52, CAMPDEN HILL SQUARE, W. London. 15. January [1906].

Most honoured Maestro,

Are you still in Paris? In which case I should beg you to come to my assistance. I have been invited to give a lecture at the ‘Concert Goer's Club’ at the end of next month. With great temerity I have chosen ‘The Music of Jean Sibelius’ as my subject. Breitkopf & Härtel (via Mr Kling) have provided me with your compositions. I confess to you, in all frankness, that my abilities in the technical analysis of music are not very strong. As far as possible I shall try to avoid saying anything stupid in this respect and shall treat your works from a literary, poetic and national perspective. I shall be on firmer ground there. I have dipped into all the books about the life and literature of Finland that I can find in London. But if there exists a fairly detailed study about you yourself (in whatever language), I should ask you to let me know. Also, if you have anything to impart to me yourself about your ideals and your artistic views, and which you would be happy to discuss with me, I shall use it with discretion. The public that attends the soirées of the ‘Concert Goer's Club’ are relatively intelligent amateurs.

As for the music I want to have performed, I have arranged for an admirable pianist, Mr Richard Epstein, to be at the piano.