THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

January 30th 1958.

Dear Alan,

Folk Songs of the Four Seasons.

It seems to me, that for recording purposes they ought to play the things as originally written with full orchestration. The reduced orchestration was only made by Roy Douglas for a special purpose.  I think the chorus ought to be 20 – 25 good singers: the question of balance with the orchestra can presumably be arranged by the microphonist.  As to the numbers which they perform, they can settle that for themselves.¹
Thank you for your other letter about number 4.  I am glad the French people liked it – I should have thought they would have hated it!²
Yrs

RVW

1.  Frank had reported that the Gramophone Company was considering issuing a collection of songs from Catalogue of Works 1949/1. He had asked what VW’s views were about number of singers and whether he thought a full orchestra would be out of place in this context. He also asked about the selection of the songs.
2.  No. 4 is ‘May song’ – or does this refer to Symphony no.4?