THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[March 1943]

My Dear

Here is all about Böhme.
I have found a translation of von Himmel hoch which I will send you the last 2 verses (but one) are obviously the same as “O my dear heart”.
– I still feel rather like getting you to add two verses to that poem.
– The German verse I quote is not very inspiring!¹ 
I am to see a private show of my Land for the People film² at 5A Upper St Martin’s Lane at 11.30 on Thursday – w^d you like to come?

Franz M Böhme
Altdeutsches Liederbuch
Leipzig 1877

No 524 Kinderwiegenlied
Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen
Das Herz zum Kripplein wiegen

Lasst uns in Geist erfreuen
Das Kindlen benedeien
O Jesulein süss

(Let us rock the little child
Let us bow our hearts to the little crib
Let us rejoice in spirit
to bless the little child
O sweet little Jesus

1. Ursula did write two verses for ‘O my dear heart’ which VW set using the German carol tune ‘Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen’ as he planned. The manuscript only came to light in 2008 in private possession and was published by Oxford University Press with Ursula’s text in 2009.
2. The People’s Land, a film dealing with the work of the National Trust. First shown 17 March 1943. Catalogue of Works 1943/3.