Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)

Vaughan Williams received his training from Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford, both composers influenced by Brahms. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1894 and studied composition with the two composers at the Royal College of Music, London, as well as organ and piano with several teachers. Although he also studied abroad with Max Bruch (1897-98) and Ravel (1909), his style remained individual and English. Receiving a Doctorate in Music from Cambridge in 1901, he was appointed organist at Lambeth and his interest in English folk music dates from his stay there. Vaughan Williams became enthralled with the English folk song (he was a major collector). …