Special Collections

In 1994, Neil Douglas Argo was an Honored Alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado. At that time, he donated the following materials to the School of Music for use in teaching a new course on film scoring. These materials remained housed and in use at various times by the School of Music until July 2001. Then they were transferred from the School of Music to the UNC Music Library for Mr. Argo's use and for inventory as a permanent gift to the University, to be preserved for use in the Archives located in Michener Library.

This unique collection consists of numerous original television and film scores as well as instrumental parts for those scores all composed or orchestrated by Mr. Argo. In some cases, the instrumental parts are available in photocopy form only. In most instances, there is an original part with extra photocopies for the same instrument. This gift also includes audio or audio/visual formats representative of some of the composed scores.

Mr. Argo donated a total of 40 original orchestral scores, 7 photocopied orchestral scores, 239 original instrumental parts, 142 photocopied instrumental parts, 131 individual miscellaneous papers and sketches, 26 videotapes, 1 tape cassette, 1 compact disc, and 12 reel-to-reel audio tapes consisting of 20 titles. 

Processed and described by Sharon Lantz, Music Library
assisted by Mary L. Linscome, University Archivist, 2001

Series 1 

Neil Argo North Texas undergraduate compositions

File 1

115 pieces (all original)

Series 2

Neil Argo UNC graduate recital

File 1

Four Sketches for Brass. 1978

Score, parts for 4 instruments (6 original, 2 photocopies)

File 2

In Memoriam - Emily Dickinson for Septet and Mezzo

Score, score photocopy, parts for 6 instruments (6 original)

File 3

La Jornada De La Vida for Winds, Brass, and Percussion

Score, parts for 37 instruments (24 original, 1 photocopy)

File 4

String Orchestra No. 1

Score, parts for 6 instruments (6 original, 24 photocopies)

Series 3

Wild America. 1982, series year 1

File 1

Bear-Caribou Scene

Score, parts for 20 instruments (9 original, 16 photocopies)

File 2

Black Bear at Tent

Score, parts for 19 instruments (10 original, 6 photocopies)

File 3

Black Footed Ferret

Score, instrumental parts for 17 instruments (8 original, 8 photocopies)

File 4

Dandelions-Strawberries

Score, parts for 4 instruments (no originals, 6 photocopies)

File 5

Ground Squirrels

Score, parts for 5 instruments (5 original)

File 6

Kennebec March

Score

File 7

Media Mania

Score

File 8

Moose With Calf

Score, parts for 15 instruments (8 original, 8 photocopies)

File 9

The Predators

Score only (6 original sections, 6 photocopied sections)

File 10

Roots and Plants Grow

Score, parts of 9 instruments (3 original, 6 photocopies)

File 11

Swamp Critters

Score in 2 sections, parts for 12 instruments (13 original, 7 photocopies)

File 12

Watching Wildlife

Score in 2 sections, parts for 13 instruments (8 original, 8 photocopies)

Series 4

Wild America. 1983, series year 2

File 1

Antlered Kingdom

Score, instrumental parts for 20 instruments, (17 original), 1 videocassette (Series 15), 2 reel-to-reel audio tapes (Series 14)

File 2

Born to Run

Score, parts for 16 instruments (15 original), 1 videocassette (Series 15), 2 reel-to-reel audio tapes (Series 14)

File 3

Owls: Lords of Darkness

Score, parts for 18 instruments (17 original), 1 videocassette (Series 15), 2 reel-to-reel audio tapes (Series 14)

File 4

Wild Cats

Score, parts for 18 instruments (16 original) 4 reel-to-reel audio tapes (Series 14)

Series 5

Wild America. 1984, series year 3

File 1

All American Animals

Score, parts for 4 instruments (4 original), 1 videocassette (Series 15), 1 reel-to-reel audio tape--1984 Master Orchestra tape (Series 14)

File 2

Photographing Wildlife

Score, parts for 4 instruments (4 original), 1 videocassette, 1 reel-to-reel audio tape--1984 Master Orchestra tape (Series 14)

File 3

Wolverine Country

Score, parts for 4 instruments (4 original), one videocassette (Series 15), 1 reel-to-reel audio tape--1984 Master Orchestra tape (Series 14)

Series 6

Wild America. 1986, series year 5

File 1

Evergreen

Score (original), 1 reel-to-reel audio tape (Series 14)

Series 7

Wild America. 1988, series year 7

File 1

Old Man Muskrat

Score

File 2

Peculiar Plants

Score

Series 8

Wild America. 1989, series year 8

File 1

Bushytails

Score, 1 reel-to-reel series episodes tape (Series 14)

File 2

Cottontails & Kin

Score, 1 reel-to-reel series episodes tape (Series 14)

Series 9

Wild America. (No Date)

File 1

Canyon Creatures

Score

File 2

Ringtailed Rascals

Score, parts for 4 instruments (6 original)

File 3

Untitled Score

Score, 2 copiest notes, 1 piccolo part

Series 10

Wild America and television theme music: (No dates except where noted)

File 1

PBS Themes (opening & closing) (1982-1994)

Instrumental parts only for 15 instruments (13 original)

File 2

Wild America Series Theme 1

Score, parts for 15 instruments (10 original, 20 photocopies)

File 3

Wild America Series Theme 2

Score, (1 page photocopy, 4 original) parts for 14 instruments (8 original, 15 photocopies)

File 4

Wild America Series Theme Open (1984)

Score

File 5

Wild America Main Title Opener ( see RG SC61 S10 F2)

File 6

Wild America Main Title Theme Ending No. 2

Score, parts for 13 instruments (7 original, 15 photocopies)

Series 11

Other television productions

File 1

Andy Devine aka Cat Story (1988)

Score, 1 reel-to-reel audio tape (Series 14)

File 2

Jack Carew (1985)

Score, parts for 5 instruments (5 original), 1 reel-to-reel audio tape (Series 14)

File 3

Laureate (1990)

1 reel-to-reel audio tape (Series 14)

File 4

My Indian Summer (1985?)

1 tape cassette (Series 14)

File 5

National Sports Laugh Theme (1985)

Score, parts for 5 instruments (6 original)

File 6

New Mission Impossible (1988-1990)

5 Scores (all photocopies), some miscellaneous sketches and notes (all photocopies except 1 original), 21 videocassettes (Series 15)

Series 12

Film scores

File 1

Zebulon Pike (1984)

Score, parts for 2 instruments (2 original), 1 Cue score draft, 1 Theme Draft, 1 reel-to-reel audio tape (Series 14)

Series 13

Film & television

File 1

A Special Presentation by Neil Argo (1999-2000)

Film and music samples on 1 compact disc (Series 14)

Series 14

Audio recordings (most reel-to-reel)

File 1

Audio recordings

File 2

"Special Presentation by Neil Argo" CD

File 3

"My Indian Summer"

Series 15

Video recordings

File 1

New Mission Impossible videos (from RG SC61 S11 F6)

File 2

Antlered Kingdom video (from RG SC61 S4 F1)

File 3

Born to Run (from RG SC61 S4 F2)

File 4

Owls, Lords of Darkness (from RG SC61 S4 F3)

File 5

Photographing Wildlife (from RG SC61 S5 F2)

File 6

All American Animals (from RG SC61 S5 F1)

File 7

Wolverine Country (from RG SC61 S5 F3)

File 8

Survivors of the Skeleton Coast (from RG SC61 S16 F2)

Series 16

Survivors of the Skeleton Coast. 1993

File 1

Score sections:

Bio

Family Flight

Tease

River

Flight

File 2

Video created for/by National Geographic   see RG SC61 S15 F8