The advantages of having a manager

Vaughan Williams had asked Holst about his experience of having an agent. Holst, who was at Harvard University at the time, replied:

I’m very glad I’ve made use of Duncan McKenzie (OUP) as an agent. He has been really helpful and I hope you’ll at least consider using him. The alternative would be to print 1000 forms –

“Dear Sir or Madame
I’ll be damned before I’ll conduct, lecture, dine, be interviewed, be photographed.”

Cited in: Holmes, Paul (1997) Vaughan Williams. London: Omnibus Press, p.83.

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