Evening star., 1949-12-15
koussevitzky
Endows Music
FoundationHere
Noted Conductor
Gives $100, 900 to
Library Of Congress


DR.. Serge Koussevitzky. noted
symphony conductor, is expected
to come to Washington soon to
help launch a 100000 foundation
he has endowed at the Library Of
Congress to encourage musical
composition, it was revealed today.
Librarian Luther H. Evans an
nounced formation of the founda-
ton last night. along with the
establishment Of a music collec-
ton to include the original scores
of most of the works that have
been commissioned by DR.. Kous-
sevitzky. Both the foundation and
the music collection bear the con-
ductor's name.
DR.. Koussevitzky will serve as
chairman of an advisory board for
the new foundation, and 1t Is
partly for the first meeting Of this
board that he will come to WASH
ington, officials said. In addition.
the library is planning a public
event-either a concert or a re-
ception-at which DR.. Koussevit-
zky is expected to be present.
Advisory Board Members.
Some of the country's most
prominent musicians are among
the other members Of the advisory
board. The membership includes
Aaron COPELAND, Howard Hanson
and William Schuman. composers;
Cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. Con-
ductor Leonard Bernstein. Associ-
ate Conductor Richard Burgin Of
the Boston Symphony and Mrs.
Koussevitzky, the conductors wife,
who will serve as vice chairman.
DR.. Harold Spivacke. music di-
vision chief at the library, Is an
ex- oficio member.
Establishment Of the founda-
tion, which was approved by Con-
gress' Joint Senate-House Commit
tee on the Library, Is the culmin-
alton of discussions which began
here between DR.. Koussevitzky and
DR.. Spivacke last January, it was
disclosed.
A "Koussevitzky Music Founda-
ton" was founded in 1912 at
Brookline, Mass, as a tribute by
the conductor to his late wife. Mrs.
Natalie Koussevitzky, and has
since commissioned IS musical
compositions. The work of this
foundation will be continued here,
and the original eventually will be
entirely superseded. DR.. Spivacke
said. .~
Nucleus OF Collection.
Many of Americas leading COM
posers have had music commits
stoned by DR.. Koussevitzky, and
it is the manuscripts of these works
that will constitute the nucleus
OF the Koussevitzky collection at
the library. A display Of these man
uscripts will be opened when DR..
Koussevitzky visits here, probably
sometime next month. DR.. Spi-
vacke said.
DR.. Koussevitzky's gift Of more
than 500, 900 was described by DR..
Evans as IAN initial endowment"
The Librarian did not indicate
what additional funds are ex-
pected.
The foundation will commission
compositions both In this country
and abroad, DR.. Evans said. and
also will encourage interest in the
works by performance "and other
means" Occasional concerts may
be given at the library in this con-
nection, officials said.
Retired Last Summer.
The Librarian described DR..
Koussevitzky's action as IAN
event assured to exert a benign
and growing influence upon the
history of music throughout the
world"
DR.. Koussevitzky retired last
summer as conductor of the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra and now
is appearing as guest conductor In
various parts Of the world. Last
winter, he was engaged in nego-
tiations with directors Of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra here
over a proposal that he become
musical adviser to the orchestra,
but the negotiations were dropped
in March.
DR.. Koussevitzky later said he
had failed to reach an under
standing with symphony leaders
regarding his ideas for building a
national music center.