THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

[7th April 1947]

Dear Peterkin

I have made a setting (quite short) of ‘the souls of the righteous’ for the Battle of Britain service in July.
– You see from the enclosed that Dr McKie wants it by May – would that be possible?  What I should like best w^d be for it to be kept in proof till I had tried it out with the choir, printing off (say) 20 copies for the use of the choir – Of course I w^d be responsible for the extra cost involved.¹
– I am asking McKie to send the copy (the only one!) to you to look at.
Yrs ever

R. Vaughan Williams

1.  William McKie, organist of Westminster Abbey 1941-1963, had invited VW to write an anthem for the dedication of the Battle of Britain Chapel at the abbey on 10th July. On receiving the score he had written on 3rd April to VW (the enclosure referred to in the text) saying it was exactly right for the occasion and went on ‘We are just on the point of re-opening the Choir School and re-making the choir (mostly new boys), so I can’t get them to work on it until well on in May: if you could find time in June to pay us a visit and show us how you want it sung, we should be proud and grateful. Many, many thanks.’