Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Martin Shaw
The White Gates
Dorking
Dear Martin
It was very nice to have news of you. The last I heard of you was from your niece Patrick Morgan1 to whom I gave an odd lesson (as deputy for Gordon Jacob) the other day. I see you have changed your address. Were you tired of the farm?
Saliva2 seems to have made a pretty good mess of the Agincourt3 - where he has ferretted out some M.S. with those different notes in it I don't know.
I like your new tune. But I fear that neither you or I or Saliva or Agincourt or Carey can save those rather flat words.
Please let me now if I can advise you over the hymn book - but which hymn book. There are so many!
My love to Joan
Yrs
RVW
1. sic.
2. i.e. Sir Ivor Atkins.
3. Agincourt by Boughton.