8 NOVEMBER 1902, Page 16

THE NEGLECT OF NATIVE COMPOSERS. - (To Taft EDITOR OP

THE sexcrAToa..1

Sin,—I have read with much interest your article of last week on the above subject. I am afraid that English music does not - get its deserts at the hands of many of our entrepreneurs and conductors—the more shame to them ; but the writer of the article is probably unaware that the programme of the Halford Concert Society, Birmingham, contains no fewer than eleven works by English composers to be performed during the coming season of ten concerts. I enclose a programme, which will show that at any rate this undertaking is clear from the . reproach which you so justly bring against the majority of our concert managers.—I am, Sir, &c.,

Longlands House, Stourbridge. H. WATSON SMITH.