The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Peloquin, C. Alexander (Charles Alexander), 1918-1997

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1965, 1968

Volume: 12 item(s); 18 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

C. Alexander Peloquin was a composer of liturgical music who was one of the earliest to begin to write in a style that reflected the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council. He spent many years as composer-in-residence at Boston College and directed student choral ensembles. He composed music for some of Merton's "Freedom Songs", poems inspired by Negro spirituals. The songs were originally intended to be sung by African-American baritone Robert Williams. Merton and Peloquin had trouble at a time with claims that Williams made over copyright of the songs.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also the "Williams, Robert" file.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1965/04/28 other[x] Thomas Merton to Write Words for 'Freedom Songs' PROVIDENCE, R. I. (Religious News Service)  [photocopied news clipping (hand labelled "N.Y.T. 4-28-65" [New York Times]) discussing the collaboration between Thomas Merton and C. Alexander Peloquin]
 1965/04/30 other[x] Monk, Composer Collaborate On Freedom Songs PROVIDENCE, R. I. (NC) - Church music composer  [news clipping printed from the online edition of the Catholic Northwest Progress (Seattle, Washington) discussing the collaboration between Thomas Merton and C. Alexander Peloquin on freedom songs]
 1965/05/17 TL[c]from MertonThanks for your note. June 26th will be perfectly fine. The afternoon will certainly be wide open,   
 1968/02/22 HLSto MertonI've just been on the phone with the Liturgical Conference in Washington.   
 1968/03/04 TL[c]from MertonGood to hear from you again. Certainly that is a fine idea about using one of the Freedom Songs   
 1968/03/15 (#01)TL[c]from MertonWell, if Robert Williams gave you the rights to the songs, I think there is no problem. I would say   
 1968/03/15 (#02)TL[c] from Merton to Robert WilliamsPeloquin has written to me about the Songs. He is working on them for the Liturgical Conference   
 1968/03/27 (#01)HLSto MertonI'm going ahead. But it's good to know you're with me. I feel relieved concerning Robt Williams   
 1968/03/27 (#02)TL[c]from MertonMy scrawled note of this morning is probably illegible, so I am typing this to clarify a little.   
 1968/06/24 (#02)otherto MertonThis Agreement made this between GIA MUSIC CORPORATION, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois,  [unsigned agreement concerning publisher and composer rights to Peloquin's score to Merton's "Freedom Songs"]
 1968/06/24? (#01)HLSto MertonThank you for your reply. I was looking for it! By the way, I'm well on my way with Sundown!   
 1968/08/13 TAL[c]from MertonGood news has been coming through, and I am happy to hear things are moving on so well.   
        

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