The Julius Osiier Collection was a gift of the Julius Osiier Estate (more specifically Ms. Edith Kornfeld, Mr. Sig. Osiier, and Mr. Herman Osiier), arriving December 15, 1972. It was reprocessed in July-August,2012.

Almost the entire collection consists of manuscript and published musical scores, mostly composed or arranged by Osiier. Included are all of his most significant works for large ensembles(Orchestra or Band), with manuscript scores, parts, and piano (condensed) scores.For example, Osiier’s opera The Bride of Bagdadis here in full score form, as well as full sets of parts of portions of the work, and early short-score (piano) drafts of almost the entire opera, with chorus parts and sketches as well.A great many piano compositions, piano arrangements, and songs (some published) are in the collection as well, along with a few chamber works.Numerous published works from the Classical repertoire are also here, mostly piano scores that are marked up as if for a conductor to use conducting an arrangement of the work (arrangements of these are not in the collection). Most of these also bear the stamp “Julius Osiier –Pianist”, indicating they might have been from his own performance repertoire.

A few other documents are in the collection as well, including a few letters; a few photographs;some newspaper clippings,mostly regarding performances of Osiier’s works, especially his opera The Bride of Bagdad;and programs featuring Osiier in either a composer, conductor, or performer capacity.Also present are some works of Andreas Bard, namely a number ofsermons, lectures and collections of poetry by Bard, a sometimes-collaborator with Osiier.

Osiier’s background, skill set,and compositional style prove to have provided an interesting influence on the musical history of Kansas City, and this collection is a comprehensive assembly of musical materials that serve to illuminate the man and his work.