[Dearest Dave]

Sorry I've been able to do nothing about Julian Bream. I've been in bed for the last week with ‘flu. Couldn't leave yesterday, as the doctor thought it would be silly; but am hoping to get off tomorrow afternoon.

Hubert has also been in bed with ‘flu, but tells me the upstairs people would love to have t'other kitten; so they can hob-nob together on the staircase like mad.

Love, H.

Dearest Dave,

So sorry about the weekend. The last dozen bars of the Overture wouldn't get into place (as so often happens), and I only managed to solve them late on Friday. But that was a day too late for Stockcross, as yesterday had to be spent in copying. I'm very sorry to have missed the concert, seeing John, and being with you all. Next weekend is a possibility for me; but probably you are full, or otherwise, then?

I hardly know the Mozart Divertimentos you speak of, having only heard each one once. D major, K.334, seems a bit on the long side for a not-too- cultivated audience, and I remember thinking that F major, K.247, wasn't the most exciting thing I had ever listened to. Would it be any use thinking of D major, K.205? This may not contain any heaven-storming flights, but it is much more concise (four shortish movements) than t'other two.

I'm afraid I haven't a clue what you should ask the Leeds people [as payment for a commission].1 No commission I have ever had comes remotely within that category. In like cases of uncertainty I always ask Jackie [Henderson of B&H]. If you don't want to do that, perhaps Ben Frankel would be able to give you a lead. Love to all, Howard.

Dearest Dave,

Very many thanks for the ‘Welcome Death’ song. Yes, it's certainly a lovely tune, and I'm very glad to have it. By the way, there should be a natural to the B in bar 17 of the voice part; and I rather suspect that bar 26 of the accompaniment should be octave E minims in the r.h., instead of E & F. Otherwise it seems blameless.