral Music and/or Arrangements, Symphonie Breve, Opus 9 , undated [Sketches, Pencil score]	2	1
Oversize Scores, Concert Piece for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 18, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	2
Oversize Scores, Four Satiric Pieces, Opus 17, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	8
Oversize Scores, Introduction & Scherzo (Fantasia), Opus 12, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	7
Oversize Scores, Milwaukee Industry on Parade, March, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	4
Oversize Scores, Serenade (To a Ballerina), Opus 11, undated [Orchestral score-one Pencil plus one onion paper copy.]	11	5
Oversize Scores, Seven Preludes for Piano, Opus 23, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	3
Oversize Scores, Sonatina, Opus 14, (Piano), 1966 undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	6
Oversize Scores, Symphonia Breve, undated [Orchestral score-Pencil]	11	1
Piano Music, Georgia Lullaby, undated [Pencil score]	10	2
Piano Music, Mama Loves Papa, undated [Piano score in pencil]	10	4
Piano Music, II Sonatina, Opus 15, "Dedicated to Stephen Swedish," 1968 [Piano score on onion paper]	10	5
Piano Music, III Sonatina, Opus 20, 1972 [Piano score on onion paper plus one reproduction]	10	6
Piano Music, IV Sonatina, Opus 22, "Affectionately dedicated to George Fillmore," 1973 [Piano score on onion paper plus one reproduction and one copy]	10	7
Piano Music, Suite for Piano, Opus 16, "Dedicated to Didi Koovshinoff," 1969 [Piano score on onion paper, Sketches]	10	3
Piano Music, Three Piano Pieces for Paul, Opus 19, 1971 [Piano score on onion paper, Sketches]	10	1
Published Music, Champagne One Step, Published by the Marks-Goldsmith Co., Inc., Washington, D.C., 1915	1	2
Published Music, Flapper Dance, Lyrics by Arnold Krueger, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by the Hambitzer Music House, Milwaukee, 1924	1	1
Published Music, For You. Lyrics by William F. Dugan, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by Handman, Kent, & Goodman, Inc., New York, 1930	1	4
Published Music, Seminar March, Lyrics by Ralph Owen, Orchestrated by H. Roemheld, Published by Milwaukee Consolidated Music Co., 1917	1	3
Quartets/Quintets, A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Luther), undated [String quartet score on onion paper]	10	14
Quartets/Quintets, Ideas Folder, undated [Contains Cinema 1920 and various unnamed sketches]	10	16
Quartets/Quintets, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet for Violin, 2 Violas, Cello, and Bass, undated [Variation on Back Tune: In the style of Bach, R. Strauss, Schumann, Chopin, Albeniz, Debussy, Dvorak, Brahms, Mozart, Tschaikowsky, Schubert, and J. Strauss. Note: parts for all are included, but user should note that some parts are written on the backsides of other parts.]	10	11
Quartets/Quintets, Quartet, Opus 7, 1950-1952 [Full score and string parts on onion paper plus one score reproduction]	10	13
Quartets/Quintets, Two Clementinas, Opus 5, 1942 [String quartet score and original parts plus one reproduction]	10	15
Quartets/Quintets, Variations on Long, Long Ago, undated [Various movements and parts for piano, violin, viola, and cello]	10	12
Songs-Manuscripts, Ballad, To Dr. C. Toepfer, Lyrics by John Masefield, Music by H. Roemheld, Milwaukee, 1931 [Male Quartet]	1	5
Songs-Manuscripts, Ballad, To John Tyers, undated	1	14
Songs-Manuscripts, Heaven Only Knows, Lyrics by Bill Carey, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	7
Songs-Manuscripts, I Threw a Kiss (Into the Air), Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	9
Songs-Manuscripts, I'm Just a Fool (Who's in Love), Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	8
Songs-Manuscripts, Love's Philosophy, Lyrics by Percy R. Shelley, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	10
Songs-Manuscripts, Paree Je T'aime, Lyrics by William L. Hendricks, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	13
Songs-Manuscripts, Polka With E's, Lyrics by Ed Garr, Music by H. Roemheld, undated	1	11
Songs-Manuscripts, Prelude and Satan's Soliloquy, undated [Pencil score; incomplete]	1	15
Songs-Manuscripts, Three Songs of Herrick, Opus 1: To Electra, To Julia, To Angela, 1939 [Stencil copies, piano/vocal (1 copy), Piano/Vocal on onion paper (1 copy) Orchestral accompaniment-Pencil score; Orchestral accompaniment parts-Reproduced]	1	12
Songs-Manuscripts, Two Quiet Songs, Opus 24, #1 and #2, Transition, Beyond, undated [Two Photocopies of each]	1	6
Strings with Piano, Four Fragments for Viola and Piano, Opus 4, "To Thomas Arthur Cole, undated [Viola and piano scores on onion paper (1 copy of each), plus one viola and two piano reproductions]	10	10
Strings with Piano, Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Opus 6, 1950 [Violin and piano scores on onion paper]	10	9
Strings with Piano, To Kathy, undated [Cello and piano scores on onion paper and two photocopies]	10	8