Constant LAMBERT (1905-1951)

Two Autograph Letters Signed ("Constant Lambert") to "Dear Mr. Saunders", in one letter accepting to become "Honorary Vice President of the Ellington Society" and in the other declining an invitation to give a talk at "the Centre" as he is "far too busy with rehearsing and arranging a new ballet".

1 page 4to, 15 Percy St, W1, 23 May n.y. and 1 page 4to, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 13 November, n.y.

The first letter is a gracious acceptance: "I shall be delighted to become Honorary Vice President of the Ellington Society."

In the second, longer, letter, Lambert replies to an invitation, pleading work commitments: ". . . Your account of the Centre is very interesting but I'm afraid that at the moment I am frankly far too busy with rehearsing & arranging a new ballet to be able to give a talk. I am sure you will understand. However, I very much hope to be able to look in & see the paintings by Crosbie [possibly the Scottish artist William Crosbie] which I hope are still on."

Lambert, whose work with the young Vic-Wells Ballet was an important part of its ultimate success, arranged the music for several ballets, including Ashton's Les Patineurs and wrote the score for others, including Horoscope. He was a great admirer of jazz, and a devotee of Duke Ellington in particular.

The 13 November letter has very light stains at the four corners, possibly from offsetting when it was folded in four.

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