Mikel Rouse Deposits 2500 Pages of Manuscripts to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

On March 28, 2013 Mikel Rouse deposited more than 2500 pages of scores and manuscripts of the Mikel Rouse Archive at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. This deposit is the beginning of Phase Two of a Four Phase plan for deposit. The handwritten manuscripts cover roughly 17 years of work from 1977 to 1994. Scores include the opera Failing Kansas, Book One for String Quartet, the Mikel Rouse Broken Consort Chamber Works and numerous orchestra and choral works.

In 2010, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts announced the acquisition of the Mikel Rouse Archive as part of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center’s permanent collection. The archive will include Rouse’s scores, manuscripts, digital media including audio, video, and film material, as well as artwork, sketchbooks, diaries and correspondence.

“The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is honored to have Mikel Rouse’s archive in the collection,” said Jacqueline Z. Davis, Barbara G. and Lawrence A. Fleischman Executive Director for the Performing Arts. “The rich and important work of this wonderfully diverse artist will be available for patrons to study and learn from for years to come.” Speaking with the New York Times, Ms. Davis said, “There’s a lot, but thankfully, not only is he creative, extremely talented and very successful — he’s also organized.” The collection, she explained, is arriving in four waves: analog master tapes; scores, manuscripts and programs; digital media; and, finally, sketchbooks, diaries, contracts, and correspondence.