THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Westcott Road
Dorking

[Early March 1933]

Dear Gustav

I’ve been going carefully through the Welsh Folksongs.¹
It’s taken me a little time to get accustomed to them. – I think that is inevitable, because when one is in the trade oneself one gets stereotyped ideas as to how those things should be done.  But now I am getting to love the ones I do like more and more.  “The Dove”, “Nightingale & Linnet” – beautiful. I think the best words, tune & setting is “Awake awake”. 
“Lisa Lan” & “Green Grass” – I somehow feel the setting rather obscures the outlines of the melody (I don’t care for the tune of Green Grass much.)  “Lovers Complaint” I don’t somehow like, (dull tune?) but doubtless my opinions will change.
I am longing to hear how you are – we must meet soon – I am coming to town on Monday (2.30 studio to hear Andrews’ Concerto tried over²) & later on to rehearsal of Brahms’ Requiem – could we meet then?
Good time  in Belfast – one of the best choirs I have heard.³
Yrs

RVW

1.  Twelve Welsh Folksongs, H.183.
2.  According to Herbert Kennedy Andrews – this work was apparently never published.  It is mentioned disparagingly in Ferguson and Hurd, eds., Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson, p.170
3.  VW visited Belfast to conduct a concert of his works in February 1933.  See footnote to VWL891.