THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Thursday [July 1950]

Belov Boo
I write to Michael¹ thundering Pils Prog² on the piano (now in tune). How he brings it to life.
I wish Bernard were here to sing it for R who starts trying to [and] has to rush for a lozenge! […]
Michael is cheerful about his work – more engagements with Isobel Baillie & Olive Zorian (Sonata concert)³ & Eric Greene has asked him for a “medley” of folksongs for him & his wife to sing in concerts and Mrs Treland has not been so noisy on the piano
R in anxious to take diet seriously. I agree with you there is very little to be gained by it – still I have got a guinea fowl and a boiling chicken w^h no-one can say is not good for him – as he says “I must eat something”. Dr Clarke says in answer “I know its difficult in these times but eat less” but I don’t mean to let R take this too seriously.
A lovely day now that the frost has gone. If all is well R drives up for rehearsal of “Riders” tomorrow⁴ – its 4.30 so not too late
Yr A

1. Michael Mullinar, pianist
2. Pilgrim’s Progress
3. Zorian and Mullinar worked together between 1941 and 1957. They gave a concert in Okehampton in Oct 1950 (Western Morning News, 5.10.1950)
4. Riders to the Sea. This was performed by Sadlers Wells in 1953; before that the performances were by students and amateurs. VW may have involved himself in rehearsals for the student production at the Royal College of Music on 13 and 14 July 1950.