THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

8 Feb 1936

Dear Foss

The position about my choral song¹ is as follows:-
It was written in a great hurry at the request of Walford Davies – Vocal parts were printed off and band parts made by Novellos – at whose expense I don’t know, but I made it clear that it was not to be at mine.  It was done at the BBC Memorial Service and Walford suggested that it should also be done at the Albert Hall – but the Albert Hall people thought otherwise.²
If you would care to publish it I should be pleased, but I must have it back for revision first – At present I have only the full score and nobody seems to know where the vocal score or the band parts are.  I should like very much when I am in London to discuss the Film Opera idea with you.
Yours sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Nothing is here for tears, Catalogue of Works 1936/1, a setting of words adapted from Milton’s Samson Agonistes for chorus accompanied by piano, organ or orchestra composed upon the death of George V and broadcast on 26th January. Foss had written to VW asking whether it was available for publication.
2. The work was broadcast but omitted from the ensuing concert to, in Foss’s words, ‘make room for Walford Davies’s lucubrations’.