THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From:  R. Vaughan Williams, The White Gates, Westcott Road, Dorking.

[Jan. 26, 1938]

To:  Mr Foss
Received: Jan. 27, 1938.¹

Dear Foss,
The idea of the choral work (not necessarily a ballad) originated with the difficulty of getting suitable works for our 2nd class villages.
If the successful work is to be accepted by the Leith Hill Musical Festival I shall have to be one of the judges.
The idea is a short secular choral work (one soloist?), words not too solemn (libretto to be approved first?).
Choral part not harder that say Hiawatha or Haydn’s ‘Spring’² – orchestral part well within the powers of an amateur orchestra, score to be reducible to say 4 w.w., 4 brass, tymps. and strings, and also playable by strings and pfte. Length not less than 25 minutes not more than 40 mins.
Prize small (£25??) but work to remain the absolute property of the composer – on the other hand no promises either of performance or publication.
Work to be really good though not necessarily portentous.³
(Sgd.)

1.  It is to be assumed the letter was posted the previous day.
2.  S. Coleridge Taylor, Scenes from the song of Hiawatha, op.30 and Haydn, The Seasons.
3.  VW was suggesting a competition for composition of a simple choral work, with Foss as one of the judges; see VWL5041.