THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

13 Cheyne Walk
S.W.

Nov.6.11

Dear Professor Murray

I am getting on slowly with some Greek Play music – I have done two Electra choruses & am finishing two Bacchae choruses and have notes for several more. I have had several interviews with the Duncans – but no one seems to know what is wanted exactly – I wish I did. The problem gets more insoluble the more I work on it. I tried setting them in the way I suggested to you – a sort of chant without any accompaniment – but it did not seem to work altogether – I have tried other parts in a more operatic method – the result is rather a mixture – the only way I think will be a sort of trial performance of some of the music when it is ready. I can’t hope to satisfy you & Miss Duncan and Augustine (who wants the choruses spoken!).
I want to ask you a lot about the Bacchae choruses – whether all the big choruses should be sung throughout – or whether part spoken & what bits sh^d be murmured & what parts declaimed.
Are you ever in London – c^d we meet – if not c^d I come & see you in Oxford one day[?]
Yours very truly

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Isadora Duncan and her brother, Augustin. See Duncan Wilson, Gilbert Murray OM (Oxford 1987), p.170 where part of this letter is quoted.