Elgar (Edward)

Four autograph letters signed ('Ed. Elgar') to his music publisher Alfred Littleton, one saying "By this post I am sending to Wardour St two little things from the Old Sketches and Church things: they may go with the tiny 'Ave Verum' but the editor must decide. The 'Cantiones Sacrae' is what I mean, they are tender little plants so treat them kindly whatever is their fate", three pages, folding marks, 4to, Plas Gwyn, Hereford, 24 May 1907; the following month Elgar writes "I read a letter from the Oratorio people in New York. I refused to accept; they offered 1500 dollars, but the difficulties were these: if the Pittsburgh people (i.e. Andrew Carnegie) had objected to pay my expenses (and I couldn't in the time ask for them), the amount would be ridiculous. Then I do not know anything of the soloists. Again they only give the same number of rehearsals for both works that they give to one by Pierne... so I could not very well go and be worried to death by band singers and curtailed rehearsals with a fair prospect of getting nothing", four pages, 4to, Parker's Hotel, Naples, 11 June 1907. A few days later Elgar says "The score of the Kingdom arrived yesterday and I send many very thanks and admiration for it: it is really a splendid book, the printing could not be better", two pages, 4to, Plas Gwyn, Hereford, 16 June 1907; in a later letter he sends his comments on "the songs for marching", three pages, 4to, Plas Gwyn, Hereford (4)