Beethoven Association (New York, N.Y.)

The Beethoven Association came into existence in part because of displacement caused by World War I, and the inability of musicians to travel between the United States to Europe.

Harold Bauer was elected first presidenct of the Association, and was among those responsible for setting up concerts to raise funds for worthy causes. The Association's initial season successfully raised money to fund publication of Alexander Wheelock Thayer's biography of Beethoven in English translations (by H.E. Krehbiel).

Funds raised in subsequent seasons from concert proceeds allowed money to be distributed to the Library of Congress, the Music Division of the New York Public Library, the MacDowell Memorial Association, the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, Germany, for the publication of Oscar G. Sonneck's book "Beethoven Letters in America," for the Mozart Memorial Theater in Salzburg, Austria, for purchasing copies of the 1921 facsimile of the manuscript of Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata (to be distributed to members), to Les Amis du Conservatoire in France, for funds to Robert Schumann's grandson, Felix, to enable purchase of the manuscript to Schumann's Fourth Symphony, toward the publication of the works of Lully under the direction of Henry Prunières, and many other causes. After the onset of the Great Depression, the Association devoted many funds to the Musicians' Emergency Aid and the Musicians' Foundation.

By the end of the 1930s, interest in and the need for the organization was in doubt due to the proliferation of similar chamber concert programs in various venues throughout New York City. In 1940, the Beethoven Association dissolved and donated its records to the Music Division of The New York Public Library.

From the description of Beethoven Association records, 1918-1940. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 232306103