THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[autumn 1939]

Daer Maud
(wartime economy paper!)
Yes of course refer to me – you ought to get a good job
I have not one at present – & I don’t want to leave Dorking or to be away at night. In an air raid I think my first duty w^d be to see my own household safe in to our “night club”
(2 on next sheet)
As reagrds doing “creative” work I shall see how that comes along – I may do it just to keep my mind occupied (at present I am writing an essay on the 9th symphony!!!).¹ What I advise young composers is – Have a “useful” job & then that will free your mind at other times for your own thoughts
(Turn back to other sheet – wartime economy!)
Raymond Duncan² used to say that ‘a man must first provide his living’ (he meant it, of course, in a literal sense planting potatoes etc – we may get to that eventually) & then devote yourself to the spiritual things. ‘Providing ones living’at present includes to my mind helping to win the war to provide a propoer settlement afterwards – beacuse, otherwise, we shall have no living.
At present I have no  “useful” job – I did not rush around at first offering my services for things I was obviously unfit to do – I think the job for everyone will come in time.
Nevertheless it is difficult in these days to belong to a “useless” profession – Even an artist can do commonplace
Love from
RVW

1. Eventually published as Some thoughts on Beethoven’s Choral Symphony with writings on other musical subjects (Oxford University Press, 1953).
2. Raymond Duncan was an American artist, poet, dancer and philosopher.