THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, SURREY.

22nd. March, 1950.

Dear Dr. Kahn,
You must forgive my writing to you in English. On the other hand I am dictating this letter so there is some chance you will be able to read it.
May I wish send you my very best wishes on the occasion of your golden wedding and for much future happiness as there has, I am sure been much happiness for you in the past. Also my congratulations on having passed the thousandth number in your musical calendar.¹
Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Kahn and I hope she is feeling better now. I often think of her when we rehearse certain tenor passages in the “Passion”.
Yours sincerely,
R Vaughan Williams

(R. Vaughan Williams).

Robert Kahn, Esq.

My remembrances to you both and love to dear Mrs Kahn
Adeline V.W.

1. After fleeing Germany in 1938 Kahn began to compose again, resulting in more than 1,100 works for piano in the form of a musical diary, the Tagebuch in Tönen, which he had begun in 1935, writing several short piano works per week until his death in 1951.
2. Rehearsals for the performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion at the Leith Hill Musical Festival.