THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

April 8th 1958.

Dear Adrian

It was a fine performance of Sancta by you and your singers and players the other night – the tempi, the balance, – everything, was just right as far as you were concerned, but of course the balance & control people made their usual mistake, and did their best to make it sound like a harp concerto.¹  But as often the harp part is not strong enough, this did not hurt.  Thank you and all your forces heartilly² from me, if you have an opportunity.  Clinton was splendid, and the tenor excellent.³
Thank you once again, and our love to Ann,
Yrs

Ralph⁴

1. Sancta Civitas, Catalogue of Works 1925/6, had been broadcast on Good Friday – see R.V.W.: a biography, p.391. VW made the same remarks about it sounding a bit like a harp concerto in a letter written the same day to Cedric Glover – see VWL3308.
2. sic.
3. Gordon Clinton, the baritone. The tenor was Mitchell Hodge.
4.  UVW added a note: ‘I thought it was absolutely radiant, and most moving.  I do love it, and it was perfect hearing it again after what seems far too long always, though the grammar seems to have gone astray … emotion is too much for my parts of speech. We are going to Italy on Friday, and shall be away for five weeks. Thank you, and love’.