THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking

26 July 1952

… I never give “explanations” of my own music, and in the case of my new symphony¹ I should not think it right to say anything about it except through the Halle Society.
I must take great exception to one sentence in your letter, when you say “is it like the sixth symphony, a metaphysical essay?”. Mt [sic] sixth symphony is, I hope, music and nothing else.
With regard to my new symphony, I have used in it some of the music which I wrote for the film, Scott of the Antarctic.
Yours faithfully,

R Vaughan Williams

P.S. Plain Mr. please. Or Dr, if you prefer it.’ 

1. Sinfonia Antartica, which had its first performance in January 1953 by the Halle Orchestra.