THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

13 Cheyne Walk
S.W.

Oct 18th [1906]

Dear Mrs Hadley

Pilgrims Progress Music
(1) Opening dance
– enclosed
The music may be repeated as often as required by the dance
(2) Flower Girls song
I have chosen for this “’Tis young men and maidens all” from English Country songs (Cramer & Co)  page 58.  I want only the following verses sung 1,2,3,4,5.
or less if that is too much
(3) Men’s quartett
– I have not been able to find a suitable arrangement of “Down among the dead men” – but I hope to in a day or two.
(4) Strolling musicians song
– enclosed –
I want this scene in the following order

To open with the mens 4tett  – then cries of “a song a song” – then some dialogue as the following might follow
Musician “What shall I sing you”
A man “sing as us a song about Robin Hood”
The crowd “yes a song about Robin Hood”
Then follows the musicians song – as this is a very long ballad – I have only written out a few verses – and when he gets to the end of these – I thought he could be interrupted by the entrance of the prisoners etc
(5) Arming of Faithful.
I enclose the tune for “He who w^d valiant be”
– perhaps you c^d get someone to make some more copies according to the number of singers – only a few singers will be wanted – perhaps just a quartett.  The music is from the `English Hymnal’ published by Froude¹
(6) Shepherds song – enclosed
All the songs are to be sung without accompaniment – the accompaniments I have put are only to help the singers when practising
Will you kindly distribute the music to the performers & when they have learnt it we will have a rehearsal  – but it’s no good having one too early – as they w^d only forget it again.
Will you also give me a date by which you want the music for the tableaux?
Yrs very truly

R. Vaughan Williams

1.  i.e. Oxford University Press – Henry Froude was printer to the University. The English Hymnal had been published earlier in the same year.