THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

13 Cheyne Walk
S.W.3

7/10/21

Dear Colonel Mitchell¹

I want to ask you a question with regard to my relation to Stainer & Bell.
Someone has been arranging part of the London Symphony for organ – Are we obliged to offer it first to Stainer & Bell – or can we go straight elsewhere?¹
Yrs sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1.  Secretary of the Carnegie UK Trust 1919-1939.
2.  Henry Ley had arranged the slow movement for organ solo which was published by Stainer & Bell in 1922 (together with an arrangement of the second movement of A Sea Symphony, Catalogue of Works 1910/3).  It was normal to assign the copyright of a musical work to the Publisher as part of the contract for publication.  VW is asking Colonel Mitchell about this since the Carnegie UK Trust had an interest in the matter as the sponsor of the publication of A Sea Symphony.  See further VWL481.