THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Dorking

Oct 20 [1946]

Dear Buckland
For our old friendships sake here is this – but
(a) not a loan but a gift – I do no want to hang a millstone round your neck for the rest of your life
(b) not necessarily to be used for the purposes specified in your letter^{1
————————————————————————————————————-}
I cannot believe you are ready yet to embark on this opera – by all means keep it in your mind & make notes – but as to the actual writing put it off till you have more musical and theatrical experience. Try & get a job (even walking on) at the Wells or Carl Rosa² & see how the stage wheels go round – Then try your hand at something small (comic opera? – that I believe is the best practice – see Wagner’s advice to young composers)
I cannot believe that all you want to know about M.A.³ cannot be found at the B.M⁴ & elsewhere in England
Unless you are a trained researcher (which I do not imagine you are) 3 weeks among the Italian libraries would not be much use to you
If you do go to Italy spend your time having some lessons from Casella – he has one of those hard dry Italian minds & could “put you through it” in a way that we in England do not seem able to do with our pupils
Yrs
R Vaughan Williams

P.S. I have for many years refused to be “drored” so I cannot break my rule now – sorry
P.P.S. I hope this letter will arrive but I cannot read your address

1. Presumably Buckland had asked for a loan for a trip to Italy.
2. Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Carl Rosa Opera Company.
3. “M.A.” has not been identified.
4. British Museum