THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates

August 15 [1950]

Dear Mary & Victor
It was good to hear from you – let us hope for 1952 and that you will both get to England then.¹ I can’t feel like giving you any comfort just now – All is moving so fast this time which makes it different in a way but perhaps not really worse for light may come & the nightmare ended – For Communism is like a nightmare as practised by the Kremlin – I can’t imagine how it succeeded in poisoning men’s minds.
Newspapers are bad reading. Our life is tranquil enough, the work goes on and our garden is doing well – I wonder what your coloured primrose size flowers are called? bring some seed back with you!
My husband has written a new work for chorus & orchestra about the stars² – and his new “Old 104th Psalm” for pfte orch and chorus will be done at Gloucester Festival next month and at a Prom soon after that³ – he is keeping well so far and I am all right – just now our roof is being mended & we are going to have 2 rooms redecorated – we put off & off for there are more exciting things to do with money – but there comes a time – & roofs leak – well –
Love to you both & keep happy
A.M.V.W.

1. The Sheppards lived in South Africa.
2. The Sons of Light.
3. The Fantasia (quasi variazione) on the ‘Old 104th’ Psalm Tune was conducted by VW in Gloucester Cathedral on 6 September 1950. He attended the second performance, conducted by Sargent at the Promenade Concerts in the Royal Albert Hall on 15 September.