THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

19 Second Avenue
Brighton

31st December [1899]

My dear Herr Gatty,

I have just got your letter forwarded by Ralph to me …
I have been indoors with short intervals of freedom ever since we came from abroad¹ and I have had a succession of bad colds …
I wonder how you spent Christmas Day. We had an old-fashioned day at Ralph’s home – which means all the proper Christmas foods & snapdragon in the evening…
Did I mention our new 4tte abends or rather nachmittags? Ralph plays viola, Herr Nicholas 1st violin or cello as wanted & Mr Von Holst 2nd – we have only met once but I hope it may become an institution. Ivor is coming down again to Westminster from northern regions & will be invaluable & we are so pleased that we are going to have him as a near neighbour.
Ralph has just signed the lease & we are furnishing our house² as soon as possible – he is writing a new Serenade for orchestra,³  wh is turning out very Dvorak-y…
A very very happy New Year
Yours sincerely

A.M.V.W.

1. Apparently on their return from Prague in November 1899.
2. 10 Barton Street, Westminster; they moved in on 29 December 1899.
3. See Catalogue of Works, p.7 (1898/1).