“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.”
Orchestral version
(1914)
for: Voice (tenor), viola, string orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 637725
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 634884
Paperback
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 893255
for: Wind Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 891241
for: Women's choir (SSAA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 920793
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 298126
Set of parts for string sextet arrangement
for: Violin solo, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass (string quintet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 676695
for two violins, viola and cello
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score
Item no.: 676691
Violin and piano
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123606
Konzertwerk
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 944003
Konzertwerk
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 946812
for: Trumpet [flugelhorn], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1550342
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 1040048
Two Hymns by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Daehn Publications
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1043248
for: Concert band
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078165
for: Alto or Soprano Solo, SSA and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039009
Quarter Military Band 234
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 908666
Scottish Folk Song
for: Solo T + SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 902149
Bb
for: Cello, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1051716
Transcription for Organ
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 684167
6 short pieces for piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 479386
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 224350
Geistliche Musik
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 892461
Paperback
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 892298
Second Edition
for: Tuba, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 613407
Oxford Music for Organ
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 123794
Reduction for oboe and piano
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 123665
for orchestra
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 679858
for: Cello, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 642673
Paperback
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 628435
Beginning Band
for: Youth concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 694632
In C
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1100921
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 913353
for: TB soli, SATB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1005109
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 930854
Schlummert ein
for: Unison Voices, Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041192
for: 4 soloists (SATB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 930416
from "Three Preludes" founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 929279
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 891223
Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1021423
for: Klarinettenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 993976
Boosey and Hawkes Orchestra
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1212383
Sonderband
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 689799
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 169568
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 483878
from "The Wasps"
for: Blockflöten (SAT), Schlagwerk und Klavier; Glockenspiel und Xylophon ad libitum
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 354836
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