THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

13 Cheyne Walk
SW3

[late 1920s]

Dear Maud
I’m so sorry to worry you – but Foster¹ is rather upset & feels he has been badly treated over his Suite – & if he has got his facts correct I think he has some cause. 
He understands that you definitely asked him to write a piece for June 7th (at Bath) & when he got home he got to work with great enthusiasm to do so – He then apparently wrote to Joan Sharp about it & was told by her that “there would not be room for it”-  when Foster wrote to point out that he had been definitely asked to write it – he received what was I should judge a rather curt reply from Joan admitting it into the programme but saying he must make all the arrangements himself of getting together the orchestra & that “the society could be put to no expense”
if this is true it is hardly the way to deal with a free gift from an accomplished musicians. I hope some satisfactory explanation is forthcoming. Foster does not know I am writing this – & accepts it as in the day’s work – his chief difficulty being at present that no one can come to rehearsal & that he cannot get a double bass – don’t you think we c^d afford him a pro double bass?
Yrs
RVW

1. Arnold Foster. Possibly this relates to his Suite for Strings on English Folk Airs.