© 2007. State University of New York at Buffalo. All rights reserved.
[Specified item], Michael Pugliese Papers, 1978-1996, Music Library, The State University of New York at Buffalo.
Acquisition InformationGift of the Michael Pugliese Estate, 2004.
Terms of AccessMaterials can be examined by qualified researchers in the Music Library during hours of operation during which Music Librarians are present. In order to insure access, researchers are advised to contact the Music Library in advance of visits.
CopyrightCopyright for the materials in the collection does not reside with the Music Library. Therefore, patrons wishing to publish any item, or part of an item from this collection for any purpose, are responsible for securing requisite permissions.
Processing InformationProcessed by John Bewley.
Accruals and AdditionsNo further accruals are expected to this collection.
Michael Gabriel Pugliese was born Sept. 26, 1956 in Buffalo, N.Y. He studied percussion with Jan Williams at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1979. He then continued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, completing a Master of Music degree in 1981. Once in New York City, Michael quickly established himself as a percussionist specializing in avant-garde music. He co-directed a 12-hour marathon of music by John Cage at Cooper Union in New York in 1982. His association with the music of John Cage continued, leading to his first performances of Cage's Etdues Boreales, Ryoanji, Voiceless Essay, Five Stone Wind, Sculpture Musicales, and Four3. This association with Cage also lead to work with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company as performer and composer. Pugliese toured extensively with the dance company beginning in 1985. He composed Peace Talks (1989) and Mixed Signals (1991) for the company. Other percussion works composed by Michael Pugliese include his Jinxed, June 22, Not Jinxed, Not Waves, and Peaceful Pond at Dusk. He also composed popular songs under the name of Mike Gabriel.
Pugliese made his solo debut at Merkin Hall in New York City in 1989 (the performance is available on a Mode compact disc under the title Perkin' at Merkin'). He appeared as a percussionist with the New Music Consort, the Bowery Ensemble, and the Michael Gordon Philharmonic. He also performed at several new music festivals, including the North American New Music Festival (Buffalo, N.Y.), the American Festival in 1985 (London), New Music America (Houston 1986 and Miami 1988), and the Los Angeles Festival in 1987. He was the founding member of the experimental percussion trio, Talking Drums. Pugliese also performed in the pit orchestras for musicals, including Miss Saigon, Nunsense, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Les Miserables. Michael Pugliese died Nov. 3, 1997 in New York City.
The Michael Pugliese Papers is a relatively small collection of personal documents, programs, reviews, and correspondence. The correspondence files include a telegram from John Cage as well as instructions from Cage on a macrobiotic diet. The six versions of Pugliese's curriculum vitae provide a fairly good representation of his career as of 1991, date of the most recent version.
Arranged into four series:
| Box | Folder | Contents |
| 1 | 1 | Curriculum vitae,
1978-1991 6 versions |
| 1 | 2 | Contract, Mode Records,
July 8,
1985 1 leaf |
| Box | Folder | Contents |
| 1 | 3 | Concert programs,
1978-1989 13 items |
| 1 | 4 | Reviews and clippings 7 items |
| 1 | 5 | Tigerbeats (Musical group) Photographs and concert announcements |
|
III. Correspondence, Folders 6-10 |
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Arranged alphabetically by correspondent. |
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| Box | Folder | Contents |
| 1 | 6 | Cage, John
1978-1989 4 items |
|
Article from March 1978 Electronic
Musician
7 typescript leaves about macrobiotic cooking
3 typescript leaves of notes about
Etudes Boreales
1 telegram about Child of Tree,
Branches, and Inlets
|
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| 1 | 7 | Harbaum, Georg
1978-1989 1 ms. letter (2 leaves) |
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Contains examples in color and black and white of Harbaum's art. |
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| 1 | 8 | Keene, Steven
1978-1989 2 items |
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Letter from Pugliese to Keene (1 leaf)
Typescript copy of Keene's poem
Peace talks, war shouts (3 leaves).
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| 1 | 9 | Kelly, Fergus
1978-1989 4 ms. letters |
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Letters from Kelly to Pugliese with clippings, photographs, and articles about Kelly's sound sculptures. |
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| 1 | 10 | Newman, Chris, 1958-
1978-1989 3 ms. letters (3 leaves) and 1 ms. postcard. |
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IV. Framed title pages of John Cage scores,
1981-1991
Items 1-3 |
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Three framed title pages of works composed by John Cage and dedicated by him to Michael Pugliese. |
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Arranged in alphabetical order by title of composition. |
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| Box | Item | Contents |
| 2 | 1 | Etudes boreales, for piano solo, 1981 |
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Autographed by Cage, 25 October 1984. |
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| 2 | 2 | Ryoanji, for percussion, 1983 |
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Autographed by Cage, 6 November 1983. |
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| 2 | 3 | Three², for three percussionists 1991 |
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog.
