THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[About 31 October 1930]

Dear Gustav

I never wrote to thank you for holding my hand all those days – it made all the diff:  All went very well in the end.¹ I think you are mistaken about A.B.² – the total effect is very impressive – though there may be some dull patches.
I don’t think you know Duncan (percussion) – I know him because he plays timps for me at Dorking.  After rehearsal he came up & begged me to put back one of the cymbal smashes which he thought it had been a great mistake of me to leave out.  I was so much touched that I said yes – regardless of the result.
Glad I.³ got such good notices.
Yrs

RVW

1. VW is referring to the preparation and performances of Job at Norwich on 23rd October 1930. In 1950 VW expressed his gratitude for Holst’s support in his essay ‘A musical autobiography’, see National Music and other essays, p.194. Heirs and Rebels dates the letter to July 1931 in connection with the Camargo Society production, but it is clear that Holst was more involved in the earlier Norwich performance, although he did much to persuade the Camargo Society to put the work on.
2. Arnold Bax –  this is probably a comment on Bax’s Third Symphony which was broadcast from the Proms on 25 September 1930, conducted by Henry Wood – a few weeks before this letter.
3. i.e. Imogen Holst.