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Agide Jacchia collection, 1920s

 Collection
Identifier: BCB-014

Scope and Contents

This collection contains assembled material by and about Agide Jacchia, President of the Boston Conservatory from 1920 to 1932. Materials primarily comprise compositions and arrangements by Jacchia formerly held by Albert Alphin Library, many of which are annotated; the collection also contains a small number of photographs and biographical clippings. The collection contains no administrative records or other materials regarding Jacchia’s operation of the Conservatory.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1920s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research by appointment. Advance notice is required for access because materials are stored offsite.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials from Berklee Archives are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Permission to examine materials, or to obtain copies, does not imply the right to publish, exhibit, or broadcast them, in whole or in part.

Because of the assembled nature of this collection, copyright status varies across the collection. Visitors and researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of any materials they may wish to use, making fair use determinations, investigating the owner(s) of the copyright and, where necessary, obtaining permission for the intended use. For additional information regarding copyright, fair use, and reproduction services, please consult our Access and Use Policies.

Biographical / Historical

Italian orchestral conductor and composer Agide Jacchia (1875-1932) was born in Lugo, Italy. He studied under Pietro Mascagni and graduated from the Rossini Conservatory at Pesaro, with additional studies at the Parma Conservatory and Liceo Musicale. He began his conducting career in 1898, conducting orchestras in Italy, the United States, Canada, and Central America. In 1917, he moved to Boston to serve as conductor for the Boston Pops, a position he held through 1926. He also conducted the Cecilia Society of Boston (1920-24) and the Fitchburg Choral Society (1923-25).

The Boston Conservatory (whose legal name at the time was the Boston Conservatory of Music and College of Oratory) appointed Jacchia as director in 1920. His efforts to revive the Conservatory after several unsettled years included the establishment of the the country's first-ever department of grand opera, and an expanded faculty featuring several members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops as well as his wife, opera singer Ester Farrabini Jacchia.

Upon his death in 1932, Ester briefly ran the school before legally transferring it to the National Associated Studios of Music under Albert Alphin in 1933.

Extent

3 Cubic Feet (3 flat storage boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Assembled material by and about Agide Jacchia, President of the Boston Conservatory from 1920 to 1932, primarily compositions and arrangements and a small number of photographs and biographical clippings. The collection contains no administrative records or other materials regarding Jacchia’s operation of the Conservatory.

Arrangement

Arranged into two series: Series 1: Compositions and Arrangements, 1919-1927, arranged chronologically by orchestration year; Series 2: Photographs and other materials, 1920s and undated, arranged alphabetically by subject.

Custodial History

Materials in this collection were held in multiple offices, including the Albert Alphin Library, the Office of Development, and the President's office, prior to their transfer to the archives upon its creation in 2015.

Acquisition History

This collection was assembled from material received from the President's office, Development office, and the Albert Alphin Library.

Related Materials

Other presidential collections include:

BCB-013 Julius Eichberg collection

BCB-015 Albert Alphin collection

BCB-016 Richard Ortner collection

See also BCB-001 Governance records collection for administrative and business documents from Jacchia’s time, as well as other materials from executive Conservatory leadership.

Processing Information

Processed by Brendan Higgins, May 2016-June 2019; prepared for ArchivesSpace by Ashley Gray and Thomas Wandborg

Title
Agide Jacchia collection, 1920s
Status
Completed
Author
Original description by Brendan Higgins (2017/12/12); prepared for ArchivesSpace by Ashley Gray and Thomas Wandborg, 2021; updated description by Ashley Gray, 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023/07/17: Collection description revised by Ashley Gray, Collections Archivist, to reflect collection re-processing and conform description to DACS.

Repository Details

Part of the Berklee Archives Repository

Contact:
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston St
Boston MA 02215 USA
617-747-8001