Ralph Vaughan Williams Timeline

THE RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS SOCIETY


About the Society	Short Biography	Timelines	Society Journal	Publications	Resources	Soundclips
Concerts	List of Works	Leith Hill Festival	News & Events	Miscellany	Links	Join or Renew





				1872

								The Vicarage at Down Ampney.
		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 mother’s side two famous great-great grandfathers: Josiah Wedgwood and Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin.						The Vicarage at Down Ampney.
				1875

							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.
				1878

	First music teacher, his aunt, Sophy Wedgwood. First composition, 'The Robin's Nest'.
				1879

					Begins to learn the violin
				1883

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.
				1887

							Enters Charterhouse School, where he plays violin and viola in the orchestra.
				1888


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."
				1890

						Visits Munich and hears Wagner’s '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.
				1892

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.
				1895

					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.
				1897
				1897
				1898
			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.

						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.
				1899

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.
				1900

					Meets Cecil Sharp. Writes 'Bucolic Suite' for orchestra. Attends first performance of Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius'.
				1901

	First published composition 'Linden Lea' a setting of the Dorset poet William Barnes.
				1902

						'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.
				1903


				1904

					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'.
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).
Composes 'Willow Wood' and other songs. Visits Norfolk for folk song collecting. Enjoys walking. Here he is seen with Gustav Holst.
									Leith Hill Festival is founded by his sister Margaret. RVW encourages local choirs. Guides the festival until 1953.
				1905

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.
				1906

					‘The 'English Hymnal' published. Composes first 'Norfolk Rhapsody'.
				1907

					First performance of 'Towards the Unknown Region' at Leeds Festival.
				1908

	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.
				1909

					‘On Wenlock Edge’ performed. ‘The Wasps’ performed at Cambridge