MS Mus. 1784/1/12

1: f. 1: Compliment slip, Festival of Britain 1951

2: f. 2: : 1948: Black and white photograph of unidentified woman; on the reverse is written ‘Self / Dún Laoghaire harbour / 1948’

3: ff. 3-6: Countess Edwina Mountbatten: 23 January 1948: Personal letter from the Countess written from Government House, New Delhi; wishes Sargent well after his recent illness; she is disappointed at having to stay longer in India

4: ff. 7-8: [No name]: undated: Notes with corrections made during a performance of an orchestral work in 4 movements [unidentified]

5: f. 9: Alfred [du Hale?]: 26 April 1948: Reminds Sargent that he offered to look at his manuscript score of his work ‘Readings with Music from the Book of Wisdom’; requests an offer of performance or for the return of the manuscript

6: f. 10: Sir Charles A. Mander: 27 January 1948: Request for Sargent to conduct at a Symphony Concert for the centenary year of local government in Wolverhampton, for which he hopes Benjamin Britten will provide a symphony

7: f. 11: Raymond Hoole: 4 May 1948: Request for the return of his manuscript containing ‘an original idea for a Musical Quiz or Musical Brains Trust’ which he had sent for Sargent’s consideration

8: f. 12: [Unclear]: J.C. Player & Co: 12 June 1948: Receipt from J.C. Player & Co, Leather Gilders, Stampers and Writers [no context]

9: f. 13: S. Harbis, for Lieutenant Commander W.F.G. North: 17 June 1948: Notes that a dozen eggs have been despatched for Sargent

10: f. 14: May 1948: Copy of letter from Sargent thanking supporters of appeal for the ‘Week’s Food Cause’, written on behalf of the International Student Service (page missing)

11: ff. 15-18: Alfred A. Kalmus: Anglo-Soviet Music Press Ltd.: 24 June-14 December 1948: Writes to Sargent to interest him in Prokofiev’s new ‘Russian Overture’; Sargent agrees to give a performance at the Promenade Concerts; Kalmus further recommends Prokofiev’s Suite from the ‘Cinderella’ Ballet which is now in printing

12: f. 19: Violet Helen Attlee, Countess Attlee: 20 November 1948: Copy of fragment of letter to Violet Helen Attlee requesting she support the enclosed protest [missing]; requests she thank the Prime Minister for his telegram

13: ff. 20-21: Charles H. Burden: 11 October 1948: Invitation for Sargent to take some historic musical items currently in his possession, including a signed cabinet photograph and some correspondence of Charles Gounod

14: ff. 22-29: J.T. McIntosh: Organising Secretary, University Union, University of Aberdeen: 13-30 September 1948: Concerning invitation for Sargent to be nominated for election as Rector of the University of Aberdeen; Sargent is delighted to accept

15: ff. 30-35: Edward Heath: Member of Parliament; Leader of the Conservative Party: 4 October-20 December 1965: Correspondence with Heath and press cuttings concerning the annual Carol Concert in Broadstairs conducted by Heath; Sargent is invited to attend and make an appeal for local old people’s and children’s homes; Sargent accepts the invitation; press cuttings reporting on the occasion

16: f. 36: Tony Mayer: 11 January 1949: Writes to enclose a miniature score of the Fauré Requiem

17: f. 37: Allan Aynesworth: Actor: 11 October 1948: Letter to accompany some books being lent to Sargent which he had ‘expressed a desire to read’

18: ff. 38-40: Violet Helen Attlee, Countess Attlee: Wife of Prime Minister Clement Attlee: 16 October 1948: Letters from Atlee concerning a concert in aid of the Victory Club Fund with Myra Hess and the London Symphony Orchestra to be held on 25 October at the Royal Albert Hall; Princess Alice and Lord Athlone are attending and the Princess has invited Sargent to the Royal Box during the interval

19: f. 41: Mary Bates: 17 May 1948: Thanks Sargent for his letter; would like two tickets for ‘Messiah’, so she can take her son Trevor to see it

20: f. 42: Gertrude Ashton: Organising Secretary, Friends Service Council, Greek Appeal: Request for Sargent’s support in relation to an appeal for the Friends Service Council in Greece

21: f. 43: John Amis: Concert Manager, Anglo-American Music Association Ltd: 16 February-27 May 1948: Concerning arrangements to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert on 9 June at the Royal Albert Hall

22: ff. 44-45: Richard Arnell: Composer: 15 January-12 December 1948: Concerning performance of Arnell’s cantata ‘The War God’; a recording for Decca which was to be conducted by Sargent has been postponed; Arnell requests a public performance instead

23: ff. 46-48: E. Bard: 5 November-15 December 1948: Letters from Bard presenting a ‘solution’ to the unheard theme claimed to exist in Elgar’s Enigma Variations; encloses music manuscript to demonstrate

24: ff. 49-50: Fay [?]: Government House, Adelaide: 19 December 1947: Personal letter reporting on her activities in Adelaide

25: f. 51: A.H.Wilkinson: General Secretary, the British and Foreign Bible Society: 29 November 1948: Request for Sargent to serve as Chairman for the Annual General Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society

26: f. 52: W. Ryding Bennette: Dental Surgeon: 1948: Informs Sargent of change of residence of dental practice

27: f. 53: Patricia [no surname given]: 12 December 1948: Letter in response to a request from Sargent to know the address where Patricia acquired her pet dog

28: ff. 54-68: George V. Vale: Borough Librarian, Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green: 22 October-December 1948: Letter requesting Sargent be one of several public figures to contribute a personal choice of books for a published brochure for Bethnal Green Public Libraries; copy of published brochure

29: f. 68: Iain Balfour: Later Business Consultant, author and composer: Undated [1948]: Request for a meeting with Sargent as suggested by his father in order to discuss music

30: ff. 69-f. 71: Natalie Barrett: 26 November 1948: Personal letter giving best wishes from her parents in Australia

31: f. 72: Molly [Baring]?: Undated [1948]: Regrets that owing to sickness she was unable to stay to the end of a recent concert to meet Sargent

32: ff. 73-76: Captain G.J.P. Paulovis, Member of the British Army of the Rhine Music Club; Noreen Stratton, Chief of Staff Headquarters, British Army of the Rhine [Wife of Major-General W.H. Stratton]: 10 November 1948: Correspondence concerning a potential visit by Sargent to Germany to conduct the British Army of the Rhine Anglo-German Symphony Orchestra

33: ff. 77-78: Charles H. Burden: 29 October 1948: Requests a meeting with Sargent

34: ff. 79-80: Anthony C. Foreman: Hon. Organising Secretary, The Birkenhead, Chester, Wallasey and Wirral Council of Boys’ Clubs: 20 November 1948: Requests Sargent write a Christmas message to be published in ‘The Club Boy’, magazine of The Birkenhead, Chester, Wallasey and Wirral Council of Boys’ Clubs

35: f. 81: [unclear]: Christian Action: 14 October 1948: Invitation to attend a Concert to be given by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in aid of Christian Action

36: ff. 82-89: [Not correspondence]: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra: 1948: Booklet containing programme for Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra Winter Concerts 1948-49

37: f. 90: Leslie Baily: Film scriptwriter: 24 March 1948: Concerning a book on Gilbert and Sullivan which is to be published following a series of radio programmes to which Baily and Sargent contributed; requests permission to include in the book an extract from a talk by Sargent

38: ff. 91-93: Marjorie White: Conductor and Leader, Bromley Symphony Orchestra: 14 April-15 June 1948: Concerning an invitation for Sargent to conduct an orchestral concert by Bromley Symphony Orchestra in the season 1948-49; clarifies that the orchestra is accustomed to the guest conductor taking the final rehearsal only

39: f. 94: [not correspondence]: 27 September 1946: Receipt for cheque from Barclays Bank sent to Cape Town

40: ff. 95-98: Alice Blakeney: Archdeaconry House, Peterborough, [Possibly widow of late Rev. Richard Blakeney, Canon of Peterborough Cathedral]: 1 April 21-October 1948: Personal letters from Alice Blakeney [possibly widow of late Rev. Richard Blakeney, Canon of Peterborough Cathedral]; requests concert tickets; reports on holiday in Torquay; arranges to meet Sargent in London

41: ff. 99-100: Arthur Byrne: Hon. Sec. Friday Night Gramophone Circle: 1 March 1948: Reports on the activities of the Friday Night Gramophone Circle [Belfast]; expenses have been very high and they are now short of funds

42: f. 101: J.S. Beckett: [?]: Undated [1948]: Suggests to Sargent’s Secretary Sylvia Darley that 4 guineas would be ‘suitable remuneration’ [no context]

43: f. 101: Joseph Williams Ltd.: Music Publishers: Undated [1948]: Promotional sheet concerning an Alan Bush’s Overture ‘Resolution’ including press reviews of performances

44: f. 102: Richard Austen Butler, Baron Buttler of Saffron Walden: Member of Parliament: 26 July 1948: Concerning Sargent’s wooden shelves and the Board of Trade [no context]

45: ff. 104-105: G.H. Jones, Bryanston Summer School of Music; Sydney [?], Of Stanstead Hall, Halstead, Essex: 31 March 1948-2 April 1948: Concerning arrangements for performance of Schnabel’s Symphony in a concert on 9 January; both are concerned that it should not become a memorial concert for the Courtaulds

46: f. 106: Sydney [?]: Of Stanstead Hall, Halstead, Essex: 6 December 1947: Thanks Sargent for the flower and book found at Smith Square on Wednesday following the death of Samuel Courtauld on 1 December; hopes Sargent has received contact details for the organist in order to suggest appropriate music for the funeral

47: ff. 107-109: L.G. Pine: Burke’s Peerage: 28 September-11 October 1948: Request that Sargent serve as a member of an Advisory Council for Burke’s Peerage for a new post-war edition of ‘Who’s Who in Music’

48: ff. 110-117: [Not correspondence]: 1948: Preliminary draft of Syllabus for the City of Coventry Youth Arts Festival 194949: ff. 118-123: Henry A.G. Swaisland: 12 December 1948: Request for Sargent to make appeal on the BBC in support of the Cotebrook Home for Cripples; encloses a brochure on Cotebrook; Sargent accepts

50: f. 124: Madge Clarke: [undated]: Subject unclear; Sargent refers to a letter also sent to Mrs Attlee, Mrs Gordon Moore and Walter Hutchinson

51: f. 125: Michael Smith: President, Cambridge Music Circle: 23 November 1948: Request for an item for a raffle at the Cambridge Music Circle Christmas Party; suggests a signed baton or score

52: f. 126: M. Fowler: The Children’s Theatre Ltd.: 30 August 1948: Invitation to attend performance of Bernard Shaw’s ‘Androcles and the Lion’ at Wembley Town Hall followed by a reception to meet Minister of Education George Tomlinson

53: ff. 127-129: Sir Richard Stafford Cripps: Chancellor of the Exchequer: 27 October 1948: Sargent writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the falling-off of subscriptions to hospital charities following the takeover of Hospitals by the Government; suggests the charities should be remunerated for the period before the plan comes into operation; Cripps disagrees

54: ff. 130-131: Gordon Courtney: United Arts Club: 4 June 1948: Reminder of earlier invitation to become a Vice President of the United Arts Club

55: ff. 132-138: Marshall Wilson: Appeal Secretary, Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute: 29 December 1947-9 April 1948: Correspondence concerning arrangements for a concert in aid of the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 May 1948

56: f. 139: John Chew: Tenor: 7 June 1948: Request for an audition for concert work

57: f. 140: Dr. Vicary Davies: Almoner, County Council of Middlesex Public Health Department: 23 March 1948: Request for Sargent’s assistance to find work for a young recovered tuberculosis patient named John Cromarty

58: ff. 141-153: [not correspondence]: Children’s Theatre Ltd.: 22 January 1948: Minutes of meeting of the Council of Children’s Theatre Ltd. on 22 January 1948 accompanied by a Management Report

59: f. 154: Civic Hall Music Club: 3 June 1948: Invitation for Sargent to become Honorary President of the Civic Hall Music Club in Wolverhampton

60: f. 155: Jean Furness: [Friend from Melton Mowbray]: 1948: Personal letter referring to gramophone recordings

61: f. 156: Jean Furness: [Friend from Melton Mowbray]: 1948: Informs Sargent that Harold will be in hospital, should he like to visit

62: f. 157: Harold Antony Craxton: [note: not Thomas Harold Hunt Craxton, the pianist and composer]: 18 February 1948: Request for Sargent to give an appeal during a concert to raise money for the re-building of the organ at St. Mark’s Church, Hamilton Terrace

63: ff. 158-159: C.N. Cunningham: 13 March 1948: Request for Sargent to become Patron of a newly-established Choral Society in Frome

64: f. 160: [Unclear]: Secretary to Clifford Curzon: 12 February 1948: Concerning arrangements and programming for the concert in aid of the Christie Cancer Hospital on 26 May

65: ff. 161-162: Arthur Christiansen: Editor, Daily Express: 1-15 June 1948: Invitation for Sargent to become a member of a Theatre Tribunal to judge the best plays, actors and playwrights of the year; Sargent is unable to participate owing to the difficulty of seeing enough plays

66: ff. 163-177: Harold Edwin Darke: Organist and conductor: 15 November 1948: Sends copy of a published booklet he authored entitled ‘A History of the St. Michael’s Singers (1916 to 1939)’

67: f. 178: E.J. Jenner: Durham Colleges N.U.S Committee: 18 October 1948: Invitation for Sargent to visit the Student’s Union at Durham Colleges on International Students Day, 17 November 1948

68: f. 179: Philip York Bowen: De Wolfe Music Publishers and Printers: 4 November 1948: Request for Sargent to consider for performance Konstantinoff’s ‘Images Russes’

69: f. 180: [Unclear]: Secretary to the Marchioness of Cholmondeley: 27 October 1948: Invitation for Sargent to share supper with Lady Cholmondeley on 29 October

70: ff. 181-189: [not correspondence]: Dolomore Ltd.: October 1948: Brochure for Dolamore Ltd Wine Merchants

71: f. 190: Elisabeth Edwardes: The Deaf Children’s Society: Invitation for Sargent to donate to The Deaf Children’s Society, as he did the previous year

72: f. 191: Sir Eric Robert Dalrymple MacLagen: Society of Dilettanti: December 1948: List of candidates for election to the Society of Dilettanti

73: f. 192: [Norma?]: 15 February 1948: Invitation for Sargent to stay the night with them after his concert with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at Hanley on 4 March 1948

74: f. 193: Doris Grace Dimond: Formerly Sargent’s Secretary: 16 December 1947: Request for Sargent to suggest someone who can audition an aspiring soprano wishing to pursue a musical education

75: ff. 194-199: Dora Mary Powell: [‘Dorabella’ of the Enigma Variations]: 31 October-4 November 1948: Correspondence with Powell concerning the origin of the ‘stuttering tradition’ in the intermezzo of the ‘Enigma Variations’ bearing her name; Powell disagrees with Sargent’s suggestion that the music represents the pronunciation of her name rather than her stutter

76: f. 200: Roger Eckersley: Roger Eckersley Ltd. Concert Agents: 14 October 1948: Seeks audition for a promising young pianist named Sheila Mossman