THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Dorking

June 3d [1946?]

Dear Mr Cockshott
Thankyou for your interesting brochure¹ – I feel that it ought to be possible in the future to start with music first and build up the visual side to fit in – like “Fantasia” – but not with ready made music but music specially composed for the purpose – at all events this could be done in part – e.g. a love scene where the composer could should evidently write the music first and the producer invent visual action to fit in.
As regards my own film music I consider “Flemish Farm” much the best as music and as film accompaniment.
Yrs sincerely
R Vaughan Williams

1. Possibly Cockshott’s pamphlet Incidental Music in the Sound Film (London, British Film Institute, 1946).