THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

20th January, 1958.

NKM/JM

Dr. Ralph Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
N.W.1.

Dear Dr. Vaughan Williams,

Sir Malcolm Sargent has asked us to send you a note of the cost of the special rehearsal which is arranged for the 21st March in order that he may read through with the Orchestra your new work which is to be performed at the Royal Philharmonic Society concert on 2nd April.¹  The reason given for this request is that this rehearsal is your private responsibility.
The Orchestra is in accordance with Sir Malcolm’s specifications, which is: 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 Strings; triple woodwind, plus 3 saxophones; 5 horns, 3 trumpets, including Flugelhorn, 3 trombones, tuba; timpani, 3 percussion, harp and celesta.  The total cost of this rehearsal, including instrument transport and hire of hall will be £255.17s.6d.
Sir Malcolm has asked for 3 Percussion players to include the Celesta.  In this quotation which we have given, we have accounted for 3 Percussion players and a Celesta as we do not ordinarily have the celesta played by one of the percussion department.  If, however, the scoring requires only 2 Percussion and the Celesta, then our quotation will be a little cheaper.²
Yours sincerely,

Norman K. Millar,
Administrator.

1.  The Ninth symphony.
2.  On the special rehearsal, see RVW p.390.