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 Cohen, Harriet, 1895-1967
Letter No. VWL1087
Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Harriet Cohen
Letter No.: VWL1087
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.
[24 August 1933]
Dearest Harriet
Thankyou once again 1000 times – You were lovely to listen to & to look at – I know what I want to do with the old tune now – chiefly a big alteration in the cadenza which leads into the valse – I hope to goodness that will not make I.M.T. like it!
Yrs
RVW
1. VW is writing after Cohen’s performance of his Piano Concerto two days earlier at the promenade concerts, conducted by himself. ‘IMT’ has not been identified – presumably a music critic. See Harriet Cohen, A bundle of music, where the letter is printed, with the initials of the critic omitted.
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General Notes:
Date from postmark (24 Aug 33).
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Location Of Original:
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Shelfmark:MS Mus. 1642, ff. 48, 54
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Citation:Harriet Cohen, A bundle of music
