Graphical version

Serge Prokofiev Archive

PALMER, Christopher (1946-1995)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 2217 CP

Held at: Serge Prokofiev Archive

Title: PALMER, Christopher (1946-1995)

Date(s): [1928-1989]

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 1 large box

Name of creator(s): Palmer | Christopher | 1946-1995 | musician and music critic

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born the son of an RAF pilot in 1946, Christopher Palmer was educated at Norwich School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Initially studying modern languages at Cambridge, he switched courses to music. His career was wide and varied: he was a writer, producing biographies, sleeve notes, radio scripts, reviews and articles, mainly on British music; he was also a talented orchestrator and arranger of film scores and classical music; and a record producer who particularly benefited unsung British composers. Palmer had an enthusiasm for Prokofiev, Ravel and Britten, and collaborated with Oleg Prokofiev on the publication of Serge Prokofiev, Soviet Diary, 1927 and other writings (Faber and Faber, 1991). His work on a new biography of Prokofiev was cut short by his untimely death in 1995.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Christopher Palmer, [1928-1989], comprising scrapbooks collated by Palmer containing printed articles, press cuttings, draft articles and programme notes relating to the work of Serge Prokofiev, including sections on Prokofiev's operas, ballets, symphonies and orchestral works, as well as general biographical material. There is also material relating to Palmer and Oleg Prokofiev's edition of Serge Prokofiev's Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings, (Faber and Faber, 1991), including corrections and editorial notes; and various drafts of articles and programme notes on Prokofiev written by Palmer, [1988-1992].

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Russian, English

System of arrangement:

Unsorted.

Conditions governing access:

By appointment only. Please contact the curator for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

At the discretion of the Curator.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Unlisted.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by the executor of Christopher Palmer in 1995.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The Serge Prokofiev Archive also holds the papers of Serge, Lina and Oleg Prokofiev.

Publication note:

Soviet Diary 1927 and other writings by Serge Prokofiev, translated and edited by Oleg Prokofiev, associate editor Christopher Palmer (Faber and Faber, 1991).

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Feb 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Ballet | Dance
Biographies | Prose | Literary forms and genres | Literature
Classical music | Musical styles
Opera | Theatre | Performing arts

Personal names
Palmer | Christopher | 1946-1995 | musician and music critic
Prokofiev | Serge Sergeevich | 1891-1953 | composer

Corporate names

Places
USSR | Eastern Europe