THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[9th January 1939]

Dear Gerald

We listened to your 2 songs yesterday. You have hit the nail on the head – it ought to be spread abroad that here is the exact equivalent of Hardy & to a certain extent of all English poetry of the post-classical period.
When is “Dies Natalis” – I am excited to know – especially as I have had a mysterious letter about it from Captain Gyde (Sophie Wyss’ husband).
I sent S.W.¹ a sheaf of songs by various English composers which I thought she ought to know – especially as she only seemed to know the wrong-note variety. I included Y.M.s exhortation².
Now Gyde writes to me and says “she thought that Finzi’s work stood out by its self & that she would endeavour to give it in Birmingham and perhaps a London Broadcast. I now see … that this work has been accepted for … Hereford next year³ … As she told him when she met before this choice was made she would always sing it for him anywhere”.
I am thoroughly puzzled
Love to Joyce
Yrs

RVW

1.  i.e. Sophie Wyss, the soprano for whom Benjamin Britten wrote Les Illuminations.
2.  i.e. Finzi’s A Young Man’s Exhortation, op.14.
3. i.e. for the Three Choirs Festival