Oral Histories

Interview of Peter Yates

Creator of the chamber music series “Evenings on the Roof.” Music critic for Arts and Architecture.
Subtitle:
Evenings on the Roof, 1939-1954
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Music
Biographical Note:
Creator of the chamber music series “Evenings on the Roof.” Music critic for Arts and Architecture.
Interviewer:
Tusler, Adelaide G.
Interviewee:
Yates, Peter
Persons Present:
Yates and Tusler.
Place Conducted:
Peter Yates's home in Los Angeles, California, in the same room where Evenings on the Roof originated.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Adelaide Tusler, Interviewer-Editor, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., music, UCLA; M.L.S., UCLA.
Processing of Interview:
Editing was done by Patricia Waring, Assistant Editor, UCLA Oral History Program. The verbatim transcript of the interview was checked against the original tape recordings and edited for punctuation, paragraphing, correct spelling and verification of proper and place names. The final manuscript retains the original sequence of taped material. Words or phrases supplied by the editor have been bracketed.The edited transcript was returned to Yates for his review and approval. He supplied spellings of names that the editor was unable to verify and made only minor corrections and deletions. Joel Gardner, Assistant Editor, UCLA Oral History Program, compiled the index and wrote the introduction.The Program's staff prepared the other front matter.
Length:
6.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Abstract:
Initiation of "Evenings on the Roof" concert series, 1939; construction of roof studio by architect Rudolph Schindler; participation of wife, pianist Frances Mullen Yates; experiences as director and coordinator of "Evenings on the Roof," 1937-54; music scene in Los Angeles; musicians participating in concerts; selecting programs; comments on performers and composers: Richard Buhlig, Artur Schnabel, Béla Bartók, Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, John Cage, and Ernst Toch; role of New Music Quarterly; Lawrence Morton; end of "Evenings on the Roof" and beginning of "Monday Evening Concerts."