From left: Dr. Paweł Pietrzyk, prof. Alicja Jagielska-Burduk, and dir. Marek Zebrowski
Those readers who have frequented the PMC Newsletter lately will know that we have been celebrating an important honor recently bestowed by the Polish UNESCO Committee upon the PMC’s Henryk Wars/Henry Vars Manuscript Collection—these articles can be found at “UNESCO and its Polish History and Culture Program” and “UNESCO Honors PMC Archives“. Now that the celebrations have taken place, we can share photos of and reports on the two festive events that happened at the end of June 2024 in recognition of this important UNESCO distinction.
The first was the exhibit highlighting the seventeen objects recently added to UNESCO’s Memory of the Word list in Poland. It was officially unveiled on Tuesday, June 25, in the courtyard of the palace that serves as the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Warsaw. On a lovely and warm summer afternoon, a group of notables headed by Polish Minister of Culture, Hanna Wróblewska and Director of the National Archives, Dr. Paweł Pietrzyk, assembled for introductory remarks. Directly afterwards, a detailed description of the exhibited objects was provided to the assembled guests by Dr. Anna Krochmal who later conducted all invitees around the exhibit. One of the gathered special guests was Dennis Mitchell, the oldest grandson of Henry Vars, who arrived from Los Angeles especially for this occasion. As the sun slowly began to cast longer shadows over the former Potocki palace, an elegant reception hosted by the National Archives and the Ministry followed, allowing all guests to enjoy the rest of their evening.
The second UNESCO-related event was held on Wednesday, June 26, at the Belweder Palace—one of the official residences used by the President of Poland. Here again the select group of guests was welcomed by Minister Wróblewska, with additional remarks made by Tadeusz Duszkiewicz, Adviser to the President of Poland, who conveyed a special greeting from President Andrzej Duda who was traveling abroad at that time.
Before the UNESCO certificates were given to the representatives of the seventeen institutions so recognized, a short film directed by Michał Gmitruk depicting each object added to the Memory of the World list this year was shown. All present unanimously agreed that the film presentation of Henry Vars’s manuscripts, including his Symphony No. 1, Piano Concerto, and the symphonic suite, City Sketches, among others, was very effective (starts at minute 14:05 below). These handwritten scores preserved in the PMC archives are the sole handwritten legacy left by this prominent and prolific composer, heretofore known as the author of timeless 1930s hit songs and film music. This film presentation of Henry Vars’s legacy was made especially poignant by the composer’s son, Robert Vars, who touchingly spoke in Polish about being proud to carry his father’s name for ninety years.
Following the receipt of the UNESCO certificates that were handed to each institution’s representative by Director Paweł Pietrzyk, a concert of Henry Vars’s music followed. Some of his best-known and loved tunes from films and cabaret music in the 1930s Warsaw and 1950s Hollywood were performed by Krzesimir Dębski, a prominent composer and conductor who led a vocal duet ensemble and a string quartet in a selection of charming arrangements of Vars’s timeless music. An elegant reception followed with guests traversing Belweder’s state reception rooms to the terrace, where several tables were set.
All in all, it was a very momentous and memorable event and a truly special honor for the USC Polish Music Center, Thornton School of Music and USC at large. To our knowledge, there are no other universities or institutions in the United States that could display such unique UNESCO Memory of the World List-Poland trophy.
