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  Vaughan Williams Orchestral Soundclips

 
  Leith Hill Place

Above: Leith Hill Place, VW's childhood home, as it is today. This was Vaughan Williams’ home from the age of three until he left the Royal College of Music although he was regular visitor thereafter. He inherited the property in 1944 but left the house and the surrounding area to the National Trust. The house had been built in c1600 and bought by RVW’s maternal grandfather, Josiah Wedgwood. The famous Leith Hill Festival took its name from the beauty spot nearby. VW moved to a more modest house in Dorking (White Gates) in order to concentrate on his work. "If I had to decide what trees were to be cut, what vegetables planted, what cows sold, I should lose all pleasure in the place – and if I ran the place properly I shouldn't have any time for my own work."

  In the Fen Country
Adeline Vaughan Williams Symphonic Impression. Composed 1904.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Bernard Haitink
©EMI

Left: VW's wife Adeline (Fischer) in 1908. Adeline was cousin to Virginia Wolfe.
 
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  Norfolk Rhapsody No 1 in E minor
  Symphonic Impression.
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Richard Hickox
©Chandos
 
Andante
Allegro vivace

  Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Gloucester cathedral For double string orchestra and string quartet.
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Andrew Davis. Recorded at Gloucester Cathedral.
©BBC

Left: Gloucester Cathedral where the Tallis Fantasia was first performed on the 6th September in 1910.
 
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  Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
  For strings and harp.
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Richard Hickox.
©CHANDOS
 
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  Concerto Grosso
Vw and ladies For string orchestra.
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Bryden Thomson.
©CHANDOS

Left: VW was partial to the company of ladies! Seen here with Mrs Sumsion and Vera Wood.
 
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  English Folk Song Suite
VE playing croquet

For full orchestra. VW also wrote a brass-only version.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Vernon Handley
©EMI

Left: VW during his time at Cambridge

 
Allegro
Moderato
Scherzo: Alegro vivace

  Prelude and Fugue in C minor
VW and Ursula VW For strings and harp.
London Symphony Orchestra, Ian Watson (organ), Conductor Richard Hickox.
©CHANDOS

Left: VW and Ursula at Hanover Terrace approx 1956.
 
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