THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Alan Frank (OUP)

Letter No. VWL2739

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Alan Frank (OUP)

Letter No.: VWL2739


From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

November 22nd 1953.

Dear Frank,

As regards easy anthems, I will do my best, but I have so many rabbits in my top hat at the moment that I don’t know where to start.
I have had a letter from Cyril Clarke of Argo record company about my voice and violin songs.  Before I let them go they matter will want a lot of revision and thinking over, so they are another rabbit in the top hat.  By the way, they are for soprano, not tenor.1
Would you mind answering the enclosed, and sending the book, if you think fit.  Fred May was an old pupil of mine.2
Yrs

R. Vaughan Williams


1.  Eight (originally nine) Housman songs for voice and violin published in 1954 as Along the field, Catalogue of Works 1927/1.  The Argo recording was made on 17 February 1954 by Nancy Evans and Leonard Hirsch, but never released.  They gave the first public performance of the revised version in the Wigmore Hall on 26th May 1955. See Catalogue of Works pp.123-124.
2.  Fred May, Irish composer.