Vaughan Williams created this setting of Burnsâ?? later version of Caâ?? The Yowes with its original tune in 1922. This is a particularly atmospheric setting profiling lyrical solo male voices againstvery rich harmonies and varying this between the verses of the song. The Scottish folk song is arranged for Tenor solo and chorus of mixed voices with Piano accompaniment.Ralph Vaughan Williams was an Englishcomposer of symphonies chamber music opera choral music and film scores; as well as a collector of English folk music and song. He was one of the leading figures of the 20th century revival of English music and believed thatrestoring English music could only happen by studying and employing native resources rather than looking at foreign models. Today Williams is largely remembered for his â??musical nationalismâ?? although a greatercomplexity is attributed to it than in former times.

Collected (and set with a Piano accompaniment) by Ralph Vaughan Williams from the collection Folk Songs from the Eastern Counties.  For solo voice with Piano accompaniment.First sung to R. Vaughan Williams by James 'Duggie' Carter a King's Lynn fisherman  the song tells the story of the death of a young boy aboard a ship. According to comments from RVW himself 'The ballad was probably called forth by a particularly brutal case of ill treatment similiar to that narrated in it which occurred some twenty or thirty years ago'.Lyrics:One day a poor boy to me was bound apprentice Because of his beingfatherless;I took him out of St.James’ workhouse His mother being in deep distress.One day this poor boy unto me offended But nothing to him I did say Up to the mainmast shroud I sent him And there I kept him all that long day.All with my gasket I misused him So shamefully I can’t deny And by my barbarous cruel entreatment The very next day this poor boy died.You captains all throughout the nation Hear a voice and a warning take by me;Take special care of your apprenticeWhile you are on the raging sea.

Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote some of his most moving and effective Choral music was set to religious words as in this setting of texts from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes chapter 44. This piece while affecting and verymuch in the Vaughan Williams harmonic style is uncluttered and convincing in its simplicity.

20th century English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams is perhaps best known for his symphonies and large-scale choral works however the essence of his music can also be found in his songs. His 1903 House of Life cyclefeatures 6 songs out of which the most famous one is the second Silent Noon. Composed before the rest of the cycle and first published separately this piece in E-flat major for Voice and Piano can easilystand alone. By using the sonnet of renowned 19th century English painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti Williams celebrates the beauty of the English language and advances toward the true 20th century Englishart song. All of the songs in House of Life are written for sonnets from Rossetti?s sonnet-sequence of the same name and thus the continuity of the cycle is enforced both by the music and the lyrics. At the same time thesimilarity given by the strict rules of the Petrarchan sonnet-form emphasises the differences in mood meaning and music between the six songs. Even though the (male) narrator in Silent Noon is optimistic andhopeful some of the variations in the passages suggest the despairing of love in Song 6 (?Love?s Last Gift?) which gives this piece an interesting lyrical atmosphere.

A Dorset Song-This pastoral poem written by William Barnes who was born in 1801 in Dorset was set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams to make a rich pleasing and thoughtful Dorset Folk song. This arrangement by Alec Rowley is for two treble voices.

Linden Lea by Ralph Vaughan Williams is fondly reminiscent of the countryside and contains much wonderful pastoral imagery. This arrangement of the popular Dorset song sets the beautifully descriptive text by William Barnes for Voice and Piano accompaniment transcribed to the key of A.

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Female Highwayman scored for unison voice with piano accompaniment.

Ralph Vaughan Williams\' O Clap Your Hands for SATB Choir with Organ accompaniment.

This is Ralph Vaughan Williams' wonderful setting of the beautiful sonnet by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Arranged for Voice and Piano in the key of E Flat.

Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fain Would I Change That Note for SSA Chorus with Piano accompaniment scored for rehearsal use.

A superb arrangement of Ralph Vaughan Williams\' The Turtle Dove for SAB Choir with Piano accompaniment.

Ralph Vaughan Williams\' The Water Mill From Four Poems by F Shove. KEY C (c - d\')

Ralph Vaughan Williams' An Oxford Elegy for speaker small mixed chorus and small orchestra Orchestal scores and parts and study scores are available on hire.