THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

April 20 [1947]

Dear Barter

I have delayed answering your letter before till our own festival was over which we ended on Friday with a really triumphant performance of the B minor mass – adapted to the English liturgy by RVW.¹
You know (perhaps you don’t know) but we know that you & a few others like you are the salt of the musical earth – you work without reward (except that of artistic triumph) & without recognition – but it is you & not the international stars who are making (or rather re-making) England into a land of music.
Thank you
Yrs

R. Vaughan Williams

1. VW’s English version of the Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei of Bach’s Mass in B minor had been performed at the Leith Hill Musical Festival on 18 April 1947. For an account of the performance see VWL2170.