Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Keith Douglas

Letter No. VWL4720

Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Keith Douglas

Letter No.: VWL4720

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

August 23 [1936]

Dear Mr Keith Douglas
I think I could do you a short coronation piece if the Society¹ could give me (1) a large chorus (2) 6 or 8 trumpets (3) 2 Tubas in addition to the ordinary bass Tuba (4) Full orchestra including 2 harps pianoforte, organ & several percussion players. But I expect the Society will not see the fun of this.
Also it must come in the programme before Heldenleben & not after.
Yrs sincerely
R Vaughan Williams

1. Keith Douglas was Secretary of the Royal Philharmonic Society. The work was presumably commissioned for a concert to mark the Coronation presumably of Edward VIII, but following his abdication in December 1936, to mark the Coronation of George VI. The concert was at the Queen’s Hall on April 1st, 1937.

To:

Douglas, Keith
From:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958
Scribe:

Vaughan Williams, Adeline, 1870-1951
Names:

George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952 Edward VIII, King of Great Britain, 1894-1972 Queen's Hall Royal Philharmonic Society
Subject:

Coronation music
Musical Works:

Vaughan Williams, Ralph, 1872-1958. Flourish for a coronation Strauss, Richard, 1864-1949. Heldenleben
Format:

Letter
General Notes:

Year estimated from reference to Coronation. In the hand of AVW, signed by VW.
Location Of Original:

British Library
Shelfmark:

MS RPS 369, f. 262

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