THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

February 28th [1954]

Dear Alan,

Thank you very much for the promise of 4gns on publication of This Day.¹
As to the songs. Ralph asks me to say that if you would like a title – he thinks that Along the Fields would be a good one.
Yours,

Ursula

P.S.
R. says that he does not feel the need of a title, otherwise than Eight Houseman songs – as they have no central theme as a cycle should but are a mere fortuitous collection.  But if a title is essential he thinks ‘Along the Fields’ is as good as any he can think of.²

1.  UVW had written the words for the ‘March of the Three Kings’, no.14, and for verse 2 of ‘Choral’, no.15, of Hodie, Catalogue of Works 1954/3. The payment was 4 guineas.
2.  The actual title was Along the field.  The songs had been composed in 1927.