THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Feb 27 [1947?]

Dear Irving,

I am so glad to hear you are etc.
The selection seems good – though I am sorry we have not got the sea music.¹
It is most kind of you to be sending the recordings.
By the way “The Shepherds” is not & never was a Cantata, but a stage piece & has had several performances as such – it was once done (& I do not think successfully) at the 3 Choirs in concert form.²
Yrs

RVW

1.  Possibly refers to the music for the film The Loves of Joanna Godden of which a selection was recorded. See Catalogue of Works 1946/2.
2.  The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains, Catalogue of Works 1922/6. The work was performed at Sadlers Wells in early/mid-February 1947, which might have prompted this comment, presumably in response to a letter from Irving.