THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

4, Maresfield Gardens,
Hampstead, N.W.3.

22.V.24

Dear V.W.

How nice of you to send me your two brass-band works – the Folk Song Suite I heard through the wireless last Sunday and liked very much.  But I should much like to hear the other one – it is most spirited and you have got hold of a fine theme.¹
I am so glad your opera is to come off in July – Allen lent me a copy of the score which I have found great fun to read & hammer at.  It is jolly difficult, some of the chorus work, I imagine, but I have no doubt they will manage it all right.  May I be there to see & hear it.²
I am very busy but now that the East winds have stopped blowing I am beginning to bubble up again.  Charlie is home as nice & affectionate to his parents and sisters as any of them could desire!  He is coming down to see you and Mrs Vaughan Williams as soon as he has settled in and got used to his surroundings – at present he stays at home and mouches around!  I suppose we shall meet again some day but when that will be I know not. I am just home today but off again tomorrow to Norwich and then away on Monday next for a good ten days up North.  I had a long talk with Whittaker at Birmingham on Tuesday.  Remember me to Mrs Vaughan Williams.
Yrs

Cecil J Sharp

A very good number of  F.S.J.!³

1. The works would have been English Folk Songs: Suite for military band (or the Sea Songs from the suite), Catalogue of Works 1923/3, and Toccata Marziale for military band, Catalogue of Works 1924/1.
2. Hugh the Drover was to be given by the British National Opera Company on July 14th. Cecil Sharp died just beforehand on 28th June.
3. Folk Song Journal.