THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

April 18th 1955.

Dear Howes,

Thank you very much for your letter, and for coming to hear my new tune.¹ As you say, though I do not accept yours, or anyone’s advice blindly, I assure you it makes its affect.  On the main point, however, I am not taking your advice.  I feel the thing IS a symphony and it is going to remain so.  But a lot of your suggestions about detail I am going to think over hard, and probably adopt.  However I shall probably do nothing till I have let it “mature in bond” for a bit.
Thank you once again.
Yrs

R Vaughan Williams

1. Symphony no.8, Catalogue of Works 1955/3. See R.V.W.: a biography, p.358, where this letter is printed.