11 FEBRUARY 1995, Page 30

Who needs Italian?

Sir: Keith Waterhouse (Diary, 4 February) might be interested to know that the com- poser Percy Grainger used the word louden', where less Australian musicians are content with 'crescendo'. In bar 79 of his setting of the 'Willow Song' from Othel- lo appears the direction: 'Louden lots don't drag.'

Elizabeth Hogg

19 Woodlands Road, Barnes, London SW13