Meridian String Quartet Recordings

Collection

Identifier: MSS105

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of digitized copies of the original reel to reel recording of Mozart’s String Quartet #19 (Dissonance), K. 465 performed by the Meridian String Quartet (members George R. Flexman, Charlotte Reeves, Kirk Walker, and Herbert Congdon). In the recording the quartet briefly discusses the piece before performing it. The original recording was on a 5-inch reel to reel; although the original was in poor condition, the donor (son of Meridian String Quartet cellist George R. Flexman) was able to create digital copies in both mp3 and wav file format. The donor believes that his father may have recorded the musicians talking and playing separately and then spliced the tape together. This recording may have been a part of George R. Flexman’s degree program at the Jordan College of Music (now Jordan College of the Arts School of Music); Flexman received his master's degree in 1951. The collection also includes two scans of black and white photographs of the quartet.

Dates

Creation: circa 1949

Creator

Flexman, George R. (Person)
Reeves, Charlotte (Person)
Walker, Kirk (Person)
Congdon, Herbert (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Please contact the repository for access to the digital files.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical Note

George R. Flexman was born in 1919 in Hoopeston, Illinois. He attended Oberlin College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music and later attended the Jordan College of Music (now the Jordan College of the Arts School of Music) at Butler University, receiving his master’s degree in 1951. He played cello in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) from 1949 to 1959 and was a part of the Meridian String Quartet along with fellow ISO members Charlotte Reeves, Kirk Walker, and Herbert Congdon. Mr. Flexman passed away in Indianapolis in 2016.

Extent

185.562 Megabytes (6 digital files)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

George G. Flexman donated this collection to Butler University Libraries in 2023 (Accession Number 2023.018). This collection consists of digitized copies of the original materials. Donor George G. Flexman created mp3 and wav files and donated these to the Butler University Libraries, along with scans of two photographs. Donor retains the originals; per the donor the original recording is in poor condition.