“I suppose it never occurs to people that a man might just want to write a piece of music.” Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Vaughan Williams is famous for his invigorating nautical symphonies, breath-taking songs, dreamy yet visually powerful concertos, as well as his rousing, majestic choral music. Browse our sheet music and scores, take a look at our Vaughan Williams Sheet Music Downloads, and explore the wide world of Vaughan Williams today!
His work is particularly important due to his intense preoccupation with the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as the collection and publication of English folk songs, which significantly influenced his work, and played a big role in the revival of English classical music at the turn of the century.
His best known songs are the Songs of Travel based on poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, published in 1907. With A Sea Symphony, Vaughan Williams’ first symphony saw its premier in 1910, which laid the foundations for English symphony in the 20th century.
His most popular works include Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis for two string orchestras (1910) and The Lark Ascending for violin and small orchestra (1914). When asked about “The Lark Ascending” his second wife Ursula said: “He took a literary idea on which he based his musical thoughts... and let the violin become both the song and the flight of the bird, instead of simply illustrating the poem from which the title was taken.”
Vaughan Williams was also a prolific Film Music composer, and his 7th symphony, the Sinfonia Antartica, was inspired by his film score for “Scott of the Antarctic”.
Alongside his musical talents, Vaughan Williams also had a keen sense of humour. The title quote “It never seems to occur to people that a man might just want to write a piece of music” was Williams’ answer to the question of whether his music for the 6th Symphony was meant to be programmatic.
When questioned by a musician in a rehearsal for his Symphony No. 4 in F Minor about a note which seemed relatively dissonant, Vaughan Williams replied: “It looks wrong, and it sounds wrong, but it’s right. I don’t know if I like it, but that’s what I meant.”
Vaughan Williams when discussing Richard Wagner and his operas: “Wagner used to read the libretti of his operas to his friends; I am glad I was not there.”
And of opera and its overtures, Vaughan Williams said: “The audience is requested not to refrain from talking during the overture. Otherwise they will know all the tunes before the opera begins.”
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 474293
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1385640
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1382668
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 894495
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 920444
for: Klarinettenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 994557
for string orchestra score and parts (8-8-5-5-5)
The Highland/Etling String Orchestra Series
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 661602
Ralph Vaughan Williams Transcription Series
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1149328
Brookfield Choral Series
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 965419
Ralph Vaughan Williams Transcription Series
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1149339
King Of Love
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 950662
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 892029
A Cycle of six songs
for: Tenor Voice and Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 159377
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 463353
By Thomas Tallis
Special Order Edition
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 633939
for: SATB, opt. Congregation and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 913789
In C
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1212423
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 791323
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077350
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077405
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077263
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1021912
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609892
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1190455
Konzertwerk
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 943230
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 674558
for: Full orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 876677
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 642669
for: Voice
Buch
Item no.: 430274
Adapted from the Opera 'Sir John in Love'
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123604
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 613411
Adapted from the opera "Sir John in Love"
Belwin Symphonic Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 745096
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1004963
Paperback
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 920489
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 892608
Hawkes Pocket Scores HPS 59
for: 2 string orchestras
Study score
Item no.: 158307
A Dorset Song
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 187527
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077951
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077006
SATB
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 855702
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 931741
for: SATB, Congr, Organ, opt Handbells, Brass Quartet or Quintet, Timp
Set of parts
Item no.: 919797
for: 4 soloists (SATB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 580202
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1094373
Centenary Edition 1972
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 769687
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077712
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078102
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