THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

August 22nd 1953.

Dear Frank,¹

I wonder if it would be possible to get hold of a copy of the American recording of  5 T.P.?²  I am arranging for Roy Douglas to play through HODIE³  to Willcocks⁴  at the R.C.M.⁵ at 2.45. on Thursday September 3rd. Any chance that you could come? If, as is just possible, the R.C.M. refuse to give me a room, may we come to you?
Yours sincerely,

R. Vaughan Williams

 1. Music Editor in succession to Norman Peterkin (1947); Head of Music from 1954 until his retirement in 1975.
 2.  Five Tudor Portraits (Catalogue of Works 1935/5).
 3. Catalogue of Works 1954/3. About a month after this letter Frank wrote to VW saying that they didn’t like the title ‘Hodie’ and suggesting ‘The Birthday of Christ’ (despite admitting that it resembled Berlioz’ ‘Childhood of Christ’). The difference of opinion was resolved by giving the work a parallel English title This Day, though VW continued much to prefer his original Latin title (see his letter to Simona Packenham VWL3449).
4. David Willcocks, conductor and organist, and at the time Director of the Royal College of Music.
5. Royal College of Music