THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[September 1938]

Dear Maud
I think this is a beautiful setting & suggests the tune to me absolutely.
The only difficulty is that it does not give enough freedom to a singer of the Stirling McKinlay type – but she w^dnt use it any way.¹
The fact that it doesn’t correspond to the impression you got from the original singer leaves me cold. He gave you his reaction to the tune. But directly you add a pfte accomp & give it to an “educated” singer to sing you leave that all behind & the tune stands by itself with quite different reactions – if it will not bear this transplanting – then it must be left alone & not put in a collection of accompanied songs.
It was so nice seeing you at Worcester – I do hope you are feeling better²
Love from 
RVW

1. Jean Stirling Mackinlay was an actress and singer whose performances of folk songs were very dramatic.
2. At the Three Choirs Festival.