Ralph Vaughan Williams
The English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was born at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, on 12 October 1872 and died in London on 26 August 1958. Like many musicians, his earlier life included a spell as a church organist. Besides his notable English teachers of composition, he spent periods with Max Bruch and Maurice Ravel. From all this stemmed a flow of music which has included several masterpieces of 20th century English music. READ WILFRID MELLERS ON VAUGHAN WILLIAMS SYMPHONIES MARTIN LEE-BROWNE DISCOVERS A VW SETTING OF WHITMAN TUDOR PORTRAITS AND MYSTICAL SONGS THE WASPS
A selection of M&V articles about Ralph Vaughan Williams
CD Spotlight. Robust and Spirited - James Tibbles plays J S Bach, heard by Howard Smith. '... worthy of widespread international recognition.'
Ensemble. Crystalline Lightness - A Symphony of the Americas concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
CD Spotlight. Mice in the Manger - A selection of Christmas music, enjoyed by George Balcombe. '... an amazing collection.'
CD Spotlight. Boisterous Energy - Vaughan Williams' piano concerto, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Highly recommended ...'
Ensemble. A Cogent Argument - Mike Wheeler listens to Stephen Johnson and the BBC Philharmonic
Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton
Ensemble. Sing ye to the Lord - Roderic Dunnett was at the 2009 Hereford Three Choirs Festival
A Useful Survey - Thomas May's 'The John Adams Reader', reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ask Alice - When to put up and shut up, by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. Excellent Throughout - A lunchtime piano recital by Maiko Mori, heard by Bill Newman
Ensemble. An Eloquent Performance - Music from the Richard Roddis Singers and the Helix Ensemble, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Highly Resourceful - Mike Wheeler listens to a new work by Richard Roddis
Ensemble. An Involving Performance - Brahms' German Requiem, sung by the Derwent Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Shaken and Stirred - Maurice Steger plays Giuseppe Sammartini, recommended by Jennifer Paull
Record Box. Entirely Idiomatic - Vaughan Williams from Japan, reviewed by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. In Memory of Hickox - Vaughan Williams' 'Sancta Civitas', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Inner Calm - Holst and Vaughan Williams from Nottingham, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Deeply Thoughtful - Byrd, Vaughan Williams, Parry and Elgar from the Sitwell Singers, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. An Accomplished Performance - Matthew Moss sings British music, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Gloriously Colourful - The British Society of Music Therapy looks back, with Margaret Campbell
Ensemble. A Bright Future - Malcolm Miller was at the final night of the 2008 BBC Proms in London
Youthful Freshness - Gareth Green gives the final organ recital in Derby Cathedral's summer series, and Mike Wheeler was in the audience
An Interesting Programme - An organ recital by Martin Neary, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Extraordinary Clarity - Naji Hakim begins the Derby Cathedral summer organ recital series, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Pastoral Pleasures - English music for flute, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... the Tavener alone would justify the purchase ...'
Ensemble. A Geordie Knees-Up - John Wilson conducts the Hallé Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
An Enviable Reputation - Mike Brewer and The National Youth Choirs celebrate their 25th anniversary, by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Nicely Caught - A song recital by Richard Roddis and Clive Pollard, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Expressive Power - Mike Wheeler listens to Natalie Clein and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Unexpected Delights - Mike Wheeler listens to The Sitwell Singers
Record Box. Spirited Performance - Festive music by Vaughan Williams, reviewed by Patric Standford
Record Box. Excellent Singing - A Christmas selection from Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, enjoyed by Patric Standford
Ensemble. Brahms and Jazz - Organist Peter Gould joins forces with The Swingle Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Energy and Exuberance - Music by Haydn, Karl Jenkins and Vaughan Williams, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Mature Technique - Alina Pogostkina with Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra, appreciated by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Sparkle and Polish - Robin Zebaida plays piano rarities, enjoyed by Bill Newman. '... musical appeal is immediate.'
Ensemble. Witty and Entertaining - 'Sir John in Love', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Plea for peace - Vaughan Williams's 'Dona Nobis Pacem' in Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Striking sonorities - Twentieth-century British music, sung by Derby Choral Union, and reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Punchy dynamism - Sinfonia ViVA at Derby's Guildhall, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Symphonic structure - The Hallé Orchestra plays Vaughan Williams in Derby, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Heart-rending beauty - Concertos by Elgar and Kopytman, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
Record box. Impressive performances - A 20th century recital by the Westminster Choir, recommended by Patric Standford
Ensemble. A fitting celebration - The BBC National Orchestra of Wales plays Ravel, Hoddinott and Vaughan Williams, reviewed by Rex Harley
Record box. The perceptive oboe - Nancy Ambrose King plays oboe concertos, reviewed by Basil Ramsey
CD Spotlight. Valued archives - Stokowski and the classic Columbias, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... a powerful performance ...'
Record box. Expanding repertoire - A Daniel Rubinoff saxophone recital, reviewed by Patric Standford
Personal connections - Robert Hugill discusses Vaughan Williams and the Bloomsbury Group
Whispers of heavenly death - Roderic Dunnett talks to Martin Lee-Browne about a newly-discovered Vaughan Williams setting of Walt Whitman (concluded from last week)
Whispers of heavenly death - Roderic Dunnett talks to Martin Lee-Browne about a newly-discovered Vaughan Williams setting of Walt Whitman
CD Spotlight - Reflective modality. '... a notable collection of songs in beautifully controlled and devoted performances ...' Listening to a recital of music by Rubbra and Vaughan Williams, with Patric Standford
Second sight. Music with Wilfrid Mellers. - A Double Man's Last Harvest. Vaughan Williams' Symphonies 8 and 9
Record box - Checking the pulse. Vaughan Williams and chamber music, with Basil Ramsey
Speaking universally - A Yank's appreciation of British music, with Richard Krause
CD Spotlight - Fresh and stylish. 'Richard Edgar-Wilson gives musicianly interpretations of all works, admirably partnered by the Coull Quartet ...' Songs for tenor, with Trevor Hold
CD Spotlight - Rare Vaughan Williams. 'All involved in this performance plunge merrily into the fray like persons possessed.' Hilary Davan Wetton's performances of the 'Tudor Portraits' and 'Mystical Songs' with Bill Newman
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