THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Feb 8 [1940]

My dear Evangeline
I am very sorry that I cannot come to the Committee meeting on Saturday.
I do hope the Ctee. will see their way to use some of the reserve fund for a really good concert or concerts. I think it will be a paying proposition – and surely that is what the reserve fund is for, to meet emergencies. If we get a grant from one of these funds then we shall not have to use so much of our fund – but I feel that now is the time to be prepared to spend.
The argument, which I believe has been put forward, that it should not be used on engaging professional help leaves me quite cold.  The amateur and professional are interdependant¹ and if we do not do something to keep the professional side going they will not be there to help us later on.
I also think that
(1) It is not fair on the choirs to ask them to sing with a sort of “one horse” orchestra eked out with piano.
(2) It is unfair on the audience to expect them to pay for such a performance.
I will keep down expenses all I can, but frankly I do not see the point of a half and half performance.
Yrs
R. Vaughan Williams

1. sic.