THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

March 29th 1957.

Dear Mr Ross Lee Finney,¹

I listened to your cello sonata last night, played by Mr Jelinek and Miss Bates (who kindly sent tickets for the recital at your request) – a fine performance of a fine work.²
I was reminded of our delightful visit to you at Ann Arbor, and your visit to us.
Please let us know when you have performances in this country, we should so much like to have a chance to hear more of your work. The sonata is original without being excentric,³ and I need har[d]ly say most skillfully written for both the instruments. You seemed to have escaped from the Boulanger virus which is being rather a colorado beetle in American music at the moment. This work makes me feel like Oliver Twist – I want more!
With kind regards to you both.
Yours sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

Mr Ross Lee Finney
2015 Geddes Avenue
Ann Arbor
Mich.
U.S.A.

1. Finney was Professor of Music at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and had entertained the VWs during their visit there in the autumn of 1954.
2. The American cellist Jerome Jelinek became a professor at the University of Michigan in 1961 and recorded a number of Finney’s works.
3. sic