Without doubt, the outlook for British music abroad has become distinctly brighter during recent years, and there are definite signs that our composers are beginning to win a place in the concert programmes of both Continental and American musical organisations. By that is meant not a first and last performance of any given work, but a permanent place in the repertoire such as is already held, for instance, by French or Italian or Russian composers. In this connection the work of the British Council, a government-sponsored body charged with the task of introducing British art and culture abroad, has been extremely valuable, and many performances of contemporary works have been arranged through their offices. In January, at their request, the Boyd Neel String Orchestra paid a visit to Portugal, playing at Lisbon, Oporto and the university town of Coimbra. The programmes included works by Elgar, Britten, Howells, Bliss and Delius, and the enthusiasm displayed for these works—not to mention the orchestra—was astonishingly high.