Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Alan Bush
From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.
Dear Dr Bush
Herewith the Flourish1 promised (‘Flourish’ please which is good English – not “Fanfare” which is bad French).
I have written for concert Flute (in c) Horns in F, & Trombones 1 & 2 in Tenor cleff.2
If your band master wants Db Flute, Horns in Eb & Trombones 1 & 2 in bass or Treble cleff kindly ask your copyist to transpose accordingly.
– I had better check the parts when they are ready
Yrs sincerely
R Vaughan Williams
1. ‘Flourish for wind band', Collected Works 1939/6, performed at the Pageant of Music for the People, Royal Albert Hall, 1 April 1939. The score is at the British Library, Add MS 57489; the parts are now at the British Library, Add. MS MSS Mus. 404-405. See VWL3719, VWL3721, VWL1456 and VWL1512.
2. sic.