More about Myra
Further reading
Myra Hess: A Portrait
Marian McKenna
Published by Hamish Hamilton, London. 1976
A comprehensive biography and invaluable source in the creation of these pages.
Myra Hess by Her Friends
Edited by Denise Lassimonne and Howard Ferguson
Published by Hamish Hamilton, London. 1966
A collection of first person accounts by the people who knew Myra Hess best, including the pianist Irene Scharrer, the conductor Sir Adrian Boult, wartime National Gallery Director Sir Kenneth Clark, the actress Joyce Grenfell and composer Howard Ferguson.
National Gallery Concerts in Aid of the Musicians Benevolent Fund
Printed by the Trustees of the National Gallery. 1945
A commemorative booklet printed to mark the fifth anniversary of the concerts. Edited by the composer Howard Ferguson and containing contributions by Myra Hess, Sir Kenneth Clark, wartime Director of the National Gallery and the author E.M. Forster. This book is now extremely rare.
Archives
Documents relating to Myra Hess and the National Gallery concerts are held in archives around the world. Two key collections are detailed below but for a more detailed list, see Marian McKenna’s biography, Myra Hess: A Portrait.
The National Gallery Library
An extensive collection of press cuttings, letters and minutes covering the history of the concerts from 1939 to 1946. Find out how to access the library.
The British Library
A comprehensive collection of programmes, letters and documents preserved by Myra Hess’s niece and secretary Beryl Davies. Highlights of the archive include a complete set of programmes; the running sheets for the performances (with handwritten notes on the news and weather of the day); and a copy of the commemorative booklet edited by composer Howard Ferguson, to mark the concerts’ fifth anniversary.
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