To: Mr. Wriston Locklair

From: Thomas E. Barker


Enclosed are copies of press releases, review quotes and concert schedule from the performances of Zaccho.


Background facts

I founded the ballet company "ZACCHO" with the support of James Cox Chambers. Anne Cox Chambers, the ambassador to Belgium from the USA, commissioned me to compose a ballet. I composed a chamber ballet "Gianni Schicchi" for 6 dancers and 7 musicians plus narrator. In addition to my compositional activities I hired all the musicians, technical staff, did all fund raising, publicity and bookkeeping. The dancers were hired by J. Chambers and all choreography was his task. The European bookings were done by Perry J. Stieglitz and Jan Van Kerkhoven of the American Library, an extension of the US Embassy. After rehearsals for "SCHICCHI" were under way I was commissioned again by the ambassador and J. Chambers to compose "Chamber Concerto for Flute and 5 Players" and also an arrangement of Paganini's 24th caprice, "PC 24 B. VAR." The last piece of mine used was an adaptation of the "Eclectic Suite" (1971) which I performed on guitar. The concert was rounded out by a piece of June Hoffman's "Chamber Piece for 5 Players" commissioned by "ZACCHO." I conducted all the music on this tour.