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 with the Belfast Philharmonic Society at the Ulster Hall, Belfast. The works performed included Sancta Civitas, Norfolk Rhapsody no.1, three movements from the Wasps Suite, Slow Dance from the Charterhouse Suite, and Songs of Travel. See also footnote to VWL891.