Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Ralph Vaughan Williams

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Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote pastoral music during profoundly turbulent times. ullstein bild Dtl./Getty Images hide caption

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ullstein bild Dtl./Getty Images

Deceptive Cadence

Celebrating the 150th birthday of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams

WRTI

October 12, 2022 • Collecting traditional tunes from all over the British Isles, Vaughan Williams famously produced gently modal folksong fantasies evoking England's "green and pleasant land."

Musicians in Their Own Words

Musicians in Their Own Words: Hilary Hahn

October 13, 2004 • Hilary Hahn has already recorded landmark violin concertos with the world's great orchestras. She describes the meditative experience of playing Bach alone — and of trying to sound like a bird.

Musicians in Their Own Words: Hilary Hahn

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The Bee's Knees: Music With A Definite Buzz

A bee at work. Andreas./Flickr hide caption

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Andreas./Flickr

Deceptive Cadence

The Bee's Knees: Music With A Definite Buzz

August 25, 2011 • Catch the buzz: Commentator Miles Hoffman finds gorgeous musical evocations of the lowly bumblebee.

Listen Now

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Rapturous Poetry — And An Unintended Elegy

Violinist Julia Fischer. Uwe Arens/Decca/courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Uwe Arens/Decca/courtesy of the artist

Review

Deceptive Cadence

Rapturous Poetry — And An Unintended Elegy

June 28, 2011 • A lovely new recording by violinist Julia Fischer contains an unexpected emotional resonance, due to her conductor's premature death.

Fantasy for violin & orchestra, Op 24

4:59

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Conductor Carlos Kalmar leads the Oregon Symphony in music inspired by war. Leah Nash/Oregon Symphony hide caption

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Leah Nash/Oregon Symphony

Classics in Concert

Spring for Music: Oregon Symphony

WQXR-APM

May 12, 2011 • Hear the orchestra perform works possessed with the turbulent spirit of war, including music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, Charles Ives and John Adams.

The Oregon Symphony In Concert

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Music Lists

Classical Music Memorials

GBH

May 22, 2009 • Memorial Day might signal the unofficial start of summer fun, but its true purpose is to commemorate those who have died in service to the country. Hear five musical expressions of uncommon power and beauty, reminding listeners of both what has been lost and what we value most.

From the Top

Classical Teens: Making Music in Maryland

May 7, 2008 • From the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., an award-winning teen quartet plays Debussy, a young baritone sings Vaughn Williams and a 15-year-old violinist plays music from a Saint-Saëns concerto. This show originally aired on October 3, 2007.

Classical Teens: Making Music in Maryland

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Best Music of 2007

Classical Gold: Top 10 CDs from WGBH

GBH

December 18, 2007 • It has been a good year for classical music releases. WGBH Radio's Brian McCreath counts down his Top 10 for 2007, spotlighting powerhouse orchestras and sparkling voices.

Music

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Tuba Concerto

March 2, 2006 • Tuba player Michael Moore says playing the tuba is like being the goalie in a hockey game. You don't have much to do the whole game, but when the puck comes you have to be ready. Hear Moore perform Ralph Vaughan Williams' Tuba Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Tuba Concerto

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