THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[17 March 1937?]

Dear Darnton

I was delighted to receive the copy of your song & am so pleased that the public are going to have a chance of knowing it
– I am very sorry I could not come last Monday¹ – Just round now I have so much which has to be done that I have to ration my visits to London.
I can’t believe that you are giving up just as your work is beginning to get known – If you believe in yourself (as of course every artist worth his salt must do) you will go on recognition or not – though I never believe in the artist who says he does not want public appreciation – the fact the public often like what is bad does not mean that they do not often like what is good – & is really some want of self-confidence to be afraid of public praise

Yrs

R Vaughan Williams

1. “Last Monday” was probably 15 March 1937, when Darnton’s “new suite for violin and chamber orchestra” (Suite Concertante of 1936) was given at the Wigmore Hall.