THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[about 15th September 1938]

Dear Diana

Allegro¹

All the choruses I have selected are, I see, published separately except No.9 ‘There held in holy passion’.
– If you cannot get that sep[arately] you had better keep the number and finish at the end of the solo.
– I have indicated the solo numbers which I think best – others can be added to taste – or subtracted.
By the way wd it not be better to give Allegro to Div.2 & Estmere² to Div.1.
Also transposed edition of All creatures now³
Love from

Uncle Ralph

1.  L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV55, by Handel
2.  King Estmere for chorus and orchestra, H.70, by Holst. Arnold Barter writes “… is Holst going to frighten off any members, or prospective members, of Division I choirs who jibbed at Benedicite last year? It should be quickly explained if necessary that the work is most tuneful and not like some of his later music which may not attract some people” [see British Library, MS Mus. 1752/2/1/2, ff. 70-71].
3.  ‘All creatures now are merry minded’, 5-part madrigal by John Bennet published in The Triumphs of Oriana, 1601.