THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking

May 19 [1945]

Dear Gerald

Your orchestra is really splendid – & what I felt about your conducting was that you had absolutely got hold of the music & the tempi were always right & there was no hesitation.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day – the choir are excellent with a fine tone – if they could only have a few continued rehearsals under a 1^st rate conductor they c^d do wonders. 
– It was quite right to do the Bach – though it is not one of my favourites (except the slow movement).
Then I met so many friends & that ride home¹ was wonderful – “Englands Green & pleasant land” indeed.  – It was good of Margaret² to take me. I hope I did not make her late – she was anxious about a cow.
We had a wonderful afternoon with Isolde’s³ 4tet yesterday starting with Beethoven 135 (muss es sein) & finishing with Haydn “Sunrise” and Sch:⁴ in A minor & me in A minor⁵ in between.
My love to Joy, and thanks for taking care of me
Yrs

RVW

1. Perhaps from Newbury to Dorking.
2.  Joy’s sister, Margaret Neate.
3.  Isolde Menges’ quartet.
4.  Schubert’s quartet in A minor.
5.  VW’s second string quartet (Catalogue of Works 44/2), dedicated to Jean Stewart, viola in the Menges String Quartet which had given the quartet’s first performance at a National Gallery Concert on 12th October the previous year.