THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Dorking

Nov 15 [1940]

Dear Adrian

I am so sorry I can’t see my way to spend a night away from home in these circumstances – I know the songs will be all right in your hands – I sh^d have liked to have checked the orchestration – But (if you are conducting as I hope) I give you carte blanche to alter the scoring where it does not come off – especially when it is too loud or too soft for the chorus.¹
Yrs

RVW

1. Six Choral Songs – To be Sung in Time of War (Catalogue of Works 1940/1)to be broadcast on 20th December 1940. The conductor was in fact Leslie Woodgate.