Scope and Content Note
The musical works commissioned for the United States Information Agency Artistic Ambassador Program date from 1982-1988. The "Music Manuscripts" series contains holograph manuscripts and/or sketches for all thirteen commissioned pieces, with Bacon's "Gunnison River" being the only exception. Two additional works commissioned by the USIA prior to 1982, but not for the Artistic Ambassador Program, are also included. Lukas Foss’ Fanfare was commissioned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and was performed by the Presidential Symphony of Ankara in Istanbul with Foss conducting on June 28, 1973. Leo Smit’s Symphony of dances and songs was commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of U.S./Serbian diplomatic relations and was performed by the Belgrade Philharmonic with Smit conducting on November 6, 1981.
The "Research Materials" series contains memoranda, booklets, reviews, competition brochures, press releases, news clippings, and feature stories about the program’s inception, purpose, and active years. Biographical materials and images of several of the artistic ambassadors are also included.