Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Philip Heseltine

Letter No. VWL3930

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Philip Heseltine

Letter No.: VWL3930

Leith Hill Place
Dorking

[December 1923]

…we all enjoyed performing your beautiful carols very much¹ – and they went “con amore” if not with deadly accuracy – the poor old B.C.² has never moved so fast before!…

RVW

1. The first performance of Warlock’s Three carols, and the first performance of Holst’s Ode to Death (played twice), and a performance of the Pastoral Symphony at the Queen’s Hall on Wednesday 19 December 1923.
2. The Bach Choir, which VW conducted from 1921 until 1928.

To:

Heseltine, Philip, 1894-1930
From:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958
Scribe:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958
Names:

Bach Choir (London, England)Heseltine, Philip, 1894-1930
Subject:

Conducting Carols
Musical Works:

Heseltine, Philip, 1894-1930. Three carols Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Symphonies, no. 3 (Pastoral symphony)
Format:

Letter
General Notes:

Letter extract from Sotheby’s Catalogue for the sale on Tuesday 20th July, 1965, p. 83, lot 435. Purchased by Otto Haas.
In November 1923 VW wrote to Heseltine to ask for the words of the carols (reference in Sotheby’s catalogue above, lot 436).
Location Of Copy:

British Library
Shelfmark Copy:

MS Mus. 1714/1/6, f.117

Back to all letters