The lament of many a composer we suspect! 🎶

A sweet letter from Ursula Vaughan Williams to Joan Shaw, revealing the few things a composer needs!
We assume that by 'Martin' she is referring to Martin Shaw, Joan's husband, who composed Morning Has Broken.

Vaughan Williams wrote his first score for the 1941 propaganda film ‘The 49th Parallel’ and went on to score another 10 films, including the celebrated ‘Scott of the Antarctic’.

📻 Find out more in this BBC Radio 3 Sound of Cinema podcast: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

We are delighted to announce the premiere of ‘Maeshowe’ by Anna Disley-Simpson - part of our #ikonoflight concert with Piatti Quartet on Tues 23 April 🎶

With grateful thanks to the Vaughan Williams Foundation and Hinrichsen Foundation.

🎟️ Tickets here: stmartin-in-the-fields.org/calendar/st-ma…

The first movement of Vaughan Williams' 'In Windsor Forest', a cantata for chorus and orchestra, from the album, 'Retrospect', released this year by the London Choral Sinfonia led by Michael Waldron.

📺 Watch here: bit.ly/3PZ3rXy

A note from Vaughan Williams to the head teacher of Charterhouse School.

RVW is giving thanks for hospitality received on the occasion for which he'd written Solemn Music for the Masque of Charterhouse (Catalogue of Works 1950/4), incorporating the ‘Carmen Carthusianum’.

“When lonely Ursula writes to composer Ralph Vaughan Williams with an idea for a ballet, little does she realise she will become the creative partner and muse of a genius as well as one corner of a love triangle”

Musical play, A Lark, is at Dorking Halls 🍿🎭 from April 19 to 21.

'It is a humbling and moving experience to bring Vaughan Williams' music to an orchestra unfamiliar with him and then feel how the atmosphere in the rehearsal room shifts from polite, dutiful curiosity to downright admiration and enthusiasm' - Andrew Manze
sco.org.uk/news/andrew-ma…

A programme backed by us and produced by the Music Teachers’ Association, has been set up to provide resources for the teaching of various aspects of RVW’s work, from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 5.

Find the free resources here: bit.ly/3VPrZWQ

⌛ Funding deadline on Friday!

We are welcoming applications for our VWF bursaries, available to support students accepted on MA courses in composition, and who intend to follow careers as composers.

Find out more here: bit.ly/43z8nYT

With Vaughan Williams copyrights divided between several different publishing houses, it can be hard to locate scores or set of parts.
Our searchable catalogue lists the publisher of each piece and guides you towards more information.

Find it here 👉 bit.ly/3IWtt9T

One for fans of the Wiltshire Downs (not for those from the Lakes or Scotland though!)

Explore our beautiful archive of photos, from the collection of Ursula Vaughan Williams, which can be found on our website.

Vaughan-Williams's Sea Symphony was written for soprano, baritone, chorus and large orchestra in the early 1900s.
David Owen Norris chooses his favourite version on BBC Radio 4's Record Review with Andrew McGregor
📻 listen here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

The VWF is a grant-giving charity upholding the values and vision of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and his wife Ursula.
Our principal aims are to honour RVW’s desire to support his fellow composers and to help make his own work widely accessible.
vaughanwilliamsfoundation.org

Vaughan Williams in Context is out now from Cambridge University Press. Was delighted to contribute a chapter on the theme of his 'Personality'. Big congrats to co-editors Julian Onderdonk and Ceri Owen! cambridge.org/core/books/vau…
Ralph Vaughan Williams Society #RVW Vaughan Williams Foundation Vaughan Williams info Cambridge University Press

In our first year we made 165 grants worth a total of £350K.

We supported festivals, composer career development, composer-led projects, recording projects, commissioning, student bursaries as well as projects celebrating the legacy of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

A typically direct quote from Sir John Barbirolli, Conductor and Cellist 😅

While we might not complete agree with this (!), we can see why RVW liked him so much...

⌛ Funding deadline approaching!

We are welcoming applications for our VWF bursaries, available to support students accepted on MA courses in composition, and who intend to follow careers as composers.

Find out more here 👉 bit.ly/43z8nYT

A major donation of Vaughan Williams items made by Oxford Music to the British Library is now listed on the The National Archives website - the first step in ensuring the accessibility and visibility of these materials.

Explore the 98 catalogue listings here: bit.ly/3TTQOiK