THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

March 20 [1932]

Dear Mr Burghes
Mr. Athelstan Riley is the only person likely to have copies of the original licenses but I suppose he would have handed them over to you if they existed.
I cannot believe that they can claim copyright in the idea of setting a tune to any particular words, but I suppose we must give in to them unless their fee is too exorbitant in which case I should feel inclined to fight some more. I return the ‘Musical Times’ herewith.¹
Yours sincerely
R Vaughan Williams

1. ‘They’ presumably refers to Novellos – see VWL3606. The letter appears to refer to VW’s work for the new edition of The English Hymnal, Catalogue of Works 1933/1.