THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

May 17 [1958]

Dear Eugene

Thank you so much not only for liking my tune – but for taking the trouble to tell me so. I need hardly say that your good opinion is of more value than rubies.¹
Love to you both from us both
RVW

1.  Written in response to a letter of 6 May congratulating VW on the Ninth Symphony (surviving in UVW’s 1958 file): ‘The flugelhorn and saxophones were grand touches and gave me lots of fresh ideas for new orchestral colouring’. The reference to rubies is from Job 28 v18: ‘No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.’