THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Feb 22nd [1940]

Dear Miss Gayford¹

Do you think some of the Oriana would help the Div 2 choirs – I sh^d like about 2 to each part from your choir (including 2 strong Tenors). Would you be one yourself?
The rehearsals are
Friday March 1^st 8.0 church room
Tuesday March 5^th 8.0 at Dutch House Holmwood
Wednesday March 6^th 7.0 at Leatherhead Institute
Friday March 8^th Dorking Halls 8.0

Any one who volunteers to help ought to come to at least two of these.
Also I want a small semi chorus (about 6 voices from each choir S.1 S.2. A1. A.2 Female voices only) for the semichorus “Holy holy” in Elijah..
We might try over this at the same rehearsals. Also at a full rehearsal in Dorking Halls on March 10^th (Sunday) at 2.30 – & we c^d then arrange another.
Would you also sing in this? Also Mrs Kirby tells me of a Miss Goodman who is good. I also hope that Mrs Kirby will sing.
Yours sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

1. Afterwards Joyce Hooper, Conductor of Dorking Oriana Choir, 1937-39 and again 1947-1963.