Photo: James Bacon and Sons, Leeds / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Vaughan Williams is, to me, the sound of England itself: hedgerows, sea mist, and quiet dignity rather than grand spectacle. What moves me most is his persistence, nine symphonies written across sixty years, refusing to stop reinventing himself even in old age. The Lark Ascending still gives me chills, that violin line dissolving into open sky. Some dismiss him as pastoral and old-fashioned, but I hear a deep, unfussy humanity that never dates. The Order of Merit and Albert Medal confirm his stature, yet his real legacy is emotional. He is a composer I return to whenever I need calm.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Name (Japanese)
- レイフ・ヴォーン・ウィリアムズ
- Reading
- れいふ・ゔぉーん・うぃりあむず
- Born
- October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Monkey
- Origin
- Down Ampney, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- conductor / classical composer / choreographer / organist / pedagogue
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Trinity College
Awards & achievements
- 1930 Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
- 1955 Albert Medal
- 1930 Walter Willson Cobbett Medal
- Order of Merit
- Honorary Member of the International Society for Contemporary Music
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Symphony No. 4 | — | |
| Notable work | Symphony No. 5 | — | |
| Notable work | Sir John in Love | — | |
| Notable work | A Sea Symphony | — | |
| Notable work | The Lark Ascending | — | |
| Notable work | A Pastoral Symphony | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Ralph Vaughan Williams born?
October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958.
Where is Ralph Vaughan Williams from?
Ralph Vaughan Williams is from Down Ampney, United Kingdom.
What does Ralph Vaughan Williams do?
Ralph Vaughan Williams works as conductor, classical composer, choreographer, organist, pedagogue.
What is Ralph Vaughan Williams known for?
Notable works include Symphony No. 4, Symphony No. 5, Sir John in Love.
Conductor — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.