March 1th, 1899.
Woodcock Hill
Berkhamsted
Dear Sir,
I have been reading with great interest the letter you wrote for the „Musical Times“, about a certain piece of Counterpoint which has laused great discussion latterly. It was myself and another gentleman who sent it to a paper called „Musical News“, asking for information, and therefore I was pleased to hear a fresh opinion from such an eminent composer. –
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I have been greatly struck by the beauty of the Examples you were kind enough to send. They will no doubt be a lesson to many in this country, but I shall esteem it a very great favour if you will inform me whether students should write with the same freedom in their exercises, and in Examinations. Every true musician aspires to write eventually such music as yours, but ought they when writing strict Counterpoint as beginners to observe all the numerous binding rules which we have in our text books. I wish to apologise for troubling you, but I shall be greatly interested to hear your opinion.
I am an organist and one of the many who learn and respect your Sonatas. Indeed everyone here seems to appreciate their beauty.-
With apologies,
Yours truly
Eric L. Streatfeild.
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