THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey.

8th October, 1952.

Here are answers to some of your letters:
I know Hugh Ross quite well. He was once a pupil of mine.¹
I frankly do not like the idea of a concert version, even of a selection of “Pilgrim’s Progress” because I cannot help thinking it will spoil the possibility of a stage version. So I would really rather wait until you are quite certain that it is dead as a stage work. On the other hand, of course you as Publishers want to get sales and I feel I must not stand in the way of that, after all that you must have put into it.
I heard that “Flos Campi” had been recorded. Someone sent me a Press cutting about it. They seemed to like it.
I do not know anything about Mr. Hull.²
I did not see Capell’s article in the “Daily Telegraph”. I should like to see it very much.
It has been now sent me.³
I will consider putting part of my National Book into the essays, when I get them ready.
I am glad you enjoyed the other night. I should have enjoyed it very much if I had not had the speech weighing heavily on me all the evening.
Yrs R Vaughan Williams

(R. Vaughan Williams).

Alan Frank, Esq.

P.S. Among my papers I have found a letter from a person calling himself “Reg” of Lechlade, and it is addressed to “Dear Frank”. Was it sent to you and did you send it on to me? It is all about Down Ampney Vicarage. He says he has not had any answer from me. As a matter of fact I did answer him [or was it someone else?]⁴ some little time ago, telling him that I thought he had got hold of the wrong photograph; but perhaps he has nothing to do with you and the Frank he addresses is someone else.
I cannot write to him again as I do not know his name other than “Reg”.

1. This line in response to a request from Ross (via Frank) to perform excerpts of Pilgrim’s Progress in New York.
2. Presumably Robert Hull, the conductor of the 1952 recording of Flos Campi to which he is referring. The recording is the Concert Hall Chamber Orchestra conducted by Robert Hull, with Francis Tursi (viola) and the Cornell A Cappella Chorus. Concert Hall Records CHS 1151.
3. This line added in manuscript in the hand of VW.
4. Section in [] added in manuscript.