Mr. Virgil Thomson

Palace

1. Rue du Four
(62)

38 Rue de Provence

Paris
---
France

JOHN HOUSEMAN

May 5th

1947

Miss Theodate Johnson
Hidden House
751 Third Ave.
New York City

Dear Theodate:

Thanks for your letter, and I am sorry
that my movements disconcert you so.

Concerning the publication of Virgil's
opera, I agree with you that it must be
done. Virgil played it for me twice.
I thought it was extremely beautiful --
indeed, I like it better than anything
he has ever done. It distresses me that
I shall not be there to see it this week.

Regarding the loan of $100. toward publica-
tion, the situation is this:- As you may
or may not know, I have just started a
theatre here and into it I have put all
the cash I have in the world. That leaves
me, at the moment, completely stripped.
However, this situation is not likely to
last forever, and if it will help you to
look on me as a guarantor for this sum,
available when called for during the late
summer or Fall, you may definitely count
on me. Please let me know if this does
you any good.

8545 Franklin Ave.
Hollywood, 46, Calif.

JH:mb

ALFRED A. KNOPF, Inc.

501 MADISON AVENUE
New York (22)

Office of the Vice-President

May 12, 1947.

Dear Miss Johnson,

I am sorry not to have been able to
acknowledge your letter regarding Virgil
Thomson's opera, MOTHER OF US ALL, before this.
As you knew, both Mr. Knopf and I were away and
have only just returned.

We are enclosing our check for $100.00
as an advance toward the publication by Music
Press of this work and hope indeed that it will
have every success, which it should have.

I should be glad to discuss this further
with either Mr. Dana, whose letter you kindly
enclosed, or with you at your convenience. I note
that reports will be made as of August 1st and
November 1st.

Miss Theodate Johnson
751 Third Avenue
New York, N.Y.

THE SCHMITZ SCHOOL OF PIANO

3508 CLAY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO 18, CALIFORNIA

June 7, 1947

Miss Theodate Johnson
751 Third Ave.,
New-York city, N.Y.

Dear Theodate:

I feel quite guilty - we had some kind of plan for my broadcast of last Sunday, June first. I only returned to New-York on Friday, and it was Decoration Day, so all being closed I had a hard time to make any progress in the things I had to do. On Saturday I tried your phone in the afternoon, but could not get an answer. Then the conductor Anthony Collins became ill, and had to be replaced at the last minute by Beresowsky and we had new regar- sals to put in Sunday. It really became hectic. I am sorry not to have been able to reach you. I hope that nevertheless you were able to hear the broadcast of the Prokofieff. Virgil heard it from some where in Connecticut and telephoned me - he seemed very enthused by it.

I hope that your project for publication of Virgil's "The Mother of us all", is making good progress. Of course you can put my name as I told you on the 25 guarantors. Do let me know when it becomes definite, please.

If you come west, do let us know, so we see you?

With kindest remembrances,
most sincerely votre,

E. Robert Schmitz

October 28, 1952

Dear Theo:

Sorry you have been sick but delighted that you have a London flat for the winter. I arrived in New York on September 22 with 18 packages, including the big Berard. My ballet, which Agnes de Mille had made out of the Cello Concerto and the Hymn Tune Symphony, opened on October 1 and seems to have been a success. I conducted it on the 9th at the Metropolitant in an American composers evening with Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and Morton Gould. On the 10th Mack Harrell and the Philadelphia Orchestra did my Blake Songs (on the 14th in New York and later in Washington and Baltimore). On the 22nd Vera Franceschi did the first performance of my Second Book of Piano Etudes. All these had wonderful press. I am now writing an orchestral piece to conduct in Dallas on December 10.

I went to Pittsburgh to see mother, who has not been well at all for three months. Now she is a little better, but she is feeble. I think she has something in the gall bladder; but we do not have to put her through excessive diagnostic procedure, since an operation would not be possible in her present condition. She was cheerful and asked me all about your life in England. I shall go to see her again at the end of November. This is all for now. I just wanted to say hello and to let you know that everything buzzes along quietly and busily. Wendell is back with me, and that makes me very happy. Geoffrey is in semi-retirement on the paper. Jay Harrison has been made music editor, Perkins being rewarded for his long service by having all that responsibility lightened. He is still with us, however, and writing excellent reviews.

Love ever,

THE AIMS OF A.I.M.

The American International Music Fund, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the ideals of Serge and Olga Koussevitzky: to give recognition to composers during their lifetime, and to encourage a closer international understanding of contemporary music.

A.I.M.'s primary project is the annual Serge and Olga Koussevitzky International Recording Award, a cash award of $2000.00 given in cooperation with High Fidelity/Musical America to the composer of a work of symphonic scope, first released on commercial recordings during the given year May 1 - April 30.

It is not possible to apply for this award. Recordings which qualify composers as candidates are automatically considered from the year's releases by a distinguished jury of music critics, editors and journalists.

The final judging is done at the end of each summer in an international locale by front-rank musicologists and critics from around the world.