Ralph Vaughan Williams, OM (October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958) was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He arranged a number of Christian hymns, harmonizing the ancient chanted prayers to popular melodies. He was also a collector of English folk music and song.Why Ralph Vaughan Williams should be as revered as Shakespeare
By Simon Heffer
It is always good to have an excuse to contemplate the condition of our culture, and the 50th anniversary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams, which falls next Tuesday, provides one.
