RVW150

Celebrating Ralph Vaughan Williams 150 years after his birth.

In 2022-3 RVW150 celebrated Ralph Vaughan Williams with performances, recordings, new works and imaginative projects around the country (and beyond) to help widen our understanding of this many-faceted composer.

Get a taste of the celebrations with the small selection below.

Whoever thought Vaughan Williams a bit of a pastoral retrograde should hear this (Flos Campi)… it’s mad, bizarre and glorious. 

FIONA MADDOCKS, The Observer

Certain music is necessary at a certain time, and Vaughan Williams’s Fifth Symphony struck me as something we need to hear now. It has this incredible strength and serenity: a feeling of ‘this is what the world could be when we emerge from this’.

SIR SIMON RATTLE, conductor

There’s an emotional honesty to his writing. His language is one which can be appreciated on so many levels.

TASMIN LITTLE, violinist

Thank you so much to this wonderful forward thinking musical organisation without which new music activities in the U.K. would be substantially curtailed.  

DARRAGH MORGAN and MARY DULLEA, Fidelio Trio

RVW150 NEWS

RVW resources for Music Teachers

A new programme produced by the Music Teachers’ Association, has been set up to provide resources for teaching about the work of Ralph Vaughan Williams, from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 5. Teaching resources are available completely free of charge to all schools and organisations running education projects and can be downloaded from the MTA.

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New window celebrating RVW unveiled

A newly commissioned stained glass window by artist Thomas Denny, celebrating the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams in the place of his birth, was unveiled at All Saints, Down Ampney.

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Today’s composers celebrate RVW

Throughout the 150th anniversary celebrations a special series of new works inspired by RVW’s music, ideas, or life, were performed round the country.

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News from the publishers

From the completion of a major unfinished score, to a composer’s cut of the 1948 film of Scott of the Antarctic, together with new editions, collections and orchestrations of well-loved pieces, RVW’s publishers continue to bring his work to new performers and audiences.

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From pub to pulpit

From Pub to Pulpit created different programmes for each venue, bringing to life the musical journey of folk songs RVW collected, and later ‘borrowed’ for hymns

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His music has an emotional honesty

‘A composer who believed that music should be felt, rather than described’

RVW 150 Ambassador, violinist Tasmin Little, on the enduring popularity of RVW’s music.

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#RVW150

Vaughan Williams Foundation

Vaughan Williams' expressive Oboe Concerto, performed by Ralf Ebner, alongside Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, forms part of 'Spring' at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms on June 3. With Capella Edina and Director of Music, Luis Schmidt. Details and 🎫 👇

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

With Vaughan Williams' copyrights divided between several different publishing houses, it can be hard to locate any particular score or set of parts to perform. Our searchable catalogue lists the principal publisher of each piece and guides you towards more information. Find it here ⬇️

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

In an encouraging show of support for contemporary and experimental music, The Living Music Trust, which has been supported by the VWF, has received an Arts Council England grant of over £10K to continue its development. Read more here 👇

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

The Vaughan Williams Foundation provides funding for composers and for work which furthers the knowledge and understanding of the life and work of Ralph Vaughan Williams and of Ursula Vaughan Williams. See our website to find out more.

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

@classicfm.com reports on the discovery of a new Vaughan Williams song 👇

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

For those who are taking part in musical performances over the weekend – we salute you! 🎶

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

Tom Service, writing for The Guardian, speculates on what other musical riches may be awaiting discovery, after a new Vaughan Williams was found in the archive of Morely College.

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

📻 Frances Fyfield is joined by former BBC Young Musician of the Year Jennifer Pike, her father Jeremy, from Cheetham's School of Music in Manchester, and composer David Matthews to examine the only manuscript of Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'The Lark Ascending'.

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

A lovely chatty holiday note from Ralph and Ursula Vaughan Williams, presumably penned during (chilly!) a spring break in Italy. We wonder which opera it was – it obviously didn't go down well!

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Vaughan Williams Foundation

"It's very lyrical, it's very delicate" – Dimitris Karydis, Morley College. The newly discovered Vaughan Williams song, Before the Mirror, was discussed – and played (!) – on BBC Radio 4's PM last night. 📻 Listen here 👇 discussion at 26:55 in, the piano part of the song is played at 58:12.

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