Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Adrian Boult
The White Gates,
Dorking.
Dear Adrian
I hear that my tune is going to be done early in April - Please I want Roy Henderson to sing the solo – This is urgent.1
I understand that the BBC are copying the parts. Could you ask the librarian to send them [to] me with the full score to check when they are finished? Of course only one copy of each string part.
I had hoped to have had the pleasure of sending you a copy before now, but I haven’t had one myself yet-
Love from us both to Ann2
Yrs
RVW
1. England, My England (Catalogue of Works 1941/1). Because of the Alan Bush controversy (see VWL1526) the song was not given its first performance until 16th November with Dennis Noble as the baritone soloist.
2. Ann Boult.
Subjects:
Musical works:
Location of original letter:
Year taken from context.
In the hand of AVW signed by VW.