ABOUT THE LETTERS
Ralph Vaughan Williams’s correspondence - with his friends, family, pupils and fellow musicians - paints an intriguing portrait of the man, as well as providing fascinating insights into his major preoccupations: musical, personal and political.
The VWF database includes transcripts of over 5,000 items of annotated correspondence, fully indexed and searchable, which can all be read online. It includes all the letters of Ralph Vaughan Williams known to the editors and is an ongoing project. Find out more about the database.
The text of letters written by Ralph Vaughan Williams remains in the copyright of the Vaughan Williams Foundation and may not be further reproduced without the prior written consent of the Foundation.
Featured Letter
from Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958 to Evans, Edwin, 1874-1945
Letter No. VWL462
Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Edwin Evans
Letter No.: VWL462
The SUN-DIAL
Sheringham
Norfolk
11/3/20
Dear Evans
I’ve made the best selection I can for you1
(1) 2 extracts from an unpublished Motet2
(2) extract from a new song-cycle (engraved but not published)3
(3) 2 extracts from London Symphony – which I have managed to make from a short-score arrangement I have4
(4) Two extracts from Sea-Symphony (pp. 56 & 100)5
(5) extracts from some new organ pieces6
Yrs ever
R. Vaughan Williams
1. Evans was preparing a three-part article on VW in his series ‘Modern British Composers’, which appeared in the April to June 1920 issues of the Musical Times, and had apparently asked VW to provide music examples. Nos (3) and (5) appear in the third instalment of the article.
2. O Vos Omnes, Catalogue of Works 1922/2 – the beginning and the end. The work was published in 1922 by Curwen.
3. The beginning of no.3 (‘Come Love, come Lord’) of Four Hymns, Catalogue of Works 1914/2. Proofs had been produced in 1915, but publication did not take place until 1920.
4. One in fact (see VWL465) from the beginning of the slow movement.
5. From ‘The explorers’ and ‘On the beach alone at night’.
6. The opening of the prelude on Hyfrydol, no.3 of Three Preludes founded on Welsh hymn tunes, Catalogue of Works, 1920/1.
-
To:
-
From:
-
Scribe:
-
Names:
-
Places:
-
Musical Works:Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Hymns, tenor, viola, pianoVaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Symphonies, no. 2, G major (London Symphony)Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Symphonies, no. 1 (A Sea Symphony)Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Preludes on Welsh hymn tunes, organ. HyfridolVaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. O vos omnes
-
Format:
-
General Notes:
Former BL shelfmark: Add MS 60499, f. 199
-
Location Of Original:
-
Shelfmark:MS Mus.1714/1/5, f.71
