THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

July 14th 1957

My dear Margery,

Thank you very much for the list of music, which seems to me good.  I think I understand from your letter that you are changing the titles of the choirs from Towns and Villages to simply Div. 1,2 & 3.  If you have not done this, I think you ought to, and I have advocated this for years.  It would save a townsman from losing face by becoming a villager.
As regards a singer taking part in two oposing¹ choirs, there is I believe, and certainly ought to be, a rule against this.  But it ought to be able to be relaxed in a case of necessity, just as in a cricket match if a man on one side falls ill his side is “lent” a man from the other side to take his place – at all events in the field.  I will send you a list of the guests I should like for my party when you give me the word.
It was nice meeting you at Glyndbourne² – and we do hope we shall see you at the P.K.³
Love

Uncle Ralph

1. sic.
2. sic.
3. The Royal Academy of Music was putting on a performance of VW’s opera The Poisoned Kiss, as an early celebration of his 85th birthday. See R.V.W.: a biography, p.381.