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1872 |
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The
Vicarage at Down Ampney. |
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Born
12th October in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, son of Rev Arthur
Vaughan Williams (a distinguished family of lawyers) and Margaret
daughter of Josiah Wedgwood III. VW had on his mothers
side two famous great-great grandfathers: Josiah Wedgwood and
Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin. |
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1875 |
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Ralph's
father dies suddenly on the 9th February and his mother, brother
and sister move back to the Family home Leith Hill Place close
to the village of Coldharbour, outside Dorking, Surrey, where
Ralph's parents were married in 1868. |
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1878 |
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First
music teacher, his aunt, Sophy Wedgwood. First composition, 'The
Robin's Nest'. |
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1879 |
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Begins
to learn the violin |
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1883 |
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Goes
to Field House School at Rottingdean, near Brighton. Is thrilled
by Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' heard at a concert. Is introduced
by his piano teacher, Mr A .C. West, to the music of Bach which
was to become his lifelong passion. |
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1887 |
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Enters
Charterhouse School, where he plays violin and viola in the orchestra. |
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1888 |
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Organises
and gives a concert with his friend H. Vivian Hamilton. His Maths
teacher says "Very good, Williams, you must go on". RVW
says, "I treasured this as one of the few words of encouragement
I ever received in my life." |
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1890 |
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Visits
Munich and hears Wagners 'The Valkyrie'.
Enters The Royal College of Music where he studies composition under
Sir Hubert Parry and later Stanford, harmony with F.E. Gladstone
and organ with Parratt.
Meets fellow student Gustav Holst who was to become his greatest
friend. They spend 'field days' together, criticising and improving
each other's compositions. |
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1892 |
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Enters
Trinity College, Cambridge to read History and works for his Mus.Bac.
degree. Early compositions performed at The University Music Club.
Continues to live at Leith Hill Place to which he would often walk
from London and herald his arrival by playing the organ. |
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1895 |
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After
B.Mus. taken previous year, takes BA in History at Cambridge and
resumes studies at the RCM. Accepts post as organist at St Barnabas
Church in Lambeth. |
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1897 |
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1898 |
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Marries
Adeline Fisher 9th October at All Saints Church in Hove, Sussex.
'Working' Honeymoon in Berlin where he studies with Max Bruch and
hears, Bach, Brahms, and Wagner. |
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Returns
to London and settles at 16 North Street, Westminster and later
5 Cowley Street. Writes mainly vocal music and studies for his
diploma as a Fellow of The Royal College of Organists and writes
thesis for his doctorate. |
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1899 |
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Moves
to 10 Barton Street, Westminster, where he will be visited in 1904
by Percy Dearmer and invited to become editor of 'The English Hymnal'.
The job was supposed to take 2 months. It took 2 years and cost
him personally £250. |
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1900 |
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Meets
Cecil Sharp. Writes 'Bucolic Suite' for orchestra. Attends first
performance of Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius'. |
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1901 |
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First
published composition 'Linden Lea' a setting of the Dorset poet
William Barnes. |
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1902 |
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'Bucolic
Suite' performed in Bournemouth.
Writes articles for 'The Vocalist'. Gives first in a series of lectures
on the history of folk song. Lucy Broadwood provides illustrations. |
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1903 |
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1904 |
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Begins
work as musical editor of 'The English Hymnal'. In his research
he is strongly affected by Tudor composers such as Tallis. Writes
'In the Fen Country', 'The House of Life' and 'Songs of Travel'. |
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4th
December collects 'Bushes and Briars' from Ingrave, near Brentwood
in Essex from Charles Pottipher which stimulates his interest in
collecting folk-songs (over 800). |
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Composes
'Willow Wood' and other songs. Visits Norfolk for folk song collecting.
Enjoys walking.
Here he is seen with Gustav Holst. |
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Leith
Hill Festival is founded by his sister Margaret.
RVW encourages local choirs. Guides the festival until 1953. |
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1905 |
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Composes
'Towards the Unknown Region' a setting to the words of Walt
Whitman. Continues collecting folk songs and works on 'A Sea Symphony'
(begun 1903) also to words by Whitman. Edits 'Welcome Songs' for
the Purcell Society. Moves to 13 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. First Leith
Hill Festival on 10th May. |
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1906 |
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The
'English Hymnal' published.
Composes first 'Norfolk Rhapsody'. |
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1907 |
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First
performance of 'Towards the Unknown Region' at Leeds Festival. |
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1908 |
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Studies
with Maurice Ravel in Paris who says, he was the only pupil of
mine "qui n' ecrit pas ma musique.!".
Composes 'String Quartet in G Minor'. Begins work on 'On Wenlock
Edge' settings by A. E. Housman. |
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1909 |
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On
Wenlock Edge performed.
The Wasps performed at Cambridge |
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