Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Essence Of English Music

Today we remember the magnificent English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, born on this day in 1872. He was a prolific composer of a full spectrum of classical music and especially revered for his research of English folk tunes and their preservation in his works.  

Vaughan Williams Portrait by William Rothenstein, 1919

Most baby boomers were probably introduced to Vaughan Williams in middle school music appreciation classes. The composition very likely was his 1934 orchestral piece, Fantasia on "Greensleeves."  Here is another work closely associated with his legacy to music:





If you enjoyed the traditional side of Vaughan Williams, here is something a bit different composed in his twilight years and clearly marked with his lyrical signature: