THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Dorking

[1931]

Dear Grace
Yes I did get your very splendid letter – I’ve been a pig not to answer – but I’ve been up to the eyes in work & had to go to London every day
Wellecz¹ sounds splendid – I long to hear what he thought of the Toccata & what you are doing now – I know you’ve got it in you to do some lovely music, dear Grace, if it can only come out & perhaps Wellecz is the man to do it.
I miss you dreadfully & can’t help being a little glad you miss me; I often think of our last evening together.
I was much interested in you meeting with Palmer – it was strange you meeting him in that large city
I’m so sorry about your rooms – it that fellow Krassig who recommended them all right? I don’t altogether like what you told me of him. I’m glad you are back safely in your old place.
It’s splendid to think of you having such a good time – I felt that you’d be able to squeeze every ounce of pleasure  & profit out of your stay in Vienna – so go on as you have started – & let me have another long letter about your doings – what a lot you are writing – all very atonal I suppose – but you’ve got to go through it & then you will see your way clearly the other side.
Here in England we stodge along as usual – RCM² rather dull now – but Betty³ pays me a visit occasionally.
She hopes to see you in Prag⁴ next month & I am giving her your address. her address is 41 Ossington Street London W.2
I should like to know what impression Tristan⁵ made on you – whether it still bowls you over & leaves you limp as it used to do to me in the 90s nineties
Love from
your Uncle Ralph
P.S.
I entirely disagree with Wellecz about Bach – to start with yours is a transcription of a keyboard piece not  … for modern orchestra – and any way because fiddlers were not able to do certain things in Bach’s time which they can do now.
Why sh^d we not make use of them & make the effect more beautiful & nearer J.S.B’s⁶ ideal – otherwise  how about chromatic horns & trumpets which you are using in your score

1. sic, i.e. Egon Wellesz, who was teaching Williams in Vienna.
2. Royal College of Music
3. Elizabeth Maconchy
4. Prague
5. Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde.
6. Johann Sebastian Bach