MS Mus. 1747/2/4/7

Papers created or accumulated by Fiona Searle, many relating to her husband. For correspondence of Fiona relating specifically to the publication of Humphrey Searle’s autobiography, see MS Mus. 1747/2/5/3.

1. Correspondence received or sent by Fiona Searle, mostly after her husband's death. Some other material (articles, etc.) which were enclosed with this correspondence, have been kept in place for context. Correspondents include Robert Clements, Lionel Friend, Peter Racine Fricker and his wife Helen, Charles Groves, Sean Haldane, Vernon Harrison, Martin Kingsbury, Robert Ponsonby, John Pritchard, Basil Ramsey, Neville Rogers, Elsie Schlich (Searle's aunt on his maternal side, Anglican nun. This letter's reference to a collapsed ceiling at Ordnance Hill possibly dates it to circa 1976), Dr. Anthony E. Vazzana, David Willcocks and David Wright; also correspondence regarding the British Library's acquisition of Humphrey Searle’s papers has been transferred to the British Library's own records.

2. Obituaries of Searle. The Daily Telegraph, May 1982; The Times, 13 May 1982.

3. Material relating to memorial concerts or gatherings for Searle and posthumous performances of Searle's music.

Order of service for 'A Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Humphrey Searle', Tuesday, 29 June 1982, Royal College of Music.

• Photocopied list of the landmarks along the course of the Thames evoked in Searle's 'Tamesis'.
• Programme for concert (no. 3350) at the Royal College of Music by the R.C.M. Sinfonia, with the première of Searle's 'Three Ages', suite for orchestra, op. 77, 29 June 1982.
• Flyer advertising the Humphrey Searle Chamber Music Prize, to be judged on the 26 April 1983.
• Press release advertising the Humphrey Searle Memorial Concert with the New Ensemble, 26 April 1983.
• Announcement of the Humphrey Searle Memorial Concert, with the New Ensemble, 26 April 1983.
• Two annotated copies (one in Fiona Searle's handwriting) of the programme for the Humphrey Searle Memorial Concert, 26 April 1983.
• Announcement of a concert sung by the Morley College Choir and Symphony Orchestra, 16 February 1983, including a performance of Searle's 'Tamesis'.
• Programme for a concert of Music by Humphrey Searle', probably 11 May 1983.
• Programme for concert (no. 3658) by the Twentieth Century Ensemble at the Royal College of Music, 5 December 1985.
• Programme of The British Music Society's 'Prizewinners Concert' for its 1988 awards (Pianoforte), 15 April 1989.
• Concert announcement of 'Sounds Positive with Jane Manning', 16 April 1989.
• Prospectus for 'Music with a View', Five Concerts of 20th Century Music', Royal Over-Seas League, London. 9-20 September 1992.
• Programme: Young Place Dancers present Summer Performances, 25-26 June 1994.

4. Lists acquired by Fiona Searle of Searle's compositions. With a covering letter applying (probably) to the first two lists below:

• A typewritten list, completed to 1982 in Searle's own hand, of his own compositions by opus number and giving instrumentation, date of composition and publisher; originally sent to Faber and later returned to Fiona Searle.
• A photocopy of a typewritten list of Searle's compositions.
• An incomplete print-out of a word-processed list of Searle's compositions.

5. Articles written posthumously about Searle and acquired by Fiona Searle:

• 'Humphrey Searle' by David Wright.
• 'Humphrey Searle' by Robert Clements, printed 13 August 1997. A version of this article can be found at www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/acc/searle.php.

6. Reviews of releases of records of Searle's music:

• Review of Searle's symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 5, Alun Francis, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: photocopy of review in Fanfare, March / April 1997, pp. 299-300.
• Review of Searle's symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 5, Alun Francis, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: photocopy of review by Michael Oliver in 'Gramophone', issue 2, February 1997.
• Review of two recordings: Searle's symphonies no. 1 and 4 and Overture to a Drama; symphonies nos. 2, 3 and 5, by David Wright. A print-out from www.musicweb.force9.co.uk. January 1999; printed 2 February 1999.

7. Press material related to Fiona Searle's appearance in 'Classic Widows', an edition of the 'South Bank Show', ITV, 5 February 1995 at 11pm, a programme in which Fiona Searle was interviewed about her husband.

• 'Humphrey Searle on film and disc' from 'fortissimo!', Faber Music News, January 1995 pp. 5-6.
• Photocopy of article about 'Classic Widows' from unknown television guide, with picture of Ken Russell with Lady Susana Walton.
• 'The widows’ might', from 'Classical Music, 28 January 1995, photocopy.
• 'An angelic upstart', article about Ken Russell à propos of the broadcast of 'Classic Widows', from 'Night and Day', 5 February 1995; with relevant listings on reverse.

8. Writings and personal papers of Fiona Searle herself.

• Short story, 'What’s in a Name?' by Fiona Nicholson.
• Typewritten poem, 'The Memory' ('When I remember all the gentle and the foolish things…') by Redmond Macdonogh, 1959.
• Order of Service for Carol Service at Trinity Church, Golders Green, 17 December 1995, with reference to 'Where Starlight Falls', with story and narrative by Fiona Searle, lyrics by Lorraine Donebauer and music by David Sutton-Anderson.
• Handwritten catalogue of Fiona Searle's collection of CDs.