THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Leipzig
Dorotheenplatz 1 ix

Dez 5th 1923

Dear Sir

I had the honour and great pleasure of bringing out your Mass in G-minor in St Thomas’s Church Leipzig, if I should be not wrong, as first performance in Germany.
The work made a very deep impression on the whole audience, indeed has made your name popular in Leipzig, the musicians were fascinated and the ‘connoisseurs’ of music over-powered by the beauty of the composition; we all have to bring thanks to you, for giving us this refined masterpiece of musical art.
Sincerely yours

Karl Straube.¹

1. Kantor of St Thomas’s Church, Leipzig. The performance of the Mass, Catalogue of Works 1922/5, had been on 16 November. A letter from Kenneth Curwen of 7 August 1923 survives explaining that copies of the mass had had to be sent in effect gratis, though they had received a note for 5,000 marks which he suggested VW kept as a memento (it is still in UVW’s papers at the British Library, MS Mus. 1714/1/6, f.130). Straube had written to Curwen on 28 July 1923: ‘I find the mass very beautiful; it possesses the charm and the finished form which have always been the hall mark of the best English music. Especially the “Sanctus” must sound well, and make a deep impression.  I am very keen to hear how it will sound when sung by a German choir.  Could you not come to Leipzig for the performance?  As you have English pounds, it would mean very little expense to you.  I shall let you know the date, as soon as it is fixed. [translation]’