From the 56 or so files I’ve examined up to now, the Thomas Nelson archives generally save copies of the letters that went out from the offices – but not the incoming replies. They reveal one side of a conversation.
So today, I was able to read letters to James Easson and Herbert Wiseman about the third and fourth Scots Song Books, but I couldn’t see how they reacted or responded. I need to look at the finished books again, but I may not necessarily be able to determine if they took on board the impeccably polite and respectful points raised about the texts they had used. I haven’t got the annotated proofs that were sent to Easson, or his reply.
As you will see from the enclosed, there are certain discrepancies, mostly small ones, between your text and the text as given in the various authorities.
I wonder if he had anticipated the lengths to which his new editor would go – visiting libraries and consulting authoritative editions – to ensure the texts were accurate?! Lengths, I might add, which are entirely consistent with what I’ve learned about the editor!
What is clear, though, is that these books were very carefully compiled, and just as painstakingly edited.
I am very anxious to get these points settled now before the MS goes for setting.
I still have a number of files to examine – and until I see them, I won’t know which departments they are from. I wonder when I’ll catch up with the meticulous editor again?!
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 