THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

24th September 1952

Dear Mr Stokowski,

I feel much honoured that you have recorded my “Fantasia”. Here is the history of the tune:
About 1567 a metrical psalter by Archbishop Parker was printed, entitled “The Whole Psalter translated into English metre which containeth 150 Psalms.” At the end of the book there are nine tunes in four parts by Thomas Tallis. The first eight tunes are each in one of the ecclesiastical modes. This tune is the third and it referred to the third mode. (Another of the tunes is the famous Canon).
I enclose a copy of Tallis’ original setting. You will see that the melody is in the tenor.
Yours sincerely,

R Vaughan Williams

(R. Vaughan Williams).