'"Gerontius" with M.S. notes by Elgar': R. J. Buckley's Vocal Score of The Dream of Gerontius in the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.

Wilfrid Mellers (1914-2008), founding Professor of the Department of Music at the University of York, bequeathed his scores and books to the Borthwick Institute for Archives at that University.2 Amongst the collection there is a bound first edition vocal score of The Dream of Gerontius (London: Novello, 1900), containing numerous annotations in the hand of Edward Elgar, which is the subject of this article.3 The vocal score's original paper cover exists inside a more recent leather binding, and this tells us that the copy was once the property of Robert J. Buckley (Elgar's first biographer). [Illustration 1] Furthermore, on the inside flyleaf Buckley has tipped-in a slip of paper which gives us the all-important information: ' "Gerontius" | with M.S. notes | by Elgar: sent | to R. J. Buckley | by the composer | on the day of | publication - | 1900-'. [Illustration 2] A stamp on the tipped-in page indicates that the vocal score once belonged to the Birmingham and Midland Institute School of Music (today the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and there is also the name of the bookbinder who repaired and probably bound the vocal score either for Buckley or for the School of Music library. It is likely that some of Buckley's music, perhaps including this vocal score, was left to the School of Music after his death in 1938, but just how the copy came into Mellers' possession is not known. Mellers was resident in Birmingham between 1948 and 1964 (connected with the University of Birmingham not the School of Music) and it may be significant that the Birmingham School of Music gained independence from the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1963: perhaps there was a removal of stock from the School of Music library in advance of the reorganisation and Mellers got hold of the vocal score at that point? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]