• Register
  • |
  • Sign in
skip to navigation

Classic FM

On Air Now

Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor 10pm - 1am

Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor

Now Playing

Un Sospiro Franz Liszt Download 'Un Sospiro' on iTunes

Un Sospiro artwork
  • Playlist
  • Schedule
Listen
  • Home
  • Radio
  • News
  • Discover Music
  • Composers
  • Artists
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Win
  • Store
  • Charity
  • Sign in / Register
  • Follow us on:
    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube

Composers

Vaughan Williams

  • Vaughan Williams Home
  • Music
  • News
  • Album reviews
  • Pictures
  • Guides
  • More Composers

Final days

This image appears in the gallery:
Vaughan Williams: 15 facts about the great composer

Vaughan Williams old age

14. Final days

Vaughan Williams was still composing great music into his 80s. At the age of 85, he was set to supervise the first recording of his Ninth Symphony with Sir Adrian Boult conducting. But his death on 26 August 1958, the night before the recording sessions were to begin, prompted the conductor to announce to the musicians that their performance would be a memorial to the composer.

  1. Image 1: Ralph Vaughan Williams child composer
  2. Image 2: Royal College of Music Kensington London
  3. Image 3: Vaughan Williams church Down Ampney
  4. Image 4: Vaughan Williams young man
  5. Image 5: Maurice Ravel composer
  6. Image 6: Thomas Tallis composer Vaughan Williams
  7. Image 7: Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams
  8. Image 8: Vaughan Williams army
  9. Image 9: The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards
  10. Image 10: Ralph Vaughan Williams 15 images

See the full gallery: Vaughan Williams: 15 facts about the great composer

Vaughan Williams News

See more Vaughan Williams News

Tha Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams

The Lark Ascending tops the Hall of Fame 2017 – here's why we love it

vaughan williams loch lomond

These singers found a cave with the most haunting natural acoustics

Hall of Fame news story 2016

The Lark Ascending reaches the top of the Classic FM Hall of Fame for the third year in a row

Vaughan Williams Music

See more Vaughan Williams Music

Winchester Quiristers carol service 2016

Behind the scenes at a Winchester Christmas

Star Wars Lark Ascending mash-up

The Star Wars theme combined with the Lark Ascending is unashamedly populist - and totally works

Ocean waves

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.1, 'A Sea Symphony'

Vaughan Williams Pictures

See more Vaughan Williams Pictures

Crown Imperial live

A truly regal celebration – all the pictures from CrownA truly regal celebration – all the pictures from Crown Imperial

pastoral

Best of British Classical Music: an A-Z

Vaughan Williams Album Reviews

See more Vaughan Williams Album Reviews

New Releases 20th Feb

New Releases: Richard Harvey's Kyrie and The Four Seasons with Francesco Grillo

Pinchas Zukerman Elgar Vaughan Williams

Pinchas Zukerman: Elgar and Vaughan Williams

Elgar

Solent_VW

The Solent - Fifty Years of Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Vaughan Williams Guides

See more Vaughan Williams Guides

Tasmin Little

Tasmin Little: Why I love The Lark Ascending

Lark Ascending film poster

The Lark Ascending as a film poster

Flappy Bird Lark Ascending

The Lark Ascending according to Flappy Bird - infographic

Back to top

Today's Hot Searches

  • brahms
  • vivaldi
  • bach
  • tchaikovsky
  • chopin
  • andrea bocelli
  • beethoven
  • mozart
  • classical music tear jerkers
  • best classical music
  • Classic FM Live
  • classic fm christmas station
  • classic fm requests
  • john suchet
  • classic fm 25th birthday
  • piano world record
  • eric whitacre's hair
  • best pianists
  • harry potter music
  • classic fm app
  • saturday night at the movies
  • smooth classics
  • star wars soundtrack
  • best sopranos
  • best cellists
  • composer or pasta
  • music for studying
  • best violinists
  • sad music
  • composer birthdays
  • relaxing music

Useful Links

  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • How To Listen
  • About Classic FM
  • Company Details
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions

Latest From Twitter

    Classic FM ‐ @classicfm

  • More Music Breakfast's @TimLihoreau introduces the Breakfast Serial - hear more tomorrow morning... pic.twitter.com/bWDgoGeUUR

Follow Us

Follow Classic FM on Twitter
Follow Classic FM on Facebook
Follow Classic FM on Instagram
Follow Classic FM on Youtube
© Global 2018
30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA

We use cookies on our site. By continuing to browse you are agreeing to our use of these cookies.

View more info Close