Correspondence, 1978-2000

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

All correspondence has been left in original order, although there does not appear to be any particular sequence to the letters. The order of files was imposed by the Library. The form of correspondence varies, including cards, postcards, letters and faxes.

A large proportion of the letters in files 1 and 2 are in connection with Andrew Ford's book of interviews with composers, Composer to composer: conversations about contemporary music, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1993. Thus the majority of letters are in the early 1990s. Major correspondents include: Leanne Bear, Elliott Carter, Brian Ferneyhough (also letter to Ferneyhough from Ford), Alexander Goehr, Oliver Knussen, Vincent Plush, Paul Robinson and Peter Sculthorpe.

The remainder of the correspondence includes letters from performers, composers, poets, recording and broadcasting firms and covers subjects such as copyright, commissions, and performances as well as books and broadcasts by Ford. Most of the letters are written to Ford, but there are also about a dozen from Ford. Although the date range is 1978-1998, the bulk of the correspondence is in the 1980s. Major correspondents include: Sebastian Barker, Henri Bok, Adrian Jack (Institute of Contemporary Arts), Lisa Moore, Stephen Plaistow (BBC), Craig Raine (Faber and Faber), Christopher Reid and Harry Sparnaay.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The first consignment was donated to the Library by Andrew Ford under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme in February 2001. Further papers were received in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2019.

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