THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

July 15th, 1939.

Dr Ralph Vaughan Williams
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking,
Surrey.

Dear Dr Vaughan Williams,

On behalf of the WORKERS’ MUSIC ASSOCIATION I am writing to thank you most warmly for your generous response to our request for a guarantee.  We are in the fortunate position of having received now two such affirmative replies; and we would be most grateful if you would allow your guarantee to apply to any amount overdrawn above £100 but not exceeding £200.  The chances that we shall overdraw to anything like the full extent of this higher figure are very small, but as we shall be publishing some music, brochures, lectures, etc., and organising a congress and ompetition festival, it might be of great advantage to us if we could exceed the first hundred by a few pounds.

I would like to take this opportunity of replying to one or two of the points you raise in your letter.  We do not arrogate [sic] to people who hold particular political views and to none others the title of “workers”.  We fully acknowledge that all who contribute to the material wealth or spiritual culture of humanity are alike workers.  We are only concerned that every individual human being shall be enabled to make to the common good the fullest contribution of which he or she might be capable by the completest development of his or her faculties.  We believe this to be a practicable possibility, but only if the wealth of mankind is produced for use and shared equitably not necessarily equally) by all who aid in its productions.  This situation already obtains over one sixth of the earth’s surface, but not unfortunately in this country.  In working for the establishment of such a method of organising society here, we believe that we are fighting the battles of all workers to-day, whether they are at the moment marching in our ranks, or remaining indifferent or even hostile to our efforts.

In so far I am convined that we should find no point of disagreement.  Where you could perhaps part company from us is in our belief that is it precisely by forging a convincing link between art and the main currents of present day human life and consciousness that we are helping to lay the foundations for the revitalisation of art itself.  In this we feel that we are only following on the lines of past historical developments.  We do not aim to advertise any particular brand of political opinion by means of music, but to express through music the issues most deeply and widely agitating human consciousness to this moment, issues, which in their widest implications transcend the immediate programme of my political party, but which are nevertheless the main spring of the democratic organisations of the workng-class movement all over the world.

The fact that you have responded to our appeal is immensely enouraging to us.  We feel that ti¹ shows that you recognise he value of our practical work for music, in that we stimulate to musical activity people who would otherwise remain untouched.  I am hoping that the foregoing brief outline of our principles may perhaps interest you in theoretical foundations also.

I enclose on a separate sheet a copy of the form of words which you should send to our bankers.  Please post this to our secretary, for which prupose² I am enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope.

Again thanking you most heartily for your deeply valued support,

Yours very sincerely,

1.  sic.
2.  sic.