THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Feb 1st [1940]

Dear Canon Briggs
I have come to the conclusion that what with our hymn¹ & the Shelley things² I am doing I have for the present shot my bolt as regards war-time music.
Won’t you ask Martin Shaw – I feel sure he wd write you a fine tune.³
Yours sincerely
R. Vaughan Williams

1.  A hymn of freedom, Catalogue of Works 1939/5; the words are by Briggs.
2. Six choral songs composed in early 1940.
3. After this letter, Five Wartime Hymns (Catalogue of Works 1942/2) was published in 1942, containing hymns by VW, Martin Shaw and Ivor Atkins, the words by Briggs. This implies VW had a change of heart after writing this letter and composed one more hymn, and also suggests that VW’s suggestion of Martin Shaw was also acted upon, unless perhaps Briggs already had Shaw in mind.