THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Hotel Bendinat
Palma de Mallorca

October 5th 1956

Dictated¹

Dear Barter,

Your letter has followed me here – hence my delay in answering.
It is wonderful of you to remember my birthday – & it has arrived before the rush so that I can enjoy it thoroughly.
I remember our meeting at Kingsway Hall very well.
I am so glad that we both had that splendid sojourn with Gerald Finzi in Gloucester – I think In Terra Pax is one of his most beautiful works – a fitting end to a fine life.²
I wish we could have seen more of you.  Those few glimpses were so delightful in themselves and in the reminiscences they brought up.
I think it is quite right to encourage the young & modern, if suitable music can be found for the three choirs – but why he’s spent a whole morning over that dreary, un-inspired Swiss stuff I don’t know.
We are having a delightful and lazy holiday here.  Chiefly basking and bathing.
Love from us both, to you both
Yrs

R. Vaughan Williams

1. The letter is in the hand of UVW signed by VW
2. Gerald Finzi had died on 27th September.
3. There had been a performance of Honegger’s King David at the Three Choirs Festival.