THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[early February 1933]

My Dear Child –

How could I be annoyed with you – it’s only my laziness in not answering sooner – disgraceful of me – so don’t be foolish any more – you know I love to do things for you.
The only difficulty is I must be in London on the 4th to hear Napier Miles’¹  piece – the question is can I get down in time on the morning of the 5th – I don’t know how early I start.
Lady G.² sent me a v. kind wire about the concerto³ – It went well I think – but nobody seemed to like it much – indeed one man hissed!
It will be lovely seeing you in March.
Love from

Uncle Ralph

1. The concert was in the Queen’s Hall on 4 April, and included Napier’s Ode on a Grecian Urn.  See R.V.W.: a biography, pp.109-110. VW’s dilemma is that he was speaking and conducting in Dursley the following day, the last day of the Stinchcombe Hill Musical Festival.
2. Lady Adeline Goodrich, widow of Sir James Goodrich, was a neighbour of Diana Awdry in Stinchcombe.
3. Concerto in C major for Pianoforte and Orchestra, Catalogue of Works 1931/3, first performed at Queen’s Hall on 1 February 1933 by Harriet Cohen, the dedicatee.