• Vaughan Williams
• by Eric Saylor
• Oxford, 339 pages

The Wall Street Journal reports that Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 150th birthday is upcoming October 12, and that a new biography of the great composer has been released [1].

Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) is associated with 22 works in our current hymnal employing 11 hymn tunes. Of these 11, about half are harmonizations of traditional melodies (as mentioned in the Kingsfold post), half are original compositions. Included among the original compositions are favorites The Call (Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life), Sine Nomine (For All The Saints), and Randolph (God Be With You till We Meet Again). The Lark Ascending (listen) is said to be his most famous tune; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (listen), also popular, has been used in at least a half dozen movies (Master and Commander; Zea). His setting of Greensleeves (listen) is also a favorite of many. Vaughn Williams is well-represented in our choral library; some will remember Hodie, the Christmas major work, prepared and performed by the Chancel choir many years ago.

Vaughan Williams composed over six decades, and is noted for his affinity for folk song and his decided Englishness, thought to be derived from his teacher Sir Hubert Perry (composer of the hymn tune Jerusalem – just sung last week) and best friend Gustav The Planets Holst (Cranham – In The Bleak Midwinter), along with his Victorian home upbringing. His The English Hymnal of 1906 is still in use today. In addition to the sacred and secular songwork, he penned nine symphonies and five operas.

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• [1] https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaughan-williams-book-review-composer-more-than-mere-pastoral-charm-11660922287?mod=Searchresults_pos5&page=1