Aldwinckle, Eric, Letter, 23 December [1943]

Letter, Eric Aldwinckle.
Description: 
Letter to Harry Somers

Tabs

Case Study: 
Creative Dialogue Across the Ocean: Eric Aldwinckle’s Letters to Harry Somers
Creator: 
Aldwinckle, Eric
Source: 
letter
Date: 
23 December [1943]
Place: RCAF Headquarters, London
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright, public domain: McMaster University owns the rights to the archival copy of the digital image in TIFF format. Reproduced with the kind permission of Margaret Bridgman.

Identifier: 
00001598-3
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

what seemed an interminable period for a large canvas. It was probably well, because at the end of another week my perturbation had cooled to an immense mass of clear cut action, and as you know technique cannot be controlled with a trembling hand -- So I began and it is now near completion and it is as rich as I saw in Epping Forest and as good as I had prayed I might do, but wondered if I ever could. It is a symphony to bomber crews, but is also a message to 1963 and I call it "Return from Berlin" -- It is not quite finished, but I am so sure now and it is lovely to feel it growing through my hands and singing in rich devoted colours of mystical poignancy. To complete my expression I would need also to create music but I leave that to more competent hands. Who knows, it may inspire a composer some day. It will if he is able to recapture my feeling through it. Perhaps it will be you -- Perhaps not, but I know you will understand it and be glad that I have done it. Anything I have done before this simply doesn't count, except