THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

May 25 [1945]

Dear Hely Hutchinson

I hear there was a very fine performance of my D. Symph¹ yesterday for which I am grateful – I have decided to omit the “motto” which is part of the title of the 3^rd movement.² Would you be so good as to instruct the announcer at any future performances (if any!) that this quotation from ‘Pilgrims Progress’ is not to be read out.  – I find it leads to misunderstanding
Yrs sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

1. The Fifth Symphony (Catalogue of Works 1943/2).
2. ‘Upon this place stood a cross, and a little below a sepulchre. Then he said: “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death”.’ Taken from The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.