Mel Powell (1923–98) was an American composer, jazz pianist, and teacher. He studied with Paul Hindemith at Yale and taught at the Mannes College of Music and Queens College. He joined the Yale faculty in 1957 and was chairman of the composition department, as well as director of the electronic music studio, until 1969. He moved to California, where he founded the music school at the California Institute of the Arts in 1969. Powell served as provost of the institute from 1972 to 1976 and continued to teach there into the 1990s. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for his composition Duplicates, a concerto for two pianos and orchestra. RK played Powell's Recitative and Toccata Percossa on his January 1961 contemporary music recital at Berkeley.

March 15, 1961

Dear Mel:

I realize with consternation that I have never thanked you for sending me the score of your Toccata, much less let you know that I performed it this winter on the enclosed program. It appears to have made many friends among the hearers, and I look forward to playing it again. Are you thinking of writing any more for harpsichord, because I would like to go on doing at least one contemporary program every year.

I have had no news of you since I have barely myself been in New Haven, but I hope that your year is a happy and productive one. I look forward to seeing you before long.

All the best,

Ralph

May 18, 1961

Dear Ralph,

How excellent that on the punctualness of our correspondence the fate of this world does not hang. I was delighted to hear that you played the Toccata and that it found a friend or two, and more delighted to learn that you will be doing contemporary programs from time to time.

I cannot imagine that there is much of a literature; still, your own interest is sufficient argument that there ought to be. Since the Toccata—years later and possibly worlds away—I myself have written only once more for harpsichord, but then not a solo work: involving it in a set of pieces for small instrumental ensemble.

But your letter did start me thinking, and when and if I get beyond that (unspeakably) preliminary stage, maybe something worthwhile might take shape.