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Serge Koussevitzky Archive

|| About the Collection ||

Through his work as a conductor and publisher, and his efforts to commission new musical works, Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) maintained deep ties with many of the finest composers and musicians of the day. In addition to serving as a record of Koussevitzky's life and career, the collection extensively chronicles periods in the history of organizations such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Berkshire Music Center, the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, and the American International Music Fund. Koussevitzky was an ardent advocate of contemporary music, commissioning and conducting Ravel’s orchestration of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," Britten's "Peter Grimes," Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra," and giving first performances of Honegger’s "Pacific 231" and Stravinsky's "Symphonies of Wind Instruments." His second great legacy was Tanglewood, where many young composers studied and conducted, among the most well known are Copland, Hindemith, Honneger, and Leonard Bernstein.

View the collection finding aid

|| Collection Details ||

General

Span Dates: 1920-1976
Bulk Dates: 1924-1951
Major Language(s): English, Russian
Repository: Music Division, Library of Congress

Physical Collection

Number of Items: 130000
Number of Containers: 138
Linear Feet: 100
Contents: The Serge Koussevitzky Archive is a collection of correspondence, personal and business papers, photographs, and other materials which document some of the most significant aspects of twentieth-century music. The processed section of the Serge Koussevitzky Archive consists of papers, correspondence and other documents received both as a gift and then a bequest of Olga Koussevitzky, widow of Serge Koussevitzky. The unprocessed material held in the Serge Koussevitzky Archive includes: photographs, business papers of the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation (SKMF), memoirs of Olga Koussevitzky, and of her family members; business papers and correspondence (including that of Copland) regarding two organizations started by Olga: the American International Music Fund (AIMF; dedicated to the promotion of new musical works internationally) and the Koussevitzky International Recording Award (KIRA; for recognizing notable sound recordings of contemporary music). This unprocessed material probably comprises about 80 boxes and approximately 15,500 items. Musical compositions commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky are part of the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation Collection, and are shelved in ML30.3c, ML30.3c2, ML30.3c3, and ML30.3e2.
Processing History: The initial gift was received in 1960 and has been processed. Subsequent materials arrived in 1978, after Mrs. Koussevitzky’s death, have not yet been processed.
Provenance: Gift Olga Koussevitzky 1960, Bequest Olga Koussevitzky 1978

Access/Copyright

Access Permissions: Restrictions apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a reference librarian in the Music Division for information concerning these restrictions.; http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-perform.html
Copyright Info: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html
Preferred Citation: Serge Koussevitzky Archive, Music Division, Library of Congress

Subject(s)

Orchestra