THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[mid 1930s?]

My Dearest Grace
Thankyou a thousand times for my lovely song. I like it very much – But of course you must use it for the opera – just the thing for Sir Toby – so – I will keep it safe for you when you want it. I did enjoy your splendid long letter – No I never had a “Grande Passion” for Isadora¹ purely business like relations – But I liked her very much – a real humorous American, & she easily threw off her ‘high falutin’ – she was having her portrait painted when she was in London all those years ago with her 2 children – & she said “I think I ought to have portraits of the 2 fathers inset into the picture”!
Her dancing was superb.
By the way I saw “Uncle Percy”² the other day & he talked to me about your job & said “she can make anything she likes of it – there are great possibilities” – But I fear this won’t comfort you much
Love from Uncle Ralph

1. Isadora Duncan , the dancer.
2. Percy Buck, Professor of Music in the University of London and teacher at the Royal College of Music. From 1927 to 1936, he was music adviser to the London County Council.