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Quincy Porter

Biographical Sketch | Scope | Provenance | Access & Copyright | Container List

Physical description: four volumes contained in two drop front boxes

Biographical Sketch: Born in New Haven, Conn in 1897, Quincy Porter’s interest in music as a child was stimulated by Horatio Parker’s encouragement. Porter was later Parker’s pupil at the Yale School of Music, where he won the Osborne prize for fugue, and also the Steinert prize for the best orchestral composition written for graduation (a concerto for violin which he himself performed). He earned his A.B. from Yale College and Mus. B from the Music School the same year

Porter spent the following year in Paris following the courses of d’Indy at the Schola Cantorum and studying violin with Capet. Returning to New York, Porter studied composition with Ernest Bloch, violin with Herbert Dittler, and played in the Capitol Theater Orchestra.

Porter followed Bloch to Cleveland the following year and was soon made a member of the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he taught theory, history, and solfege, heading the theory and composition department for three years after Bloch’s departure. During this period he played viola for six years in the de Ribaupierre Quartet. Also while at Cleveland, Porter composed two string quartets, a piano quartet, and his Ukrainian Suite for stringed orchestra which was performed at the first Festival of American Music at the Eastman School.

Porter spent three years in Paris, two of which were on a Guggenheim Fellowship, writing a number of chamber works, including two more quartets, his Second Sonata for Violin and Piano, a piano sonata, and his Suite for Viola Alone which he later recorded for New Music Recordings.

After returning to Cleveland for a year, playing with the Maurice Hewitt quartet (along with his wife, Lois), Porter joined the faculty of Vassar College, where he taught for six years. While at Vassar, he wrote incidental music for the performances of Antony and Cleopatra and Sweeney Agonistes for the college’s experimental theater, his First Symphony, and two more string quartets (one of them commissioned by the League of Composers). Among the quartets that played his music are: Roth, Coolidge, Musical Art, Stradivarius, Pro Arte, Cleveland, and the Gordon, which recorded his third quartet for Columbia.

In addition to his symphony, Porter composed several orchestral works including: Poem and Dance, written for the summer concerts by the Cleveland Orchestra; Dance in Three Time, commissioned by the St. Louis Little Symphony; Two Dances for Radio, commissioned by Columbian Broadcasting Company; and Music for Strings, written for Music Press. Porter was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1954 for his Concerto for Two Pianos.

In addition, Porter held positions of leadership in many musical organizations including the International Society for Contemporary Music, the League of Composers, the American Music Center, Yaddo, NASM, and MTNA.

Porter came to New England Conservatory in 1938 to succeed Frederick S. Converse as Dean of the Faculty. In 1942, he was appointed Director of the New England Conservatory, a position which he held until 1946. In 1946, Porter was named to the faculty of Yale University, where he would remain until his retirement in 1965. Porter died on November 12, 1966 in Bethany, Connecticut.

Source: Excerpted from the New England Conservatory Bulletin, Volume XX Number 1 ( December 1942), pp. 5-6.

Scope and Content Note: This collection consists of photo-reproductions of four scrapbooks dating from Quincy Porter’s time at NEC, first as a faculty member, then as Director. Most of the materials contained in the scrapbooks date from the years 1937-1946. The scrapbooks are numbered according to their numbering in the original collection at Yale:

The indices of these scrapbooks are organized into these categories:

Concert programs: Quincy Porter compositions; Quincy Porter conducting; Quincy Porter performing; Lois Porter performing; Porter/Porter performances
Reviews/citations in an article: Porter compositions; Porter conducting; Porter performing; Lois Porter performing; Porter/Porter performing.
Correspondence
Newspaper articles about/mentioning Porter; Lois Porter
Miscellaneous materials relating to Porter
Other

For further information pertaining to this collection, see: http://webtext.library.yale.edu/xml2html/music/qp-d.htm

Provenance: The original scrapbooks, from which these scrapbooks are reproduced, belong to the collection MSS 15, The Quincy Porter Papers, held in the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale University. The photocopies were donated to the NEC Archives by Ken Crilly from the Gilmore Music Library in June 2006.

Access: Access to the Quincy Porter Collection is granted by the Archivist or Director of Libraries. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. There are no restrictions pertaining to this collection.

Copyright: All copyrights to materials in these scrapbooks belong to Yale University. Permission to publish must be requested through the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library at Yale.

Container List:

Box 1: Scrapbooks 7 and 8

Box 2: Scrapbooks 9 and 10

Indices:

Scrapbook 7: New England Conservatory (mostly) 1937-1940

Concert Programs - Porter Compositions	Page Number(s)

Blues Lointains	pp.143-145
Dance in Three-Time	pp.116-120, 228-231
Incidental Music to "Anthony and Cleopatra"	pp.123, 124-127, 216, 311-313
Nursery Songs: Mother Goose Lyrics	p. 216
Piano Sonata	pp. 19,122
Poem and Dance	pp.15-18, 34-39(NEC), 60 (Broadcast), 100, 103 (of 97-108), 110, 168-177, 183-184, 253-263, 282-287
Quartet No. 5	pp.30-33 (Radio Broadcast), 234, 270
Quintet for Flute and Strings	pp. 200-209
Second Sonata for Violin and Piano	pp.131, 178-181, 216,.218-219, 221, 224
Sonata for Violin and Piano	p.23, 239
'Songs'	pp.41-42,20-251
String Quartet No. 3	pp. 9-12, p. 30-33 (radio broadcasts), 96, 137, 149, 190-191, 276-278(signed by Maurice Hewitt), 297, 305
String Quartet no. 4	pp. 14, 129, 269
String Quartet no. 6	pp. 54 of 44-57, 139-141, 159, 235-238, 306-308, 310
Suite for Viola Alone	pp. 19, 63-67, 121, 143-145, 299
Suite in E major for violin, viola, flute	p. 216
Symphony no. 1	p. 59
Two Dances for Radio	p. 59
Ukrainian Suite	pp.60-62, 78, 147, 150, 265-266, 267-268, 288-290

Concert Program - Porter Conducting

NEC Conservatory Orchestra	pp.34-39, 152-157, 168-177, 282-287, 291-296, 305
New Haven Symphony Orchestra	pp. 97-108, 110, 253-263
Pops - NEC Night	pp.183-184
NEC Opera School (Orfeo)	p.225
NEC - Chamber Orchestra	pp.228-231

Concert Programs - Quincy Porter performances

With the Stradivarius Quartet	pp.139-142, 306-308
Kappa Gamma Psi Concerts	pp. 143-145, 151, 309

Concert Programs – Lois Porter performances

Concerts for the Harpsichord, Hautboy and Violins, Ballroom of the Governor’s Palace, Williamsburg, Virginia; With Ralph Kirkpatrick (Program)	pp.4-8
Yaddo Music Group - Four Concerts	pp.200-209

Concert Programs – Porter/Porter performances

pp.132-136, 300-304

Reviews- Porter Compositions

Dance in Three-Time	pp. 25, 112, 113, 114-115, 226, 232, 233
In Monasterio	p.23
Incidental music to Anthony and Cleopatra	p.128
Petit Trio	p. 3
Poem and Dance	pp. 28, 40, 43, 58, 109, 111, 128, 167, 184, 273, 297
Quintet for clarinet and strings	p. 3
Sixth Quartet	pp.160, 161, 163, 165, 166
Sonata for piano	p. 3
Sonata for violin and piano	pp. 3, 247
String Quartet no. 3	pp. 3, 13, 20, 137, 227
String Quartet no. 4	pp.130, 269
String Quartet no. 6	p. 141
Suite for viola alone	pp. 3, 27
Ukrainian Suite	pp.21, 22, 147

Reviews- Porter Conduct

Conservatory Orchestra	pp. 40, 92, 95, 146, 147, 167, 272
New Haven Symphony Orchestra	p.111
NEC at Pops	p.184
NEC - Orfeo / Brahms Concerts	p.225
NEC - Chamber Orchestra	pp.232, 233

Reviews – Lois Porter Performances

p.138

Reviews - Porter / Porter Performances

Musical Moments	p. 216
Local Artists Please Audience	p. 269

Correspondence

N.A.A.C.C announcement	pp.93-94
? of Stanford University	p.130
Bob [Delaney?]	p.148
Paul Creston, telegram	p.149
Dick (Marcel Dick) ; Mrs. Payment; Lois	p.158
F.L.? or J. L.?	p.162
To Wallace Goodrich from Frank Laird Waller re: Porter’s 6th Quartet	p.164
Charles Boyden, Secretary – NEC Trustees (Porter elected to Board)	p.182
Claire R. Reis, The League of Composers	p.217
Paul A. Pisk	pp.222-223
Hallil ?	pp.248-249
Louise Burr Polk	p.252
Nelson M Jansky of C.C. Birchard & Co.	p.264
John Barrows, note	p.272
Maurice Hewitt	pp.280-281

Newspaper articles – mentioning/about Porter

Cleveland Has Proof of High Musical Rank	p.3
Masterworks - String Quartet No. 3	pp.9-12
Funny Faculty Commit Glory in Spain's Name	p.24
Yaddo –(American Music Festival)	p.25
Are There American Composers?	pp.26-27
Yale Composers / Religious Trend at Yaddo	p.28
Quincy Porter Work to be Heard Here	p.58
Quincy Porter to Appear…	p.109
Local Artists Give New Haven Events	p.128
Stradivarius Quartet	p.141
Yaddo's Music Period, etc.	pp.210-216
Quincy Porter…American Music Society	p.227
French Newspaper Clipping	p.247
A Glance At Native Scores	p.271
Quincy Porter…Outstanding Composers; US Composer wins triumph in WPA Concert	pp.273-275
Composers Organize	p.279
Westminster Commencement	p.279
Annals of American Music…Yale Composers	p.298

Newspaper articles about Lois Porter

Eight Appointed to Vassar Faculty - Article	p.270

Miscellaneous relating to Porter

Program Data for Radio Broadcast	p.19
Picture – New Students at New England Conservatory	p.29
NBC / NEC Broadcast Notes	p.59
Annual Bulletin - National Association for American Composers and Conductors : Board of Directors / Co-Operating Composer and Conductor	p. 78 of 68-91
Yaddo Music Group - Four Concerts	pp.200-209
Founder's Day Program at Vassar	pp.240-246

Miscellaneous - Other

Notes on the Musick – at Colonial Williamsburg	p. 2
The Bennington Festival program	pp.185-193
Martha Graham and Dance Group program	pp.194-199
Flyer for exhibition: Painting – Lithography- Sculpture	p. 209
Yaddo’s Music Period, articles	pp. 211-215
Can you take it: evening of new art at Vassar	pp. 250-251
Article on American music	p. 272

Scrapbook 8: New England Conservatory (1941-1943)

Concert Programs - Porter Compositions	Page Number(s)

Dance in Three-Time	pp.23-26. 36-38
Poem and Dance	pp.6, 8
Sonata for Piano	pp.12, 95-97
Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2	pp.30-32, 94, 101-104
String Quartet No. 3	p.10
String Quartet No. 5	p.63
Suite for Viola Alone	pp.122-127
Toccata for Organ	pp.58-61
Toccata in A minor	pp.69-72

Concert Programs - Porter Conducting

'Seventh Concert'	p.6 (Guest)
NEC Night - Pops	p.7 (Guest)
NEC Night (1940)	p.8 (Guest)
NEC – Orfeo, concert version	pp.13-22
NEC - Chamber Orchestra	pp.23-26, 36-38
NEC Orchestra – Thirteenth Concert on the James C. Sawyer Foundation	pp.33-35
NEC Chamber Music - Under Direction of Porter…	pp.117-120

Concert Programs – Lois Porter performances

Program - For The Benefit of Ginling College	pp.28, 121
Programme for an Informal Series if Concerts for Harpsichord & Violin by Ralph Kirkpatrick, Williamsburg, VA	pp.50-52
Porter’s 2nd Sonata for violin and piano	p. 94

Other Programs

Program by Milhaud, Chilton Club	p. 11

Reviews/Citations - Porter Compositions

Dance in Three-Time	pp. 53, 54
First Symphony (Russia to receive)	pp.65-66
Music For Strings	p.68
String Quartet No. 5	pp.63, 64
Ukrainian Suite for String Orchestra	pp.62, 67

Reviews/articles – Porter Conducting

NEC Night at Pops	pp. 9, 68
Monteverdi’s Orfeo at NEC	p. 27
NEC Chamber Orchestra concert of American music	pp. 53, 54
NEC Orchestra	pp. 55-56, 65-66
NEC Chamber orchestra	pp. 117-120

Reviews/articles – Porter performances

Boston String Quartet	p.11, 63
Maria Jelmar concert	p.115
First Chamber Music Concert	pp.117-120

Reviews/articles – Lois Porter performances

Schubert’s Minuet from the quartet for strings	p. 129

Correspondence to Porter

Frederick Jacobi	p.29
Herbert E.?	p.80
Ildefonso Falcão, Council of Brazil	p.81
Burnet C. Tuthill, Treasurer - Society for the Publication of American Music	p.98
Minna Lederman, Editor - Modern Music	p.99
May Rosenblatt - American Music Center	p.100
Judith ?	p.106

Other Articles/Materials about Porter

Music Press Editions (Catalog?), Porter’s Music for Strings	p. 43 of pp. 39-49
Worcester Music Festival photo	p.57
NEC Bulletin / Worcester County Scholarship, Conference On Orchestral Problems, Notes	pp.73-79
NEC Bulletin / Quincy Porter, Director; Concerts and Recitals	pp. 82-93
Biographical sketch in NEC Bulletin	pp. 82-93 (86-87)
Twenty Minutes With Native Quincy Porter	p.130
Columbia Masterworks catalog (for Quartet no. 3)	pp. 107-114 (113)
Brown-Porter Nuptials Held	pp. 128-129, 131

Miscellaneous articles

Diet and Fare Well - Article	pp.2-5
Conservatory "Cuts a Rug" - Article	p.105
Hero of 'Wake Island' Film…. - Article	p.116
Shall We Play Music of Enemy Composers? - Article	p. 115

Scrapbook 9: New England Conservatory (mostly) 1941-1943

Concert Programs – Porter Compositions	Page Number (s)

Music for Antony and Cleopatra; for Experimental Theater at Vassar College	pp. 73-76
Music for Strings	pp. 2, 12, 16-19, 20
Poem and Dance	pp. 24-25, 64, 68
Second Sonata for Violin and Piano	pp. 26, 27, 92-95
The Silent Voices (Tennyson)	p. 62
String Quartet no. 6	p. 50
String Quartet, not identified; in Festival of American Chamber music brochure	p. 99
Ukrainian Suite	p. 37

Concert Programs – Porter Conducting

WNYC Fourth American Music Festival	pp. 24-25

Concert programs – Lois Porter performing

Boston Center Concert Series	p. 27
Cambridge Musical Club	p. 30
Violin recital at Cornell (as Lois Brown)	p. 85
Chamber Music Club	pp. 87-90

Concert programs – Porter/ Porter performing

Program, April 27, 1943	p. 9
NEC Orchestra concert	p. 21
Mass Federation of Music Clubs	p. 26

Reviews – Porter’s compositions

Piano Sonata	p. 63
Poem and Dance	p. 8
Quartet, not specified	p. 86
Quartets, general	p. 65
Second Sonata for Violin and Piano	p. 28
Two moods	p. 67

Reviews – Porter conducting

NEC Orchestra	p. 8

Reviews – Lois Porter

Boston Center (for adult ed) concert series	p. 28
Williamsburg Music Festival	pp. 77-78
Concert by Lois Porter and John Crouch	p. 84

Reviews – Porter/ Porter performing

With NEC Orchestra	pp. 21-23
Hewitt String Quartet	p. 65

Articles/materials about Porter

Yale University Alumni Bulletin	pp. 3-6
Article: About Music	p. 7
Porters weave music into family life	p. 15
NEC Orchestra soloists rehearse with Quincy Porter (photo)	p. 37
NEC Bulletin (Dec 1942) – contains biographical sketch of Porter	pp. 38-49
Radio Courses of Cleveland College, WHK, December schedule	pp. 70-72
Our Gracious Ladies – feature on Lois Porter	p. 79
Radio programming schedule – features Porter’s Quartet no. 3	p. 91

Articles about Lois Porter

Article about Cambridge Musical Club, photo includes Lois Porter	p. 82-83
Mrs Quincy Porter appointed an instructor in music	p. 84

Correspondence

Sandor Salgo, Westminster Choir College	pp. 10-11
Bob	p. 13
Serge Koussevitzky	p. 14
Hans Lange	p. 26
William L. Whitney	p. 32
Clifton Joseph Furness	p. 33
Lawrence Fertig, US Office of War Information	p. 51
Herbert?	p. 52
? Schaefer?	p. 53
Wallace [Goodrich]	pp. 54-55
Harrison [Keller]	pp. 56-59
Walter W. Naumburg	p. 60
Henry Allen Moe	p. 61
J.J.Hardy, Bamberger Broadcasting service	p. 66
Herman Crailner?	p. 69
Lillian Rosen (Parrish)	pp. 80-81
To Lois from Ruth?	p. 96

Miscellaneous
Article: Goodrich still active in music	p. 29
N.E. Conservatory Director Resigns	p. 31
Excerpt from the NE Quarterly by Clifton Furness about Walt Whitman	pp. 34-36
Ticket to Colonial Williamsburg performance	p. 97

Scrapbook 10: New England Conservatory (mostly) 1942-1946

Concert Programs - Porter Compositions	Page Number(s)

Clown Dance	p.2
Dance in Three-Time	p.27
Doctor Porter's Bull	p.212
Fourth String Quartet	p.35
Lonesome	pp.2, 214
Music for Strings	pp.2, 6, 7-8, 9-11, 22, 72, 246-252, 265-272(p. 268)
Piano sonata	pp. 23-26
Poem and Dance	p.148-151
Quintet?	p.117
Second Sonata (for Piano)	p.140
Second Sonata for violin and Piano	pp.15-18, 56 (Goldovsky and Luboshutz), 61, 74-76, 78, 111-114, 161-171(165), 210, 215
Sonata for Piano	p.210
Sonata for Viola Alone	p.130
String Quartet No. 3	pp. 98, 145-147
String Quartet No. 4	p. 35
String Quartet no. 5	p. 134
String Quartet no. 5	p. 134
String Quartet no. 6	pp. 62-63, 107, 118-121, 143, 217
String Quartet no. 7	pp. 59, 98, 100-101, 137, 173, 206-209, 217
String Quartet no. 7 (Coolidge medal concerts)	pp.40-45, 44-47, 48-51, 58, , 68
Suite for Viola alone	p. 130
Ukrainian Suite	pp.216, 246-264

Concert Programs - Porter Conducting

NEC Night at Pops	p.2, 38
NEC Orchestra	pp.12, 22, 27, 29, 38?
NEC Chamber Orchestra	p.27

Concert programs - Lois Porter - Performances

Longy School Orchestra	pp.8, 29
Concert under the auspices of the Beebe-Atherton Fund	p.61
w/ Beveridge Webster	p.210

Concert programs - Porter / Porter Performances

April 27, 1943 concert	p. 29
Cambridge Collegium Musicum	p.242

Reviews - Porter's Works

Dances for Radio, 4-time, 5-time	pp.139, 160, 213
Music for Strings	pp.73, 245
Piano Sonata	pp.5, 25
Second Sonata for violin and piano	pp.19, 20, 39, 77
Sonata for violin and piano	pp.19-21
String Quartet no. 4	p.127
String Quartet no. 5	p.134
String Quartet no. 6	pp. 61, 66, 217
String Quartet no. 7	pp.52, 60, 61, 69, 138 (1st Boston performance, 144, 173, 217

Reviews – Porter conducting

Conservatory Orchestra	p.28
Conservatory Night at Pops	pp. 37, 139, 213
Orchestra? at Symphony hall	pp.139, 160

Correspondence

Peggy Lines or Lims	pp.3-4
Robert Tangemen	pp.14, 17-18,
Ann Monks - to Lois and Quincy	pp.30-31
Joan B. Comstock -to Mr. And Mrs. Porter	pp.32-34
Jeno Antal	p.36
William Kroll	p.53
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge	pp.54, 55
National Institute of Arts and Letters	pp.57, 80
Morris Hochberg	pp.64-65
Jacques Gordon - Eastman School of Music	pp. 70-71
Arthur Fiedler	p.104
Music Press Inc. - Mrs. D.K. Congdon	p.105
Mrs. Wolfe Wolfinsohn	p.106
From Porter to Norman Nairn, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle – Review of Howard Hanson’s 4th Symphony	pp.108-110
Julius Mattfeld, CBS	p.116
Carl Paige Wood	p.122
Francisco Curt Lange	p.126
Harold Spivacke, Library of Congress	p.128
Beveridge [Webster]	p.129
Doric Alviani, Mass State College	p.131
Louise	p.132
Richard Bales, National Gallery of Art	p.133
Alan Valentine, University of Rochester	pp.135, 221-222
Karl Ahrendt, Florida State College for Women	p.141
Carl Bricken, University of Wisconsin	p.142
Walter Heermann, College of Music of Cincinnati	p.152
Fred Smith, College of Music of Cincinnati	p.153
Claire R Reis?, League of Composers	p.175
Glenn Dillard Gunn, Times-Herald	p.205
James Lincoln Huntington - Tavern Club	pp.218-219
Note to Lois from Frances {Brockman?]	p. 213
Whitney Wendel	p. 214

Articles about/mentioning Porter

Indiana Daily Student, The - 2/27/43	p.21
Girl Music Artists Get Locked Out	p.28
Un. of Rochester to Honor Quincy Porter	pp. 28, 174
Music - N.E. Conservatory at Pops (3 articles)	p.37
Porter Wins Coolidge Medal	p.39
Porter Awarded Medal at String Quartet concert	pp.52, 53, 58
Boston Composer wins Coolidge Medal	p. 53
Printing Provides Relaxation for Composer	p. 67(photos)
Music and Printing Blend in the Home of Gifted Composer	p. 68
Porter’s review of Howard Hanson’s 4th Symphony	pp.108-110
Are You Listening?....	p.123
Composers On War	pp.124-125
Porter’s Commencement address (College of Music of Cincinnati )	pp.154-157, 158, 159, 172
Graduates Told to Avoid Smugness	p.158
Composer to Talk to Music Grads	p.159
Be Artists!	p.172
Porter receives honorary degree from University of Rochester	pp. 174, 213
Conservatory Pops	p.213
Luncheon Is To Honor Head of Music Clubs' Federation	pp. 239-241

Miscellaneous relating to Porter

Front of postcard	pp.13, 211
Listing for radio broadcast of Porter’s Music for Strings (WNAC0	p. 22
List of concert sponsors	p.26
Boosey and Hawkes newsletter	pp. 79
Picture of three men on a panel?	p.81-82
Notes - Competition Judge	pp.92-96
University of Iowa Extension Bulletin, Chamber music brochure includes repertoire lists of ensembles	pp. 83-86
WNYC American Music Festival broadcast schedule (1942)	pp. 88-91
WNYC American Music Festival broadcast schedule (1944)	pp. 97-101
Pernel and Simonds Concert Series brochure	pp.111-114
League of Composers brochure and Membership Form	p.115
NJ Chamber music society news	p. 117
Two Music Week Broadcasts, WMEX	p. 210
Procedure for the Award of Honorary degree – University of Rochester	p. 220
University of Rochester Commencement program, 1944	pp.223-237
First page of score for Porter’s Quintet for flute and strings	p.243
Complete Repertory of the Eastman Orchestra, 1922-1946	pp. 253-264 (Porter on p. 261)
Ceremonial - The American Academy of Arts and Letters & The National Institute of Arts and Letters	pp.265-272
Citation - for honorary degree (U of Rochester, Eastman)	p.273

Miscellaneous - Other

Article about Bernard de Voto	p. 19
Composers retort courteous	p. 87
Audition scores and comments	pp. 92-96
Article - Looking Backward	pp.102-103
"For Instance"	p.115
Article: Much New Music of Real Importance Inspired by War	p. 144
Picture - Cincinnati Times-Star	p.158
Annual Bulletin - National Association for American Composers and Conductors	pp.176-204
Correspondence - Whitney Wendel to Unknown	p.214
Directions for University of Rochester Commencement	p.220
Un. of Rochester Ninety-fourth Annual Commencement - Program	p.223-238
Complete Repertory of the Eastman Orchestra, 1922-1946	pp. 253-264
The Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Institute of Arts and Letters Ceremonial program	pp. 265-272

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