THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

October 23rd 1955.

Dear Del Mar,

Thank you so much for being so helpful.  I can come any time you like, but as you know, for my Fantasia,¹ the orchestra requires some re-arrangement, therefore I suggest that it would avoid confusion if I came on at the beginning or directly after the interval – or directly before the interval would do equally well.  I am so sorry you had to buy a copy of the S.S.² – its³ a terrible incubus.

I have noted the day, Friday October 28th, 10 – 1.

I presume at Festival Hall⁴

With kind regards,

yrs

R Vaughan Williams

[envelope]
Norman Del Mar Esq,
Greenacres,
32a Wildwood Road,
N.W.11.

1. Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
2. Sea Symphony.
3. sic.
4. Added in manuscript. The event referred to was on Saturday morning, 29 October 1955 at the Royal Festival Hall: a new venture in ‘Youth concerts’ by Sir Robert and Lady Mayer, for people aged 16-25. Norman del Mar conducted the first concert with works by Beethoven, Borodin, Debussy and Dvorak. VW conducted the Tallis Fantasia. The reference to Friday the 28th in the letter no doubt indicates a rehearsal. The Observer‘s report notes that VW was President of “Youth and Music”.