THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

October 30th 1955

Dear Adrian,

I do not want to say in public that I have had differences of opinion with Stanford.  I did quote once, in print somewhere, some reminiscences of my lessons with him in which he disapproved of my flattened sevenths in harmonizing folksongs.¹ But he is not the only person who has done so, and I do not want this small episode to be magnified into a “difference of opinion”.  So please may we leave it alone?²
Yrs

RVW

1. In A Musical Autobiography, reprinted in National Music.
2. This was to do with the Composers’ Concourse at which VW spoke about Parry and Stanford as teachers. See R.V.W.: a biography, pp.367-368. It took place on 17th November (information from Oliver W. Neighbour who was present).