Collection Overview
- 2 linear feet of music (mostly manuscript reproductions)
- 58 audiocassettes
- 2 audio reels
- List of score titles
Dr. John Boda (1922-2002) was Professor of Theory, Composition and Piano at Florida State University, teaching from 1947-2001. Born in Boyceville, Wisconsin, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Kent State University. Following a year as apprentice conductor to George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, he received his Master’s and Doctoral degrees at Eastman School of Music. Throughout his many years in education, he remained constantly active as composer, pianist, and conductor. At FSU, Dr. Boda directed more than fifty dissertations in composition, and taught many courses in composition, theory, and opera. He was a specialist in the music of Richard Wagner, conducting Wagner’s works and teaching a specific class on the Ring Cycle.
Dr. Boda was a fan of baseball, golf, and tennis, which he would play as often as his schedule would allow. He loved cooking and playing bridge. He was also a charter member and president of the Tallahassee Orchid society, collecting and cultivating those exotic flowers for decades.
Dr. Boda wrote many works for large and small ensembles. Included in his larger works are Poem (for orchestra, 1994), Concertino for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1981), Sinfonia for Orchestra (1960), and Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1967) written for Edward Kilenyi. The Sinfonia, written under a Ford Grant, was performed by various orchestras, including the Rochester Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Brevard Music Festival Orchestra.
In addition to the cataloged works of John Boda in our Aleph catalog, the Boda Collection contains nearly 100 titles of his, mostly . Because of the unique nature of this collection, these scores are available for research by appointment only. For information, please contact our Special Collections Staff.