Last summer, the Léon Courtin-Marcelle Bouché Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF), acquired the autographic score of the Poème nocturne for violin, cello and orchestra, opus 29, by Belgian composer Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931). The KBF has loaned this exceptional piece of musical heritage to the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), where various other scores by this violinist-composer are already preserved and studied.

Who was Eugène Ysaÿe?

From the 1880s, Eugène Ysaÿe was a leading figure in the Belgian and international music world, and remained so for five decades. A composer, talented violinist, conductor and concert organiser, Ysaÿe rubbed shoulders with the leading musicians of his day, including Bloch, Casals, Debussy, Fauré, Franck, Grieg, Saint-Saëns and Rachmaninov. Ysaÿe was also an educator and trained many young violinists who went on to flourish as performers or teachers.

Today the world is (re)discovering the music of this Belgian composer. The score of the Poème nocturne is a reminder that Ysaÿe’s work encompasses more than his six sonatas for solo violin that violinists around the world still play and record today.

Unique handwriting

This beautiful 62-page bound manuscript is written in purple and red ink. It is signed, dated (3 April 1926) and dedicated to Belgian violinist Albert Zimmer (1874-1940) and Belgian cellist Jacques Gaillard (1875-1940).

Ysaÿe composed this work at the piano in 1914 and adapted it into a version for orchestra in 1926. It was never released or recorded. This manuscript therefore represents a unique source for this piece of Belgian musical heritage.

Soon to be played and recorded

Thanks to this acquisition, already catalogued and digitised by KBR, Poème nocturne is now accessible to all. In December 2023, this work by Ysaÿe was among the works recorded by soloists and the Royal Liège Philharmonic Orchestra (OPRL) for the Belgian record label Musique en Wallonie.

Long-terme collaboration

This acquisition is another example of the close collaboration between the KBF and the KBR. For many years, the KBF has given archives, manuscripts, scores, drawings and objects, purchased or donated, on loan to the KBR. In the musical domain, we can highlight the Vieuxtemps, Boesmans, Dupuis and Grumiaux Funds.
Both institutions preserve Belgian heritage, studying it and opening it up to the public. The KBF also supports several KBR projects, including restoration programmes.