Item 40 - Letter from Adela Wodehouse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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56 Chester Square, S.W. - Tells Mrs Trevelyan not to 'trouble much about the Belgian modern songwriters' [when answering her questions for the "Song" article for "Grove's Dictionary of Music & Musicians", see 18/39]: has just remembered she could write to Mrs Speyer, as she is sister of Maurice Kufferath in Belgium who should know about 'rising musicians'. Very interested to hear Mrs Trevelyan will be staying with Julius Röntgen, to whom Ethel Smyth gave her an introduction last autumn; asks her to tell him about the books, including van Duyse, she got on his advice. Asks whether Professor Röntgen himself has composed many 'real songs (Kunstlieder)' and whether they have Dutch or German words. His opinion seemed to be that not many 'good modern characteristically Dutch songs' were being written, with most new songs being more like German ones. Asks Mrs Trevelyan if she could indicate which Dutch songs were considered the best. The British Museum has bought the Closson collection of Belgian songs at her request, so when she recovers [from pleurisy] she can study it there. Hopes she can meet Mrs Trevelyan at some point and thank her in person for her help.