RVW’s Letters

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.

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Featured Letter

from Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958 to Foss, Hubert J. (Hubert James), 1899-1953

Letter No. VWL2383

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Hubert Foss

Letter No.: VWL2383

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

March 17 [1952]

Dear Hubert

I am ashamed not to have answered your delightful letter before – I have been having a slight dose of ’flu myself – & on the top of that St John & St Matthew Passions.
I was so sorry to hear of your illness & much relieved by a card from Martin1 that you were improving – Ursula & I went to see a television show the other day – in the studio – very interesting – but how a whole masque is to get into a frame about 12 inches square passes my comprehension.2
I was much worried that I cd not go to St Martin’s next Sunday  – but now that you cannot be there I do not mind so much.3 That was an interesting letter from the Dean – but I feel rather ashamed of being dubbed as ‘religious’ – it makes me feel a fearful humbug.
When I am next in London I shall find out if you are able and willing to let me come and see you.
Yrs

RVW

1. James Mackay Martin, who had been in touch with VW regularly about Foss’s illness.
2. VW and Ursula Wood’s masque The Bridal Day, Catalogue of Works 1938/6 was to be performed on television on 5th June as part of the coronation celebrations.
3. It is not clear for what event.

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A teacher's advice is not meant to be taken like a Pill but thought about & then: 1) adopted, or (2) rejected, or (perhaps best of all) (3) a 3rd course suggests itself from thinking the matter over.

RVW letter to GRACE WILLIAMS 1920

New York on the 26th, lecture at Yale on the 1st. Sail on the 4th. Ralph is terrifically well and bouncy and THRIVES on milkshakes and butterscotch sundaes.

UVW letter from New York to Michael and Eslyn Kennedy 1954

Most of Stravinsky bores me. I wish he even shocked me: especially the Rite of Spring...but I do like Symphony of Psalms, Les Noces, and the Suite for Violin and Pianoforte, of which I once heard a record under very peculiar circumstances, of which I will tell you one day.

RVW letter to MICHAEL KENNEDY 1957

You have never lost your invention but it has not developed enough.  Your best – your most original and beautiful style or ‘atmosphere’ is an indescribable sort of feeling as if one was listening to very lovely lyrical poetry.

GUSTAV HOLST letter to RVW 1903