THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

October 9th 1955.

Dear Frank,

The only trouble about the symphony is that it is just possible* though very unlikely that I might want to rescore it after hearing it with the orchestra. Therefore the Hallé people ought not to make too much fuss about it till after Feb. 13^th.¹
As regards Antartica, I heard my alterations, I admit over the wireless only, and liked them. It made the tunes come out better, and I have no use for my music, or anyone else’s, unless the tunes come through. Has John got a set of parts of his own? If so I would allow him to play it unaltered, if he prefers it.²
Yrs

RVW

* though very unlikely

1. Frank had written on 30th September saying that the first performance of the Eighth Symphony ( Catalogue of Works 1955/3) would be on May 2nd or 3rd in Manchester and Barbirolli wanted the performing material to be ready in February as he was giving VW a private run-through on 13th. In his reply to VW’s point Frank said that he still thought it in order for the symphony to be announced since VW was unlikely to want to rewrite the whole work as a result of the run-through.
2. Frank had also said that John Barbirolli disapproved of the late revisions in Sinfonia Antartica (Catalogue of Works 1952/2) and would not use them.