THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey

28th January, 1953

Dear Tony

Would you like to consider undertaking this?  I expect you know the tune, which is in the “English Hymnal”, is the one I used for my “Fantasia”.¹
It might amuse you to do it, but I cannot say how much hard cash you will get out of it.
My love to Ruth
Yrs

RVW

Anthony Scott, Esq

1. A singer at the Grosvenor Chapel, Sylvia Barrett, had sent to Oxford University Press some alternative words, suitable for Advent to the metre of Tallis’s 3rd Psalm Tune, used in the English Hymnal and by VW in his Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis for possible use in a future edition of the English Hymnal. OUP then asked VW if he would use the words as the basis of a choral setting of the tune, using harmonies and other material from his Fantasia. VW said he had not the time but suggested that Anthony Scott might undertake it. Scott did so, but OUP found that it did not stick closely enough to the Fantasia – he then prepared a second setting which was accepted. The connexion of the setting, ‘Amighty Word’, with VW (underlined by a statement on the title page of the publication) caused continuing confusion and considerable irritation to VW – see VWL2726 etc.