MS Mus. 1784/1/35

1: f. 1: Ronald H. Shipley: Shipley, Blackburn, Sutton & Co.: 9 March 1954: Enquiry on behalf of the Sound Film Music Bureau Ltd. concerning the identity of the music for the ballet 'Giselle':

2: f. 2: C.I. Alexander: Secretary; shorthand-typist: 16 February 1954: Seeks secretarial work:

3: f. 3: Doris Smoggins: ['Secretary, Suffolk Fan Club']: 24 April 1954: Humorous letter to request a large signed photograph for the 'Club H.Q.':

4: ff. 4-17: B.H. Dehnel: Hartley Electronics Ltd.: 31 January-2 February 1955: Correspondence concerning a Tape-Riter purchased for Sargent's office which does not meet requirements:

5: f. 18: Emmie M. Tillett: Managing Director, Ibbs and Tillett Limited [Musical and Concert Agents]: 7 March 1955: Request for a testimonial for Jan van der Gucht to confirm he is sufficiently 'distinguished' for his son to study at Christchurch School, Horsham:

6: f. 19: A.C. Taylor: Photographer: Undated [1954/55]: Writes to enclose prints from negatives at Sargent's request:

7: ff. 20-22: G. Ayes-Ransley [Miss]: Hon. Sec. Twickenham & Richmond Music Festival: 3-10 April 1955: Writes to enclose a programme for the Twickenham & Richmond Music Festival; requests Sargent present prizes; Sargent declines but sends a message for the Festival:

8: f. 23: L. Tebbutt: Borough Librarian, Borough of Stamford Public Library: 27 March 1954: Provides results of his search for childhood photographs of Sargent which he had requested:

9: ff. 24-30: D. Dupernex: General Manager, Televox (London) Ltd: 6 November 1953-28 January 1955: Correspondence and contract concerning hire of a Televox Amplifier:

10: ff. 31-33: John Vallier: 4-6 April 1955: Requests to send scores of a Mass composed by his aunt Mrs Bredt which Sargent previously suggested he would perform; Sargent promises to push it as far as possible towards a performance:

11: ff. 34-37: Cyril T. Beare: Bandmaster, Uganda Police Band: 22 April 1954-3 March 1955: Concerning the activities of the Uganda Police Band and Bears's attempts to form an orchestra; accompanies a programme for a Uganda Music Society Orchestral and Vocal Concert at Kampala Town Hall:

12: ff. 38-39: Stanley Vann: Master of the Music, Peterborough Cathedral: 9-21 February 1955: Invites Sargent to stay during his forthcoming performance at Peterborough Cathedral; Sargent regrets he has already arranged to stay with the Duchess of Gloucester at Barnwell:

13: ff. 40-41: Wilfrid Van Wyck: Managing Director, Wilfrid Van Wyck Ltd. Concert Agents: 31 December 1954-10 January 1955: Concerning arrangements for Sargent to conduct a concert for Madame Milstein at the Royal Festival Hall in which her husband Nathan Mironovich Milstein is to perform; Sargent cannot undertake the concert:

14: f. 42: Ralph Vaughan-Williams: Composer: 24 November 1954: Concerning a new work requested for the Edinburgh Festival to be performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sargent:

15: ff. 43-44: Dorothy Sutherland: Director, The Amalgamated Press Ltd.: 14-28 March 1955: Request for permission to write Sargent's biography: Sargent informs her a biography is already being prepared by his son:

16: ff. 45-51: Alec Walton: [Brother of William Walton]: 1-7 April 1955: Seeks to arrange for conductor Milton Katims to perform with the BBC Symphony Orchestra during his forthcoming visit to Europe; encloses promotional material concerning Katims:

17: ff. 52-54: Harold White: Photographer: 12-25 March 1955: Requests permission to use one of his photographs of Sargent for specimen purposes; Sargent agrees on condition it is presented with 'good taste and discretion':

18: ff. 55-56: Philip S. Wilkinson: Cranleigh School, Cranleigh, Surrey: 19 May 1954-15 February 1955: Concerning the score of Wilkinson's 'Prelude and Scherzo' sent to Sargent for his consideration:

19: f. 57: K.R. Campbell: J.W. Walker & Sons Ltd.: 7 February 1955: Requests approval for an advertisement to be placed in the 'Musical Times':

20: ff. 58-64: Evelyn Broadwood: Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, [forename unclear] Wallace, W.J. Ash: Secretary, Worshipful Company of Musicians: 30 October 1954-19 February 1955: Concerning the activities of the Worshipful Company of Musicians; invitation for Sargent to attend a dinner of the company; invitation for Sargent to become a member of the Company:

21: ff. 65-67: R.P. Winfrey: [Regional Representative for Peterborough on BBC Advisory Committee]: 4-19 February 1955: Concerning arrangements for reception following forthcoming concert at Peterborough Cathedral; Sargent will be attending with the Duchess of Gloucester and her party as guests:

22: ff. 68-69: Philip S. Green: National Director, Worldfriends: 24 January 1955: Request to conduct a concert of the Berlin Youth Orchestra at Watford Town Hall; Sargent has a prior engagement:

23: f. 70: Ken Cameron: Director, World Mirror Productions Limited: 14 January 1955: Request to use a recording of 'Jerusalem' conducted by Sargent in a short film on the British Commonwealth sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation:

24: f. 71: Campbell Wray: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: 5 November 1954: Request to become a member of the Huddersfield Choral Society and study conducting with Sargent while on sabbatical in the UK:

25: ff. 72-89: [not correspondence]: Undated [1954/55]: Guide Book to Wilton House, Salisbury, England:

26: ff. 90-91: Elinor Remick Warren: Composer: 4 May 1954: Writes to recommend her work 'The Passing of King Arthur' which has had a successful performance in the United States; promises to send recordings of the performance:

27: ff. 92-109: Edward Ironmonger: West Ham Central Mission: 13 January 1954: Request for a message from Sargent to be published in the Church Magazine of the West Ham Central Mission; encloses copies of the magazine and promotional leaflet for a Bible Exhibition:

28: f. 110: Florian Williams: Managing Director, Joseph Williams Limited Music Publishers: 15 February 1954: Informs Sargent he is forwarding a score of Granville Bantock's 'Pagan Symphony' to consider for performance; they are also supplying scores of Gordon Jacob's 'Laudate Dominum' for forthcoming performance:

29: ff. 111-114: David Zisserman: Cellist: 17 October 1953: Seeks Sargent's help to find work as a cellist; encloses a press review of a recent recital, and an invoice from Albert Arnold Ltd. Violin Collector and Dealers:

30: ff. 115-116: L. Harrison Matthews: Director, Zoological Society of London: 20 December 1954-6 January 1955: Invitation to serve on the council of the Zoological Society of London:

31: ff. 117-118: Sir Robert Mayer: Youth and Music: 14 December 1954: Concerning the proposed establishment of youth concerts; requests a meeting to discuss with Sargent:

32: ff. 119-120: Lady Fortescue ['Daisy']: The Young Women's Christian Association of Great Britain: 21 January 1955: Request for Sargent to make an appeal for the charity which is to be broadcast on the BBC:

33: ff. 121-122: Margarita [no surname]: [Friend in Germany]: 18 December 1954: Informs Sargent she must miss his carol concert because she was sent home with the flu; reports she passed all her exams [no context]:

34: ff. 123-124: Lady Jessie Wood: 5 April 1955: Thanks Sargent for his letter; glad Sargent's appreciates the work of the 1,000 voice choir; wishes to invite Sargent to lunch:

35: f. 125: Glan Williams: 4 October 1954: Informs Sargent he is now in possession of 'The Tatler' original drawing should Sargent wish to buy:

36: ff. 126-147: Louis Daly Irving Austin: New Zealand music critic, formerly conductor: 5 October-4 November 1955: Austin recounts his musical experiences in London and Europe in the late 19^th-century when he encountered many significant composers and performers; requests Sargent's support for his views on the weakness of George Bernard Shaw as a music critic; Sargent agrees but doesn't wish his opinions on Shaw to appear in the press:

37: ff. 147-149: Edward J. Augarde: Formerly orchestral musician: 15-19 July 1955: Seeks employment at the BBC:

38: ff. 150-151: M.E. Mackiewicz: Information Officer, ASLIB: 5-9 August 1955: Concerning Sargent obtaining a copy of his foreword to a 1937 publication of 'The Dream of Gerontius':

39: ff. 152-157: Azaldegni, Juan: Conductor: 15-26 April 1955: Requests an interview with Sargent; encloses concert programme:

40: ff. 158-160: Basil Ashmore: Drama and Operatic Producer: 11 April 1955: Writes with suggestions for concert programmes; encloses press reviews of his productions:

41: f. 161: Nancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor: Formerly Member of Parliament: 20 May 1955: Thanks Sargent for his letter:

42: ff. 162-163: John Denison: Music Director, The Arts Council of Great Britain: 25 November 1955: Concerning arrangements to finalise a contract for performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas in France:

43: ff. 164-166: Law Fire Insurance Society Limited, Law Union & Rock Insurance Company Ltd, A.1. Window Cleaning Service: 9 December 1954: Correspondence concerning insurance claim for damage to a Japanese antique lacquer box damaged by window cleaning:

44: f. 167: Bowes-Lyon [describes herself as 'The Old Mum']: 1955: Thanks Sargent for a gift and offers good wishes for 1956:

45: ff. 168-169: Florence Bigland: 21 November 1955: Request for Sargent to perform his compositions:

46: ff. 170-173: Ian Whyte, Enid Burnham: 5-23 November 1955: Correspondence concerning the provision of a trumpeter for a wedding of the Hugh Lawson, son of Lord Burnham, to Miss Hunter:

47: ff. 174-176: George Grenfell Baines: Grenfell, Baines and Hargreaves, Chartered Architects and Planning Consultants: 19-25 November 1955: Request to meet Sargent to discuss concert hall design; Sargent is too busy to meet but gives a summary of his opinion:

48: ff. 177-178: J. Gilmour Barr: Superintendent of Music, The Corporation of Glasgow, Education Department: 29 November-3 December 1955: Request for Sargent to attend a youth orchestral course in Glasgow:

49: ff. 179-180: [forename unclear] Blackhorn [née Gowland]: 1955: Writes to wish Sargent a happy birthday:

50: ff. 181-182: William T.W. Ballantyne: The Society of British Aircraft Constructors, Ltd: 22 November 1955: Seeks tickets for a carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall:

51: ff. 183-184: Nancy Burne: 22 October 1955: Requests Sargent vote for her friend for election to the Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association:

52: ff. 185-186: T.W. Bearup: Overseas Representative, Australian Broadcasting Commission: 17-19 October 1955: Invitation to a cocktail party to meet the Director of Music at the Australian Broadcasting Commission:

53: ff. 187-191: Meirion Lewis: General Secretary, Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, Cynthia Bruce: 8-12 October 1955: Concerning invitation to conduct the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1956