[Sir Joseph Barnby, composer and conductor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Barnby') to his 'Dear friend' [Madame Albani]

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on aged paper. Her letter to him is 'the essence of sweetness': it has 'touched me deeply and will not soon be forgotten'. He supposes that she is unaware that 'Parratt and I travelled down to Windsor in the same train with you - indeed in the same carriage'. He explains that he did not disturb her 'for I knew your errand and I felt that rest & quiet was needful but my thoughts were with you in the evening and I would gladly have changed places with the dear Queen to have heard you repeat such a rendering of "Verdure clad" as I never heard before.' In the final paragraph he sends his regards, adding that his wife 'feels your letter as much as I do'. A Court Circular in The Times, 12 December 1887, reports that two days earlier 'Madame Albani Gye, with Mr., Miss and Master Gye and Mdlle. La Jeunesse, arrived at the Castle and had the honour of singing the following pieces [four works, including '"With verdure clad," from the Creation, by Haydn'] before Her Majesty and the Royal Family. | Mr. Parrott [sic] presided at the organ.' From the Gye family papers.