Ralph Vaughan Williams was an esteemed English composer whose works spanned various genres including operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces, and orchestral compositions. He was born on October 12, 1872, in the Cotswold village of Down Ampney, where his father was vicar, and he passed away on August 26, 1958.
Vaughan Williams’ music is characterized by its strong influence from Tudor music and English folk-song, marking a significant departure from the German-dominated style of British music in the 19th century. His output includes nine symphonies written over sixty years, showcasing a wide range of moods from tranquil to exuberant.
Some of his most familiar concert works are the “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” (1910) and “The Lark Ascending” (1914). His vocal works include hymns, folk-song arrangements, and large-scale choral pieces. He also wrote eight works for stage performance between 1919 and 1951.
Vaughan Williams served in the army during the First World War, which had a lasting emotional effect on him. He was married twice, first to Adeline Fisher in 1897, and then to the poet Ursula Wood in 1953. He refused a knighthood but was awarded the Order of Merit in 1935. His ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey, near Purcel.
His legacy includes a vast array of music that enriched nearly every musical genre, with works that remain staples of the British concert repertoire.
