Collection Description
Mayer, Sir Robert, 1879-
Robert Mayer collection. Second and third accruals. Note: The third
accrual consists of one file folder in Box 8.
Robert Mayer Concerts for Children in England 1923-1954.
Note: Cross-references to certain events especially those connected
with members of the Royal Family, can be found in the appropriate albums
or press cuttings files.
BOX 6
F.A1 Central London 1923-1939 (when the concerts were temporarily interrupted
because of war)
Analysis of all pieces of music played during the first 16 seasons at
the Central Hall Westminster, mainly under the conductor ship of Dr.
(later Sir) Malcolm Sargent, and major guest conductors. Central Hall,
Westminster, London S.W. 1, some in the Queen's Hall, London.
F.A2 Central London 1945-1950 Central Hall Westminster, from 1951 onwards
Royal Festival Hall, London E.C.
Analysis of all pieces played, summary of programmes.
F.A3 Central London
Printers' proofd of programmes, handbills and posters for concerts in
the Central Hall Westminster and Queen's Hall. Several annotated, giving
number of children who attended. The programmes give detailed accounts
of orchestras and soloists. On occasions guest orchestras appear or
(as on 8th January 1938) the Glyndebourne Opera Company performs. On
December 7th 1935, the Messiah is performed, and Lady Mayer sings under
her stage name of Dorothy Moulton. The principal conductor until 1939
is Sir Malcolm Sargent in the London area.
F.A4 Newcastle Orchestral Concerts for School Children; arranged by
City & County of Newcastle with Robert Mayer from 1933 to 1939.
Analysis of all pieces of music played during six seasons. Printers'
proofs of the programmes. Dr. S. Leslie Russell is the conductor, and
the file also contains numerous notes from Dr. Russell on several topics.
A special section deals with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Newcastle
and programmes financed by Robert Mayer for adults. During the period
of depression in the early 1930s, Robert Mayer financed special "adult
children's concerts" in the distressed areas of unemployment which were
given free-of-charge to the unemployed. A manuscript report by Dr. Russell
on one of these concerts, given in three different towns to the unemployed,
has been photocopied.
F.A5 Stepney /Jewish Institute/East London Junior Music Club 1933-1936
at the Jewish InstituteAs in the case of the concerts for the unemployed
during the distressed periods of unemployment in the early 1930s, neither
Sir. Robert Mayer nor Lady Mayer had ever made any mention of these
special concerts for Jewish children between 1933 and 1936. This file
contains a full analysis of all pieces of music played. The Jewish concerts
differed from all other Robert Mayer concerts: there was no orchestra
but always an abundance of well-known soloists, and Sir Robert and Lady
Mayer appear to take turns in introducing the concerts instead of the
conductor. Programmes of all the concerts with annotations and sometimes
the "fee" for the soloists written in pencil behind their names. Letters
from soloists to the Mayers, offering their programmes.
F.A6 Coventry 1935-1939: A summary of all programmes and all pieces
of music played in five years. Printers' proofs of all the concerts
(several annotated). The conductors are Malcolm Sargent, Sir John Barbirolli,
Dr. Russell, Stanley Chapple, Boyd Neel, Hubert Clifford. Also a Coronation
Concert.
F.A8 Derby 1935-1938: Summary of all pieces of music played during seasons.
Conductors: Sir John Barbirolli, Stanley Chapple, Dr Russell. Printers'
proofs of programmes and hand bills.
F.A9 Hounslow/Heston & Isleworth 1934-1939. Conductor: Stanley Chapple.
Analysis of all music played during seasons. Proofs (several annotated
and changed) of the concerts. See also letter from education authority,
annotated.
F.A10 Beckenham & Bromey 193-1938. Conductors: (mainly) Sir Malcolm
Sargent, also Hubert Clifford, Reginald Jaques. Analysis of all pieces
of music played during five years. Printers' proofs of all programmes
and hand bills.
F.A11 Kingston-Upon-Thames 1931-1939. Conductors: (mainly) Sir Malcolm
Sargent & Chapple. Analysis of all music played during nine seasons.
Printers' proofs of all programmes. Also one large poster for the concert
on 13th October 1937.
F.A12 Tottenham - Middlesex 1928-1939. Conductor: (mainly) Sir Malcolm
Sargent. Tottenham was one of the most flourishing centres for the Robert
Mayer Concerts for 12 years. This file contains the analysis of all
music played during the seasons, the printers' proofs of the programmes
and hand bills and several tickets.
F.A13 Reading, Berkshire 1932-1936. Inaugural concert conducted by W.K.
Stanton at the University; conductor afterwards: Sir Malcolm Sargent
at the Town Hall Reading. File contains analysis of all music played
during the seasons, printers' proofs (many annotated) of the programmes.
F.A14 St. Helier - Sutton District 1939. Conductor: Stanley Chapple;
hand bill and programme; Robert Mayer abandoned St. Helier concerts
after the inaugural concert.
F.A15 Wimbledon 1930/31 Season. Conductor: Sir Malcolm Sargent. Printers'
proofs of all concerts in that season. Also a hand bill giving details
of other centres for Robert Mayer Concerts 1930/31 season in the Greater
London area.
F.A16 Wakefield - Yorkshire193-1936. Conductors: Sir John Barbirolli
and Edward Maude. Analysis of all music played during the seasons; only
one concert in 1931, 1935 and 1936 each. Proofs of programmes. The official
"Report on Education" issued by the Wakefield Education Committee in
1933, dealing with the question of music in a special section.
F.A17 West Ham 1931-1933. Conductor: Stanley Chapple; Analysis of all
music played during seasons. Separate analysis of the programmes. Programme
notes (typed and ms; several printers' proofs of programmes).
F.A18 York 1935-1938. Conductors: Chapple, Reginald Jaques, Sir John
Barbirolli and Sir Edward Bairstow. File contains analysis of the music
played during the seasons, printers' proofs of all programmes and handbills.
(A very active centre for four years)
F.A19 Huddersfield Yorkshire Conductor: Reginald Jaques. 1933-1937.
File contains an analysis of all the music played during the seasons
(and one ms. analysis). Programmes were duplicated for the concerts.
F.A20 Bethnal Green. 1 concert in 1933. Details of music played, programme
(duplicated) instructions to "the manager of the Public Baths" where
the concert was held, with detailed instructions about how the orchestra
is to sit, etc. This experiment was abandoned after one concert.
F.A21 Grimsby 1935-1936. Conductor Sir John Barbirolli. Analysis of
all music played in concerts; printers' proofs of programmes.
BOX 7
F.A22 Bradford 1933-1939. The Hallé Orchestra under several guest conductors.
An active centre where the Robert Mayer Concerts were given by the City
Education Committee in conjunction with Robert Mayer. The file contains
the full analysis of all music played during the seasons, printers'
proofs of all concert programmes, and much ms. and typed material. It
is interesting to note that two Midland cities, Leeds & Bradford, seem
to have substantially more financial backing from industry than other
cities. Also, it appears that initially they seemed to dictate programme
content.
F.A23 Leeds 1930-1934. The City Education Committee presents the Yorkshire
Concerts for Children (Founder and Honorary Organizer, Robert Mayer).
Next to London (Central Hall) Leeds produces the most luxurious programmes
(larger than those in London and heavily sponsored by advertising).
Sir Malcom Sargent conducts the Inaugural Concert, the Hallé Orchestra
plays under various conductors. The file contains all the programmes,
tickets etc.
F.A24 Stoke-on-Trent 1935. Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli; Northern
Symphony Orchestra; analysis of all music played during season; programmes
in typescript and duplicated and printers' proof.
F.A25 Sunderland 1937-1938. Conductor: Dr. Leslie Russell; Newcastle
Philharmonic Orchestra. Analysis of all pieces of music played in seasons.
Printers' proofs of all programmes; also typed programmes annotated
with conductor's notes for speech to children.
F.A26 Barnsley. Conductors: Chapple and Dr. J. Frederich Stratton; Northern
Philharmonic and Chesterfield Symphony Orchestras. Analysis of all music
played 1935-1938; programmes (some annotated).
F.A27 East End of London People's Palace 1925-1937. These concerts,
conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent ran parallel to the West End Concerts
in the Central Hall, Westminster. Though the same artists performed
in both concert halls, and all major events, such as Coronation Concerts
(in the presence of the Royal Family) also took place there, the price
for admission and programme was cheaper The file contains the analysis
of all pieces of music performed at the People's Palace between 1925
and 1937, printers' proof of the programmes (including the Coronation
Concert).
F.A28 Battersea (South London, S.W. 18) Conductor: Sir Malcolm Sargent.
Unlike the successful concerts in the East End of London, those in Battersea
never did materialize. File contains the programme for the one concert
held there in December 1931.
F.A29 Ealing (London West) Conductor: Chapple, 1936-1938. The file contains
the analysis of all music played there, printers' proof of programmes
and handbills.
F.A30 Doncaster 1935. Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli; analysis of music
played and programmes.
F.B1 Coronation and Jubilee Concerts.
This file contains all the programmes for special concerts arranged
by the Robert Mayer Concerts for Children. Most of these copies are
the only ones in existence. The file contains: the handbill and invitation
to attend one of the Coronation Concerts for King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth in 1937 (The Queen attending the concert at Central Hall with
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret; the Duke and Duchess of Kent
attending the concert at the People's Palace. The Princess Royal attended
a Coronation Concert in Yorkshire.) 2 copies. One copy of these programmes
are also in the relevant files: A3, A27, etc.)
3 copies of the Anniversary Concert Programme to celebrate the twenty-fifth
season of the concerts; all with a special insert announcing the presence
of the Patron, H.M. the Queen Mother on November 15th 1952.
2 copies each of the Coronation Concerts for Queen Elizabeth II at the
Royal Festival Hall (one on May l6th, the second on June 20th 1953).
The second programme has a hand-printed special insert "England" John
O'Gaunt's Verse, words paraphrased from Shakespeare by Sir Esme Howard.
The invitation programme, Royal Opera House Covent Garden for Coronation
Night. 2 June 1953.
The invitation programme "A Garland For The Queen": Music for the Eve
of Coronation Day (Conductors Anthony Lewis, Boris Ord and R. Vaughan
Williams). The certificate that Sir Robert Mayer had subscribed 143
trees for the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Forest in Israel.
F.B2 Robert Mayer Youth Concerts 1956-1958 at the Royal Festival Hall:
printers' proofs of the handbill and the programmes of the series (4
concerts 1956-57; 5 concerts 1957-58)
F.B3 Robert Mayer's Youth & Music Opera Nights at Sadler's Wells. Printers'
proofs of 18 programmes for operas between 1961 and 1967 (plus one set
of duplicate proofs). Proofs for the three operas in first season 1959/60.
F.B4 Youth & Music annual programmes for the seasons: 1963/64; 1964/65;
1965/66; 1966/67.
F.B5 Robert Mayer Concerts
Analytical Notes by William W. Johnson for 3 concerts in Cheltenham
Town Hall on July 12th 1951.
F.B6 Six copies of a double-spread. autographed article, signed by Sir
Robert and Lady Mayer; Coronation issue of "Music in Education", May-June
1953, entitled "The Treatment of Music in Education".
F.C1 Marlboro Music 1951-1975; published in 1977, 514 pp. This complete
record of all music performed, artists & composers over a quarter of
a century is not unconnected with Sir Robert Mayer, who enjoyed a friendship
with the founder of Marlboro for many decades. Rudolf Serkin dedicated
the book to Sir Robert.
BOX 8
F.C2 The manuscript criticism by Sir Robert of Charles Read's biographical
work and the history of the R.M. Concerts. These criticism give a clear
insight into Robert Mayer's great attention to detail, especially concerning
matters about himself. The final product of Read's work (with all of
Mayer's criticism incorporated).
F.C3 The ms. draft of Sir Robert Mayer's speech from the Royal Box addressing
the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales on 5th June
1979 (his l00th birthday). This is the only draft which survived; the
last sentence had to be deleted because of court protocol. Also in this
file, the final speech (including the addenda).
The speech by Sir Geraint Evans. The Centenary programme, including
the contribution by Bernard Levin, which was later included in the second,
enlarged edition of My First Hundred Years. (Photocopy of last page
of ms. draft.)
F.C4 Several ms. pages, written by Sir Robert in 1979 for the Centenary
Revised Edition of My First Hundred Years, typed and annotated sections;
two ms. pages with four topics which were added to the second, enlarged
Centenary edition, in October 1979 for Sir Robert's US tour after the
birthday celebrations; the design by Sir Hugh Cassons, President of
the Royal Academy, of Sir Robert for the book jacket (Cent. Ed.) and
the "masked" and reduced version of the sketch by James Gillison, as
finally used. The proof copy of the Centenary Edition, the finished
edition, and the typescripts for all additional material for 2nd edition.
F.C5 The original typescript and the proofs for The Anatomy of a Miracle.
F.C6 The original typescript and proofs (annotated) of the The History
of Children's Concerts in The Irish Republic And The Dorothy Mayer Mayer
Foundation.
F.C7 Correspondence: The ms. drafts of important letters by Sir Robert.
Notes: The letter to the Earl of Drogheda (written at the time of Sir
Robert's l00th birthday) suggests that the whole Youth & Music Committee
resign; the Raymond Leppard letter caused an enormous controversy. On
the day Mrs. Thatcher announced her new cabinet, Sir Robert writes immediately
to Rt. Hon. Norman St. John Stevas: "... I have worked for sixty years
in the market place...." and offers his services; that was ten days
before his 100th birthday. In the letter to judge Simon of New York,
he outlines his plans for his U.S. tour after the three months of celebrations
are over in England, etc.
Unnumbered file folder containing photographs, including a page from
a Victorian album with the earliest photographs of Sir Robert, taken
shortly after his arrival in England in 1896. Most photographs are after
1946, although some are from 1920s-1930s.
Third accrual. 1 file of printed materials, including news clippings
and programs, 1985; 1 statement re his autobiography signed by Mayer
and Peter Bander van Duren, 6 November 1976.
BOX 9 Six Folio Bound Volumes
Folio 1
31 cm x 26 cm; 96 pages (94 pages used) in good condition
Contents: The Folio begins in 1945 when the Robert Mayer Concerts are
revived. There are (among other items) over 350 press cuttings in this
folio ending in December 1954 (though other folios have different cuttings
often running parallel in time). About 75% of these cuttings concern
the royal connection. There is a special section dealing with Prince
Charles and articles by "experts" discussing when he should go to his
first Robert Mayer Concert. Also contained in this folio is an autographed
letter from the Queen to Sir Robert (15th November 1947) and the following
telegrams to Sir Robert:
Sept.28, 1951 from the Queen
Oct. 8, 1951 from Princess Elizabeth
Aug. 4, 1952 from Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother
Nov. 14, 1952, Mar. 26 1953, Apr. 21 1953 from the Queen
June 4, 1953 from the Queen on her coronation
Nov. 1, 1953 from the Queen
Nov. 24, 1953 and May 18, 1954 from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
Folio 2
30 cm x 25 cm; spine damaged. About half of the press cuttings and articles
loose inside the folio.
Begins October 26, 1949 and contains relating to events up to 1959 (and
some cuttings of 1960). Besides some 200 press cuttings and articles
this folio also contains The Queen Mother's letter on Sir Robert's 80th
birthday, the official Luncheon Menu, autographed by over thirty guests,
the programme of the Chairman of the Council and telegram from the Queen
to Sir Robert (Nov. 14, 1954)
Folio 3
38 cm x 25 cm; in good condition
160 pages beginning mainly in 1955 (with a few from1953), dealing with
Youth & Music activities. Besides some 350 cuttings (about 100 cuttings
loose in the folio), many events are recorded in original photographs,
which also have been inserted in the relevant places with descriptions.
Many of the photographs are not in other collections (private snap shots,
etc.) and record the early years of Youth & Music. Particular coverage
is given to the Congress in Vienna (1957), Bruxelles (1958) and Paris
(1959). Also in the folio are programmes of Youth & Music appearances
abroad, transcripts of radio interviews and several articles by Sir
Robert Mayer. The last major Youth & Music event covered is the Bayreuth
Festival (1960), though many of the cuttings go beyond that date. Extensive
coverage in German and French newspapers.
Folio 4
34 cm x 23 cm; in good condition; many cuttings loose in folio.
Sir Robert Mayer: Transatlantic Foundation 1947-1954. In 1947 Sir Robert
Mayer instituted scholarships for transatlantic students to study at
Oxford University, England, and also for English students to study America.
Out of these scholarships developed the Transatlantic Foundation of
which Sir Robert became Treasurer and Secretary. This folio contains
mainly American, but also many British press cuttings between 1947 and
1954.
Folio 5
35 cm x 24 cm, in good condition; many cuttings loose in folio; 1969-1970.
A special collection of the world-wide coverage of Sir Robert's 90th
birthday: leading articles by eminent musicologists on Robert Mayer.
Also, coverage of John Hill, who was sponsored by Sir Robert and by
Youth & Music and won the Tchaikovsky Gold Medal and First Prize in
the Moscow Piano Competition in 1970. Expansion of Youth & Music to
Tyne-side, etc.
Folio 6
31 cm x 27 cm; in fair condition; many cuttings loose in folio.
Lady Dorothy Moulton-Mayer & Music Foundations in the Republic of Ireland.
In 1953 Lady Mayer tried to duplicate the various musical enterprises
and foundations which had been established by Sir Robert in Britain
and under his patronage in the USA, Europe and Canada, in the Republic
of Ireland. Between 1953 and 1960, when Lady Mayer was actively engaged
in the organizing of the foundations, they did well. Afterwards, only
a few remained and the City of Cork established an annual Music Festival
in her honour and memory.
This folio contains the Irish press coverage of Lady Mayer's activities.
In 1959, she became only the second woman in 200 years to receive the
degree of D. Mus. Hon. Causa, from Trinity College, Dublin. Although
major profiles about Lady Mayer appeared until 1970, her life appeared
to be much overshadowed by the success stories of the Robert Mayer Foundations.
See F.C6.
Folio 7
Children's Concerts Cuttings. 1954-
