The Solent, premiered in 1903, was originally conceived as the second of four 'Impressions for Orchestra' to be titled In the New Forest.
Compositional Technique
The opening phrase of The Solent held deep significance for Vaughan Williams, appearing in his A Sea Symphony, a film documentary, and his Symphony No. 9.
Composition History
The Suite of Six Short Pieces for Piano, composed in 1920, was later arranged for string orchestra by musicologist James Brown and published as the Charterhouse Suite.
Composition History
The Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra is Vaughan Williams' earliest known piece for a solo instrument with orchestra, begun in 1896 and completed in 1902.
Composer Biography
Ralph Vaughan Williams, the composer, withdrew or destroyed many of his early works from 1895 to 1908, a period when he was trying to establish his musical language.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Vaughan Williams considered works like The Solent and Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra among his 'most important works' during his early exploratory period.
Composition History
Vaughan Williams composed the first draft of The Lark Ascending in 1914 but set it aside when he enlisted in the Army during World War I, revising it in 1919.
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