Vaughan Williams and the Vision of Albion

Wilfrid Mellers

Barrie & Jenkins, 1989 - Biography & Autobiography - 270 pages

This biography of Ralph Vaughan Williams, a figure in the renaissance of English music, begins by describing his background, his early music and general education, and the musical context in which he grew up. A number of revealing conflicts emerge - between conformity and rebellion, the pastoral and the cosmopolitan, for example - and the author explores the inspiration Vaughan Williams derived both from the New World and from Old England. Throughout the book, the major works are described and analyzed.

Contents

• The Parlour and the Open Sea: 14
• The Double Man: 45
• The Ascent of the Lark: 59
• Solidarity and Solitude Town and Country: 77
• The English Eden: 94
• A Passionate Pilgrim: 118
• The New Jerusalem: 142
• The Wages of War: 158
• Prayer for Peace within and without: 171
• The Aftermath of War: 187
• Second Childhood: 206
• forbidding Mourning: 244
• Appendix Vaughan Williams and Musical Symbolism: 260

Bibliographic information

• Title: Vaughan Williams and the Vision of Albion
• Author: Wilfrid Mellers
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Barrie & Jenkins, 1989
• Original from: Indiana University
• Digitized: Jul 21, 2009
• ISBN: 0712621172, 9780712621175
• Length: 270 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / General; Biography & Autobiography / General; Biography & Autobiography / Music; Music / Genres & Styles / Classical