James ElinskiIf you ever meander through Leatherby Libraries, you’re likely to come across surprising treasures. One such treasure is the Henri Temianka Study Room, on the third floor of the libraries in the M. Douglas Library of Music.
About Henri Temianka
Henri Temianka was a world-renowned violinist, educator, conductor and writer whose career spanned over 3,000 concerts worldwide and comprised over 100 published articles and books. Temianka founded the famous Paganini Quartet and the California Chamber Symphony, the first chamber orchestra in Los Angeles.
Throughout his successful career, Temianka performed and trained with many of the world’s most influential musicians. Temianka maintained constant correspondance with many famous musicians from the early 1920s until his passing. Temianka’s son, Daniel Temianka, donated this incredible archive of over 3,000 letters, program flyers, photographs, ephemera and memorabilia to the Chapman University Leatherby Libraries’ Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives. The collection gives insight into Temianka’s many interests, including the effects of modern European history on musicians and artists, as well as the growth of classical music in Southern California on which Henri Temianka had a major influence.
“I am so touched and grateful to have this collection here at this great institution. This is a dream come true,” said Daniel Temianka, Ph.D., during the dedication ceremony for the Henri Temianka Archives. During one of his visits, Daniel Temianka had the opportunity to welcome the string quartet Quartetto di Cremona and listen to them perform on the same instruments his father played. To read about that visit, see this blog.
A Musical Legacy
The Henri Temianka Study Room allows the visitor to see firsthand a portion of the collection that highlights key moments throughout Henri Temianka’s career as well as artifacts and papers. Just outside the room, an interactive iPad exhibit allows guests to learn about Temianka’s career and influence.
“This is what we love about our bookable rooms. They inspire people to stretch and learn more about their world,” Charlene Baldwin, dean of Leatherby Libraries said during the room dedication in 2017.
With built-in speakers, the Temianka study room is built with music studies in mind and allows students to immerse themselves in music while surrounding themselves with the life of Henri Temianka.
To learn more about the treasures of Leatherby Libraries, visit the Leatherby Libraries website and blog.
