THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[1931]

Dear Grace
Are either of these any use to you – I don’t think you c^d get the Mendelssohn – judging by the people who do get it – but you never can tell – & I think you are eligible for the Cobbett – but I sh^d ask P’… if I were you.¹ I loved your last letter & did I never thank you for the Dresden photograph – It’s not my favourite – the “Marriage at Cana” by Tintoretto or Veronese – I forget which is the one I like best.
You might suggest to Russell² that I sh^d much like a line to hear how he is getting on. I wish I c^d be hearing all those operas – I had a card from Imogen³ & Buda Pest – were you there also? a dangerous place for pretty young women like you
Yrs
Uncle Ralph

P.S. I’m longing to hear the Sonata⁴ – I’m glad it’s Welsh – & don’t be frightened at having soul – that is the one danger of Wellesz⁵ or any German teacher because they are all suffering from a surfeit of sentimentality & are trying to get away from it – but we in England & Wales are not so & are only just beginning to be able to express our selves
RVW
PPS So glad about the Sonata – I knew it w^d come one day – so go on with the good work

1. The Mendelssohn and Cobbett Prizes were awarded by the Royal College of Music.
2. Leslie Russell, who was also studying in Vienna on a travelling scholarship from the Royal College of Music.
3. Imogen Holst, another pupil of VW.
4. Sonata for violin and piano, in three movements (1930)
5. Egon Wellesz, the composer and musicologist who was at that time teaching in Vienna.