MS Mus. 1784/1/55

1: f. 1: 1967: Typescript of procedure to be followed by Sargent's secretary on the death of Dorothy Sargent

2: ff. 2-5: Sir Thomas Armstrong, Conductor, Former Principal, Royal Academy of Music, Audrey Ogilvie, Secretary to Sir Thomas Armstrong: 19-24 July 1967: Correspondence concerning the award of the Royal Philharmonic Gold Medal to Madame Kodaly

3: ff. 6-9: Sir Thomas Armstrong: 26-27 July 1966: Concerning a proposal to perform the 'Mass of Life'; also refers to Leon Goossens performing carol concerts and the neglect of Elgar's grave

4: ff. 10-11: M.P. Ansell: The Royal International Horse Show: 15-20 March 1967: Request for Sargent to suggest repertoire to be performed by the Male Voice Choir of the Metropolitan Police

5: f. 12: E. [unclear] Abbott: 28-29 November 1966: Thanks Sargent for advice given to her son concerning his musical education

6: ff. 13-14: Christopher R. Hopper: 16 August 1966: Concerning change in personnel at the management of the Royal Albert Hall

7: ff. 15-17: Harold V. Blackwell: Sculptor: 14-27 September 1966: Concerning a bust of Sargent created to celebrate his 500th Promenade Concert

8: ff. 18-20: Horace Tattersall: Blackburn Music Society: 14-24 March 1967: Enquires about the use of the organ in performances of Hiawatha and encloses playbill for a forthcoming performance of the work by the Blackburn Music Society

9: f. 21: George Stringer: General Manager, New Philharmonic Orchestra: 23 August 1966: Letter concerning composer George Barati [no context]

10: ff. 22-30: Kathleen Bruce, Mary Anne Morrison: Woman of the Bedchamber to the Queen: 17 July 1966-17 January 1967: Correspondence concerning Bruce who wishes to sing with the Royal Choral Society and writes to Sargent and the Queen. Letter concerning difficulty of acquiring tickets for the first and last nights of the Promenade Concerts

11: ff. 31: Colin Brumby: Senior Lecturer in Music, University of Queensland: 29 June-16 November 1966: Concerning a score of Brumby's 'Fibonacci Variations' sent to Sargent to consider for performance

12: ff. 33-38: Alan Barlow: Conductor: 22 February-15 March 1966: Request for career advice; accompanied by brochure for the Barlow Orchestra

13: ff. 39-46: [Mrs] Barnard: 3 March-29 April: Correspondence concerning confusion over the delivery of fruit to Sargent in hospital; Barnard expresses her personal affection for Sargent and her frustration at his refusal to see her

14: f. 47: Arthur Bliss: Composer: 7 November 1966: Concerning a fanfare for a film; Sargent apologises for having to cut it down from 1 minute 30 seconds to 12 seconds

15: ff. 48-49: Hugh Bean: Leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra: 22-23 September 1966: Announces his resignation from the Philharmonia Orchestra

16: ff. 50-58: Owen Brannigan: Bass singer: 15 June-4 August 1966: Request for Sargent to comment on an article about 'The Just So Song Book'

17: ff. 59-60: Lily Bevan: 24 February 1966: Enquiry concerning the origin of musical notation; answered by Sargent

18: ff. 61-62: Geoffroy Louis Chodron de Courcel, Baron de Courcel: French Ambassador to London: 21 July 1967: Sargent thanks de Courcel for a lunch; refers to his subsequent illness and an investiture ceremony

19: f. 63: [Mrs Miller]: 19 April 1967: Letter from a secretary of Sargent [unspecified] to Mrs Miller concerning dates of forthcoming Promenade Concerts; refers to Sargent hiring a new manservant named Mr McCloy; also refers to attendance at 'Prom suppers'

20: ff. 64-66: David Chesterman: Youth and Music: 24 February-24 March 1967: Request for Sargent to lend parts for the Choral Ending of the Academic Festival Overture for a visiting German choir

21: ff. 67-69: Peter Noble: Christopher & Co. [Wine merchants]: 16-20 March 1967: Concerning bottles of sherry missing on delivery

22: ff. 70-73: Marie Condron: Formerly violinist in the BBC Symphony Orchestra: 16-21 February 1967: Requests testimonial to take to the United States where she hopes to find work

23: ff. 74-76: Alastair Carter: Engineer, Carter Engineering Company (Tamworth) Limited: 26 October-10 November 1966: Correspondence concerning Carter's proposed invention of an electric car in which Sargent takes an interest

24: ff. 77-78: Alastair Cassels-Brown: 27 November 1966: Thanks Sargent for agreeing to see the score of Brown's Cello Concerto

25: ff. 79-80: Brenda Hancock: Headmistress, Cobham Hall: 15-18 November 1966: Concerning request for students of Cobham Hall to attend a rehearsal for a Promenade Concert

26: ff. 81-82: Brenda Hancock: Headmistress, Cobham Hall: 5-7 December 1966: Expresses sympathy for Sargent who is in hospital with jaundice

27: ff. 83-85: [Miss] C.L. Charles: 10-13 October 1966: Charles would like to leave a bequest for music; Sargent suggests she send it to the Royal College of Music

28: ff. 86-88: P.A. Ward: Organist and Choirmaster, Parish Church of St. Micheal, Cricklewood Broadway: 26-30 July, 1966: Thanks Sargent for his permission to use his name as Patron of an organ appeal for the Parish Church of St. Michael, Cricklewood Broadway

29: ff. 89-110: Elfrida Clay, Daughter of Cecil Clay, niece of composer Frederick Clay, Arthur Sullivan, Composer, Frederick Clay, Composer: 18 April 1883-10 March 1966: Elfrida Clay writes to Sargent concerning her uncle Frederick Clay; she offers as a gift three letters from Sullivan to Clay dating from the 1880s and press cuttings concerning Clay from the same period. Refers to a performance of Cecil Clay's 'A Pantomime Rehearsal'

30: ff. 111-112: David Reynolds, The Arts Council of Great Britain, Neville Dilkes, Conductor: 7-8 September 1967: Request for a reference for Neville Dilkes

31: ff. 113-114: Paul Neville, Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines – designate, F. Vivien Dunn, Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines School of Music: 3 April 1967: Concerning the wording of an admission card for Captain Paul Neville to attend rehearsals

32: ff. 115-116: Mr Murray: Journalist, Daily Mirror: 24 March 1967: Sargent writes to Murray thanking him for an amusing article in the Daily Mirror, though he denies being a 'showman' in the sense portrayed

33: f. 117: Jacqueline du Pré: Cellist: 8 November 1966: Regret that Du Pré was unable to perform in a recent concert owing to illness

34: ff. 118-119: Jacqueline du Pré: Cellist: 12 November 1966: Correspondence concerning performances of Haydn and Delius in Liverpool which du Pré and Sargent are alternately unable to perform owing to illness

35: f. 120: Heather M. Davis: Young 'fan' of Sargent: 29 July 1966: Congratulates Sargent on a performance of 'The Dream of Gerontius' at a Promenade Concert

36: ff. 121-123: Christopher Le Fleming: Composer, teacher: 24 November 1953-24 January 1967: Writes to enclose the published score of his compositions 'Five Psalms'. (A copy is held at F.1176.t.(1.))

37: ff. 124-125: John Freebairn Smith: Headmaster, Rutland House School; Member of Royal Choral Society: 6-10 March 1967: Announces his resignation from the Royal Choral Society after being disciplined for missing rehearsals

38: f. 126: Fou Ts'ong: Pianist: 11 September 1987: Sargent congratulates Fou Ts'ong on a performance of Chopin broadcast on television which he believes is 'the most beautiful Chopin since Pachmann'

39: ff. 127-128: Audrey Field: 25-28 October 1966: Writes to enclose a volume of her poetry as a gift for Sargent

40: ff. 129-130: Gordon Fairley: General Manager, Book Department, Country Life Ltd: 8-9 March 1966: Request for permission to write Sargent's autobiography

41: ff. 131-135: Stuart Cook: International Editor, SGS-Fairchild Limited: 12 November 1966-3 February 1967: Request for Sargent to write an article for 'Planar News'; Sargent does not have time

42: ff. 136-140: Rev. Robert Garrard: The Word [religious movement]: 18 July-1 August 1967: Correspondence concerning a proposal for public figures to give Bible readings on public streets; Sargent cannot help and suggests it would be preferable to give readings at lunchtimes in churches owing to traffic noise

43: ff. 141-142: J.P. Guiver: Allan P. Wilks: 11-18 July 1967: Concerning an order for conducting batons

44: ff. 143-144: Leon Goossens, Nancy Hill: Oboeist: 11 July 1967: Sargent forwards an enquiry about the daughter of Nancy Hill who is 'musically inclined'

45: ff. 145-147: Jacqueline Gillson: 6 September 1966: Fan mail; sends a score for Sargent to examine which is returned as it is 'not by a trained musician'

46: f. 148: Frances Graham: 15 February 1966: Implores Sargent to write to the BBC to prevent the proposed broadcast of a bullfight; Sargent suggests it is better to broadcast such things as it encourages people to support the RSPCA

47: ff. 149-150: W. Liversidge: Telephone Manager, General Post Office: 22 February 1967: Concerning the forthcoming change to all-figure telephone numbers; Sargent's secretary asks if there is a means of stopping nuisance callers from obtaining the new number

48: ff. 151-154: L.H. Macklin: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon: 6-26 September 1966: Correspondence concerning Gulbenkian United Kingdom Music Fellowships; Sargent suggests funds should be secured for Eric Fenby (who he has personally supported to the extent of £2000) and Alan Schiller, who is a promising young musician

49: ff. 155-157: Kenneth Horne: [Fellow resident at Albert Hall Mansions]: 18 January 1967: Request for advice concerning the lease of his box at the Royal Albert Hall

50: f. 158: Beatrice L. Harrison: Cellist: 10 October 1964: Request for Sargent to perform the oratorio 'Panis vitae' (composed by her brother Dr J.H. Reginald Dixon) at the Royal Albert Hall; reports on her brother's illness

51: ff. 159-160: Maureen, Marchioness of Dufferin & Ava, Sir Walter Graemes Cheshire: Chairman, The Horder Centres for Arthritics; formerly Air Chief Marshall, Royal Air Force: 15 September 1966: Concerning her resignation as a member of the Committee of management of the Horder Centres for Arthritics

52: ff. 161-162: I.G. Cameron-Webb: Director, British Red Cross Society, Essex Branch: 22 February 1966: Request for Sargent' signature for an album in aid of the British Red Cross Society

53: ff. 163-164: Sidney I. Hollyoak: Carpenter: 17 March 1966: Reports that owing to suffering a stroke he is is no longer able to make Sargent's conducting batons

54: ff. 165-166: Thomas Mervyn Horder, 2nd Baron Horder: Publisher: 24 February 1966: Sends Sargent a copy of his biography of his father, Lord Horder; Sargent thinks it is 'beautifully written'