THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Dec 11 [1939]

Dear Major O’Donnell

Many thanks for your letter. I should be delighted to be with you on Jan 2nd.¹
As regards the two marching tunes I have selected 5 from which I should like you to choose the two which you feel would “get across” the best – It is fearfully important to make a good impression the first time –
My list is as follows
( Haste to the Wedding )    already in your repertoire
Any two    ( Black Nag                   )   ”
Of these   ( Blue Eyed Stranger
( Cobblers Jig
( Wraggle Taggle Gypsies

Those you said you could kindly get arranged² – I enclose a very rough harmonisation, in case useful, but I w^d much rather leave it to the experience of you & your arrangers – using mine as a basis or not as you like.
Yours sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

1.  For the background to this letter see VWL1617, and the letter from O’Donnell to Reginald Thatcher in the footnote.  VW was to give an illustrated talk with the band on 2 January 1940, and  illustrated with tunes played by the BBC Military Band. See also VWL1364 for a later talk as part of the same collaboration.
2.  By Gerard Williams.