THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

July 14 [1942]

Dear Peterkin

I find I never answered your queries of June 11 about my men’s voice carol arrangements.¹
(1)  Dives and Lazarus – words – The words are a combination of my own from the various versions (O.C.B.² & English County songs chiefly)
(2)  Truth sent from above – The tune comes from 8 Traditional Carols³ (Stainer and Bell) & I also took the Oxford Carol used the same tune for O.C.B. – I did not consciously alter it.
(3)  Yorkshire Wassail – Tune & 1^st verse from 8 Traditional Carols (Stainer & Bell) rest of words from O.C.B.
Yrs sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1.  Peterkin had written on 11 June asking whether the carols should be published as carol leaflets or in the series Oxford Choral Songs.  He also asked where VW had found the words in the instances listed.  Peterkin wrote to the publishers Stainer & Bell on 21 July asking for the relevant permissions.
2.  Oxford Book of Carols.
3. VW’s Eight Traditional English Carols (Catalogue of Works 1919/5).