THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

May 20th 1956.

Dear Mr May
I do not quite know what Miss Dornay means by a straight performance of Pilgrims Progress. They surely do not propose to do my libretto without music? But if it is merely her own dramatisation of the story, why ask my leave? I have no objection to their singing the tune “Who would true valour see” from the English Hymnal: but it is not the same tune as what occurs in the opera, which, by the way, is published separately. And the words in the English Hymnal are a paraphrase by Dearmer. That is all I can say at present, till I know more.
Yours sincerely,
R Vaughan Williams

1. May had written to VW to ask if he would approve of a ‘straight performance’ of the opera, the only published music to be used being ‘Who would true valour see’ from the English Hymnal.