The cut off autograph

In the spring of 1943, when Leo Smit sensed that he would have to leave soon, he made sure his most cherished scores were stored in a safe place. His student Frits Zuiderweg helped him. Because Frits had to carry the scores across town, Smit cut off the title page and his name. This way, the scores would stand a better chance to survive and Frits would not run into trouble if he was arrested.

It looks like the front page of this Concerto for viola and string orchestra - premiered on 24 April 1940 in the Recital Hall of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw by Frieda Belinfante and her 'Klein Orkest' - has been cut off in great haste. The mutilation in the right hand top corner, where Leo Smit had signed his work, has probably been repaired after the war with tape by Leo's sister Nora Smit.

We have thought about a new name for the Leo Smit Stichting that immediately explains who we are and what we do. But we cannot bring ourselves to cut off the name of Leo Smit again. Moreover, we're often asked what Leo Smit Stichting means. Each time, it gives us an opportunity to tell people about Leo Smit and his beautiful music.