“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: Voice (low), piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 689309
A cylce of six songs
for: Voice (tenor), piano; 2 violins, viola, cello ad lib.
Piano score
Item no.: 635297
Boosey and Hawkes Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 191802
form "A Garland for the Queen"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 474303
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 492509
English Folk-Song
mit Klaviersatz zu Probezwecken
Orpheus 536
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 488613
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 478365
All People that on Earth do dwell
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 366719
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 910520
for: Voice, violin
Music score
Item no.: 484702
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 865345
Soprano, Baritone and Piano with Violin Obbligato and Optional String Quartet (No. 1 only)
for: 2 voices (sbar), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 929286
for: 2 string orchestras
Score
Item no.: 407288
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 123796
Romance for violin and orchestra
for: Violin, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 769520
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 920427
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951685
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 559857
A Cantata for Women's Voices with Orchestral or Piano Accompaniment
for: Women's Choir and Orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 474291
Klassik
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1211439
Three short pieces for piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 208672
for: Male choir (TTBB), organ [piano]
Choir score
Item no.: 323244
This piano part is also for use with the following alternative versions:
Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Cor Anglais, Bassoon, Bassethorn, Eb Saxophone and Tuba.
for: Melody instrument, piano
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 260821
Romance for Violin and Orchestra
Oxford Music for Violin
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 123664
Music for Viola
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123668
for two violins, viola and cello parts
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 676692
Arrangement for Tuba and Piano
for: Tuba, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 613401
Bb
for: Cello
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1051714
G
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1027471
Klassik
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Book
Item no.: 982930
Meredith Music Resource
for: Woodwind Ensemble
Book
Item no.: 1107706
for: Mixed Choir Unaccompanied
Choir score
Item no.: 1634811
Klassik
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 982934
for: 2 soloists (SB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1007315
10 sacred pieces
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 697125
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 885809
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 347176
for: Voice, piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 321743
Vocal Score
for: Voice
Piano reduction
Item no.: 901239
Geistliche Musik
for: SSAATTBB and Organ
Score
Item no.: 492849
Vocal Trios
for: Women's Choir [SSA] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 320461
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1149417
Klassik
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1101315
for: Soloist (soprano), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1558770
Klassik
for: Mixed Choir [SAB] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 983063
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 867605
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 769529
Madrigalian Part–Song
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 619592
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