Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Grace Williams

Darling Grace
I've been thinking about you a lot today - I don't know why, which seems to indicate that I sh^d  write you a letter.  - I hope you won't be able to answer it here as, thank God, I shall be home before your reply can come - But I do want to know a lot - how you are & how the ... concerts are & whether your trumpet piece is finished¹ & how Dorothy Gow & Betty's² things went..
I'm having quite a good time here - but shall be very glad to be back. I haven't fallen in love with any of the girls here - there are one or two attractive ones - but on the whole not - & the fashion is to dress dowdily
I've heard all the 3 big orchestras now (Boston, N.Y. & Philadelphia³) - they must guard against losing vitality though over refinement - I give the palm[?] to the Phila: on the whole - their pp Brass ensemble & their woodwind chords are marvellous.
I heard a v. interesting symphony by a young Dutchman called Wagenaar⁴ also a superb performance of Sibelius No 4. He is becoming the fashion here as in England. Now I've got to get ready for my last lecture but one - Thank God
Love from Uncle Ralph

1. Movement (Concerto-Fantasia) for trumpet and chamber orchestra (1932)
2. Elizabeth Maconchy
3. Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Philadelphia Orchestra
4. Bernard Wagenaar