THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking,
Surrey.

2nd. January, 1952.

Dear Frank,

So far as I can remember I answered direct to Mr. Woodworth of Harvard to say that I was very doubtful if I could get anything done. I fear now it is impossible, I have so many other things on hand. Would you mind telling him that? I return the letter.¹
This reminds me. I am writing a piece for Larry Adler to play on his harmonica. I do not know whether you would care to handle it or not. The trouble is I do not see how it can ever be played on any other instrument because the harmonica is the only wind instrument that plays c[h]ords, and I have made full use of that.²
Will you let me know what you think?
Yours sincerely,

R. Vaughan Williams

1. G. Wallace Woodworth, American choral conductor and music educationalist, was university organist and choir director at Harvard from 1940 and successor to Archibald Davison as James Edward Ditson Professor of Music there from 1954 until his death. He had presumably asked for a work by VW.
2. The Romance in D Flat for Harmonica (Catalogue of Works 1951/4) was published in 1953 in an arrangement for Harmonica and piano.