THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey,

6th July, 1951.

Dear Mr. Byard,

Certainly the “Shepherds” in its original form can be played by itself, and I should like your students to do it.¹
One of the best performances I ever heard was one by the Charterhouse boys a few years ago.²
Yours sincerely,
R. Vaughan Williams
(R. Vaughan Williams).

H. Byard, Esq.,
Department of Music,
University of Bristol,
Royal Fort,
Bristol, 8.

1.  The ‘pastoral episode’ The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains, Catalogue of Works 1922/6.
2.  The Charterhouse performance was on Sunday 5 March 1939. “With the exception of two of the shepherds and the pilgrim (taken by masters in the school) all the parts were taken by Charterhouse boys. Dr. Fielden conducted.”