THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Dec 7 [1936]

Dear Cedric

That was a splendid letter – I’m glad you like “Sancta” – I do rather myself – but no one else seems to
They ought not to have got [flat] at the end of “Jane” – even the Birmingham females did not –  & they are well supported by unobtrusive horns etc.¹
Do try to come to London at Xmas – the only trouble is about Waddington as it might be difficult to get him during the holidays & I want him to hear it – At present all he has said is that the Drama does not seem strong enough to support the music.²
Good luck to Kilpinen tonight  My last news of H. Samuel was that he was decidedly better & was being moved to London – but doubtless you have heard that.³
Yrs

RVW

1. VW is here referring to ‘Jane Scroop’ in Five Tudor Portraits, Catalogue of Works 1935/5.
2. The playing through by Davie to VW of his opera Gammer Gurton’s Needle (see VWL1073) had not yet taken place.
3. Harold Samuel, the pianist, had had a coronary attack on the boat coming home from a tour in South Africa and had been in a nursing home at Southampton (see Howard Ferguson, Music, friends and places (London, 1997) p.41).