Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Grace Williams

Letter No. VWL3854

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Grace Williams

Letter No.: VWL3854

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[1929?]

Dearest Grace
Yes I’ve finished up the concerts started some years ago – foolish of me isn’t it?
So glad to hear about the 6^tet why not a trumpet?¹
Re W.H.R.² – a very neat gift & knows his job thoroughly of course – & has a sort of impish humour – not great music & does not pretend to be – I like “Aesops Fables” best – I wish you were coming to Worcester – so does W.H.R.
Love from Uncle Ralph

I’ve heard nothing about dear Betty³ – I’ve written to Billy⁴

1. Presumably the Sextet for oboe, trumpet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1931).
2. William H. Reed, conductor, violinist and minor composer.
3. Elizabeth Maconchy
4. W.H. Reed was known to his friends as Billy.

To:

Williams, Grace, 1906-1977
From:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958
Scribe:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958
Names:

Reed, William H. (William Henry), 1876-1942 Maconchy, Elizabeth, 1907-1994 Three Choirs Festival
Places:

England--Worcester
Musical Works:

Williams, Grace, 1906-1977. Sextet, oboe, trumpet, violin, viola, cello, piano Reed, William H. (William Henry), 1876-1942. Aesop's Fables
Format:

Letter
General Notes:

Date from reference to sextet (completed in 1931) and reference to Worcester – presumably for Three Choirs Festival, which was in Worcester in 1929 and not again until 1932.
Location Of Original:

Private collection
Location Of Copy:

British Library

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