BORIS KOUTZEN
1901 - 1966
The sudden death of Boris Koutzen on December 10, 1966, removed
a vigorous participant from the American musical scene-and an
esteemed colleague from the ranks of Vassar College. Mr.Koutzen
was a member of the Vassar faculty from 1944 until his retire-
ment in June 1966. As those who knew him well might have pre-
dicted, his was not a typical retirement, for he continued
to maintain his usual heavy schedule of composing, conducting
and teaching. His death came just a few hours after he had
conducted a dress rehearsal with the Chappaqua Orchestra which
he had founded in 1958.
Born in Uman, Russia, in 1901, Boris Koutzen appeared at age
eleven as violin soloist with the orchestra at Chersson. At
seventeen he won a nationwide contest for the post of first
violinist of the Moscow State Opera House Orchestra. He also
became a member of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra directed by
Serge Koussevitsky. After studies in violin with Leo Zetlin
and in composition with Reinhold Gliére he was graduated from
the Moscow Conservatory and went to Berlin where he made his
professional debut in 1922.
He never returned to Russia but in 1924 came to the United
States with, to quote him "just enough money in my pockets
to join the Musicians‘ Union." He not only joined the union
but almost immediately embarked upon the multifaceted career
of violinist, composer, conductor, and teacher which was to
be his life. He became a member of the Philadelphia Orches-
tra which was then at its zenith under Leopold Stokowski.
And he joined the staff of the Philadelphia Conservatory of
Music where he was head of the violin department, director
of the ensemble program, and conductor of the orchestra.
He remained with the conservatory for thirty-seven years
and with the Philadelphia Orchestra until 1938 when he became
a charter member of the elite N.B.C. orchestra which was being
assembled for Arturo Toscanini. He married Inez Merck, a
pianist, who like himself was descended from a long line of
musicians. Their children, George and Nadia, cellist and
violinist respectively, continue the musical family tradition.
During his initial season with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Boris Koutzen conducted that group in a performance of his
first symphonic composition. Frequent concert tours of the
United States increased his stature as a violinist; and a
BORIS KOUTZEN (continued)
steady stream of compositions in almost every medium won
him wide acclaim as a composer. His symphonic works, for
example, were performed by virtually every major American
orchestra - the Philadelphia, Boston, N.B.C., Chicago,
Cleveland, San Francisco and New York to name but a few -
and by many foreign groups. His Second String Quartet won
the award of the Society for Publication of American Music
and his symphonic poem "Valley Forge" won the Juilliard
Foundation award.
Vassar began to benefit from this extraordinarily rich and
varied background when, in 1944, Boris Koutzen joined the
faculty to teach violin. His total dedication to the high-
est ideals of his art, his warmth and wit, his inspiring
teaching, and his understanding won him the imediate and
enduring respect and affection of his students and colleagues.
He immeasurably enriched the Vassar musical climate by his
many appearances as solo violinist, in chamber music with
his colleagues and others, and in performances of his own
compositions. Within a few years after his arrival his
violin students had so grown in number and in skill that he
was able to organize the Vassar Orchestra which greatly
extended the training and experience available to students.
No one who came to hear their first concert in 1948 was pre-
pared for the high level of their achievement. And with each
successive year the group seemed to surpass its earlier goals.
Generations of Vassar students will never forget his Wednes-
day afternoon orchestra rehearsals, where, through a combina-
tion of chicanery, cajoling, and sometimes, sheer terror he
made the members play better than they were able, and opened
for them the door to a great and lasting musical experience.
Upon the occasion of his retirement, his colleagues and guest
artists presented in his honor a concert of his own composi-
tions and cited his "distinguished service to music at Vassar."
Under Mr. Koutzen's last will and testament the Music Library
is to receive as a legacy, his complete manuscripts and sketches
which will be of great use to future students and scholars
and will serve as a testament to one who loved Vassar and
was beloved.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Churgin
John Deschere
Donald M. Pearson
Homer Pearson
Earl Groves, Chairman
XVII 120-121