The Lark Ascending
Born in the village of Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, Ralph Vaughan Williams was related to Charles Darwin (Ralph's great-uncle) and the ceramics giant Josiah Wedgwood (his great-great-grandfather). Young Ralph studied piano and violin and collected traditional folk songs from an early age. These tunes went on to inspire many of his subsequent works.His output marked a decisive break in British music from its German-dominated style of the 19th century. Throughout his life he sought to be of service to his fellow citizens, and believed in making music as available as possible to everybody.
He was musically a late developer, not finding his true voice until his late thirties; his studies in 1907–1908 with the French composer Maurice Ravel helped him clarify the textures of his music and brought his music more in line with the French Impressionists and reinforced his interest in using folk melodies and English church music as the basis of his compositions.
When I started composing music, many people compared my work to Vaughn Williams, and his tonal and pastoral nature. I always considered this a huge compliment.
Vaughan Williams’ most popular piece, The Lark
Ascending, was written in 1914 but the outbreak of World War I meant he
had to put its premiere on hold. It was given in 1921 by the violinist
Marie Hall – the woman for whom Vaughan Williams had written it. There is an uplifting beauty here in the solo violin that inspires me every time I hear it. Here is a beautiful performance by the conductor-less (and standing) Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra.
Please enjoy THE LARK ASCENDING
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