THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

White Gates

Oct 15th 1945

My dear Bruce
A letter from you is worth all the music paper in the world.¹
Do you think I am too old to start learning how to compose? When I hear people even like Gordon Jacob I long to be able to acquire the sure touch. Or, sometimes the awful doubt assails me, is it the very muddled thinking which I’ve worked & worked to cure which makes those who do like my stuff like it?
But as long as people like you do really like it I don’t mind why.
Yrs
R Vaughan Williams

1. Apparently in response to a letter from Richmond about the Symphony no. 5.