THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

October 29 [1948]

Dear Professor Hutchings
In my opinion the University of Durham would do itself honour by conferring a degree on Edmund Rubbra.
His work does not run to sensational cantatas or problem operas and therefore is not likely to loom largely in the public eye, but I believe that when the music of our period appears in due perspective the name of Rubbra will rank high.¹

Yours sincerely
R Vaughan Williams

1. Rubbra was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Durham in 1949. See VWL2970. The references to ‘sensational cantatas’ and ‘problem operas’ are probably glancing shots at Tippett and Britten respectively.