THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

ITHACA NY

Nov 26 1954

TERRIFIC CONCERT MONDAY SHOOK HANDS WITH FIVE HUNDRED BUFFALOS¹ SIX GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE RECOVERING AND PACKING EVER SINCE THANKSGIVING DINNER KNOCKOUT FLY NEW YORK TODAY FOND LOVE
RALPH URSULA

1. The VWs had been to a concert in Buffalo, New York State, on their trip to the USA. The concert on Monday 22 November was in Kleinhans Music Hall, at 8.30 pm, broadcast on WBEN-FM. VW conducted the Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis and Josef Krips conducted Sancta Civitas. UVW says (R.V.W.: a biography, p.356) that it was the first US performance of Sancta Civitas, but it was actually the second – it was performed in Buffalo in VW’s absence on the 21st November. Jenkins was living in their London home.