THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

May 14th 1945.

Dear Hely Hutchinson

Thank you very much for your courteous telephone call. I am sorry I was out. It was an excellent recording¹ and came through very well.
Nevertheless I think you ought to know the whole history of the negociations², especially as you only came into the saddle near the end of the proceedings, and it may be useful to you for another time, to know what is likely to happen when one has dealings with your fellow BBC officials.
The history is as follows:- About the end of 1943 (I am, I fear, vague as to dates,) I had a letter from Arthur Bliss asking me to write a “Victory Anthem” to be ready to put on at a moments notice if victory suddenly came upon us.³ I had, I think, some negociations with Dr Welch about the words, and in a fairly short time I sent Bliss a sketch as a “basis of discussion”, and asked that he and Dr Welch should look it through, and tell me if the idea was suitable: I could then go ahead and finish it. I also asked them to make a copy of my sketch, and return me my original.⁴ I had a perfunctory letter of thanks from Bliss, and my copy was in due course returned, but with no further letter.
I then waited and wondered what was happening, and I am afraid improper pride came into the question: I had done my bit, and it was up to the BBC to make the next move.
About June 1944 I had an agitated telephone call from Adrian Boult. “How about that Victory Anthem? It may be wanted any minute, please get to work on it.” I replied “You’ve already had it for nearly six months.” So a hue and cry was made, and it was, I believe, found forgotten in a drawer. So then after wasting six idle months, I had to revise, partly rewrite, and wholly orchestrate the work all in a hurry, which was the one thing I did not want to do for a great occasion. However it got finished fairly soon. I went to Bedford and we had a very successful recording.
While I was there I talked with some BBC officials and the objection was raised that this was not an anthem, and would I change the title? This I willingly did, and called it “Thanksgiving for Victory.” I understood, at the same time, that it was to be made into a big feature, (this was strengthened by the handsome cheque which I presently received!) I had discussions as how best to announce it in the Radio Times, whether the words could be printed, etc. from which I gathered that the BBC did the honour to consider it a work of some importance. Did the BBC Authorities change their minds and come to the conclusion that it was not worthy of the occasion? In this case they should have told me so, and given me a chance to withdraw it. What happened was, as you know, the announcement was shoved away in a corner at the end of the ordinary 9.30am service, where it was only by accident that I noticed it; just the bare title without explanation or comment. Even the title was wrong, “Victory Anthem.”
I understand that, owing to your kind offices, the title was corrected in the spoken announcement, but the young lady with a plum in her mouth still persisted in calling it an Anthem, directly contrary to the express wishes of the BBC. There was no preliminary explanation as is usual when a work is specially written for the BBC. of the nature and peculiar features of the work: eg. there was no mention of the speaker, or the children singing Kipling: after the broadcast a friend said to me, “I liked your music, but why did they allow that fellow to butt in with his talking?”
For myself I do not mind, I have heard two very fine performances, and the BBC have kindly given me a record. But I think the O.U.P. may feel themselves badly let down: they have issued an edition, and I imagine a large one, on the understanding that it would have a big send-off at the Victory celebrations.
Yours sincerely,

R. Vaughan Williams.

1.  Thanksgiving for Victory (Catalogue of Works 1944/4), recorded in November 1944, had been broadcast on the previous day. Hely-Hutchinson had succeeded Arthur Bliss as Director of Music at the BBC in 1944.
2.  sic.
3.  In fact the invitation came from Boult on 17 August 1943 – see VWL1800.
4.  See VWL1821.