Bookmarked and looking forward to more.

Hello, I’m a composer and pianist, currently Prof. of Composition at London College of Music, Uni. of W. London. In a spirit of curiosity, rather than because it’s what I generally do, I entered some Du Bellay sonnet translations for the Spender Prize, just because somebody at school 40 years ago interested me enough for me still to find recreational pleasure in the exercise and I find that the concentration of thought and expression enhances my use of written English elsewhere. So, with no axe to grind but with the frankest admiration, may I say that I loved your winning entry (like one of the judges, I especially admired the scarecrow image, but also several other inspired turns of phrase and image. I think I loved it in the same way that I love (odd word for this!) ‘Funeral Music’ by Geoffrey Hill, the sonnet sequence on the Wars of the Roses, which is similarly dense with arresting images and never has a neutral, inert moment: high praise, I hope. – Would you feel demeaned or insulted by a musician taking compositional interest in ‘The Collar’? (Possibly in more work besides?) I’m writing a song cycle at present for the tenor James Gilchrist, who has already performed as soloist in a (CD-recorded) oratorio of mine. I’d love to explore future possibilities that might involve him – and, possibly, you? I know this might require you to drop a few sky-currents, for which I can only apologise humbly, but you might make an old crow happy!

Many congratulations – and your modesty does you further credit. I particularly enjoyed Patrick McGuinness’s comments on the whole entry too, which I found very interesting and instructive.

Very best wishes,

Francis Pott.