THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Dec 28 [1937]

Dear Bessy

I have spent my Xmas holidays doing this – I’ve wanted to do it for a long time.¹
It is very difficult & of course, to fit the notes, only a very free adaptation is possible. I have not tried rhyme  – also “Amen” seems impossible in English.
I am open to suggestions as to improvement – perhaps Bob would cast an expert eye over it.
I have had to substitute ♩for ♪♪ and  for ♪ in one or two places – also I have ventured to alter the notation in 3 places
(1) I think 6/8 should be 3/4

(2)  should be

(3) ♩^͡  ♪  is easier to sing than ♩ .

If & when you think it possible will you send it to J. Röntgen – perhaps his publishers would care to issue it for the English public – if not we c^d try an English publisher if the Dutch publisher would give leave.²
Yrs

RVW

1.Probably the making an English adaptation of Bet Meeszenestje – Tom Tit’s Nest, by Johannes Röntgen, published by Oxford University Press in 1938.
2. Johannes Röntgen was a relation of Elizabeth Trevelyan.