THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Hugh Fraser Stewart

Letter No. VWL449

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Hugh Fraser Stewart

Letter No.: VWL449


10 Madingly Road
Cambridge

26/2/19

Dear Mr Stewart1

I am returning the Burgundian folk-songs with many thanks – they are most beautiful & interesting tunes -I had no idea the French had such fine folk-songs – the introduction too most interesting.
Do you know “The 12 days of Xmas” – the words of which are exactly parallel to the “Mois de l’année”?
“The 1st day of Xmas my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree”

“The 2nd day of Xmas my true love sent to me 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree” etc.

Yours sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams


1. French scholar, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
2. According to the recipient’s daughter, Katherine Thomson, this book was edited by Bourgault-Ducoudray. Identify title and date if poss.