THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

March 2nd 1954.

Dear Cedric,

That recording of Tudor Portraits is horrible: that screeching woman outrageous, and the tempi, most of them, wrong.  I knew nothing about it till I received the record.¹  But I have to admit that I have marked one or two optional cuts in Jane Scroop, but not, so far as I can remember, elsewhere.  Do use it to light your fire. I am glad you still like the work. And also that Bruno still approves of me.  We are doing it at Dorking on April 30th, when, at all events, the tempi will be correct and there will be no cuts.
Love from both of us to Bruno and you,
Uncle Ralph

1. Five Tudor Portraits was recorded live on 30 November 1952 by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Steinberg, with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Nell Rankin (mezzo) and Robert B. Anderson (bass baritone). There are three, apparently authorised, cuts in Jane Scroop.