THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Saturday [20 January 1933]

Dearest Harriet

My cold is well, but now my mother is seriously ill and it may be impossible for me to come to London on Monday.¹ I know you will understand if I am not there.
I have written to Adrian & told him that if you both feel that it is over scored anywhere he has carte blanche to thin out the orchestration all he thinks fit.  Gustav² will, I hope, be there to advise.
I do hope you are better – & I know that well or ill you are going to play beautifully.
One small point – the 2 bars of Arnold – I like them slower (I know Wood takes it quicker) – quite slow & very far off like a dream³
Yrs

RVW

1. i.e. for the rehearsal of the Piano Concerto which Harriet Cohen was to play under Adrian Boult on 1st February.
2. Gustav Holst
3. There was a quotation from Arnold Bax’s 3rd Symphony towards the end of the finale in the first version of the concerto – but this was removed after the first performance (see VWL1063). The quotation was an acknowledgement of the close friendship between Bax and Harriet Cohen. The conductor mentioned is Henry Wood.