THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

4, Maresfield Gardens,
Hampstead, N.W.3.

3.3.30

Dear V.W.

Many thanks for your letter.
I enclose a copy of O. Mole & B Nag from Playford.¹
I asked Mr Littleton whether I could give you permission to use the tunes in your opera² or whether it would be necessary to get formal written permission from them.  He said he would be glad for you to use the tunes – there was no need for you to write for permission – So that’s all right.
Yrs.

Maud Karpeles

1. Dances ‘Old Mole’ and ‘Black Nag’ from Playford’s Country Dances
2. The “opera” must in fact be the masque On Christmas Night, which uses the tunes “Bacca Pipes” and “Black Nag”. Karpeles had earlier written to VW (19 October 1926) to say Littleton gave permission to use Bacca Pipes and he would prefer that VW did not make a formal application. (British Library MS Mus. 1714/1/7, f.4)