Vaughan Williams: Pride of Britain Quiz

Answer: Bethlehem

Despite religion playing a great part in the influence of Vaughan Williams' music, it didn't play much of a part in the rest of his life. His second wife, a Maltese poet Ursula Vaughan Williams née Wood, said of her husband that he was an "atheist... [who] later drifted into a cheerful agnosticism." The hymn and Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was written by the American Episcopal priest, Phillips Brooks.

It was originally accompanied by a composition called "St. Louis" and is still used by some communities in modern times.

A second version uses the adapted version of "Forest Green" by Vaughan Williams. This version was used in the soundtrack to the 1995 movie "Babe".

Answer: Linden Lea

Many compositions by Vaughan Williams are initially inspired by and subsequently used to complement poems. Dorset born William Barnes originally penned "My Orcha'd in Lindèn Lea", like many of his other poems, after influence from his local rural scenery.

It can be said that both Barnes and Vaughan Williams conveyed subtle patriotism in their work; an immense pride in the beauty of the English countryside and its flora and fauna.

Answer: Folk

Ralph Vaughan Williams enjoyed traditional British folk music to such an extent that he became the president of the EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society). Folk was highly influential in some of his fantasias including the "Fantasia on Greensleeves".
Despite the initial decrease in public interest in folk music, the trend reversed and the genre enjoyed a revival. In 2008, a folk prom was organised for the first time at the BBC Proms held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Answer: The Wasps

The play by Aristophanes was reenacted at Vaughan Williams' alma mater - Trinity College, Cambridge. What is known as the Cambridge Greek Play is performed every three years and such Greek plays as "Electra" by Euripides have been produced in the original ancient Greek. "The Wasps", now a much loved concert hall classic, consists of five parts and surprisingly has little to do with wasps! The only explicit link with wasps is in the first part of the suite, the overture, where frantic buzzing is heard.

Answer: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis

If you have heard "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" you will certainly appreciate the regal nature of the piece. The music effortlessly draws you into lucidity as you ponder lands afar which made it a perfect composition for use in the 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ".
Thomas Tallis was a 16th century British composer who was the creator of "Third Mode Melody". He was known as one of the early greats of church music in England and was thus fittingly buried in St Alfege Church, London.

Answer: Fantasia on Greensleeves

"Fantasia on Greensleeves" is one of the main Vaughan Williams compositions that has a great folk music presence. His incorporation of folk music into his compositions led to the change in public opinion of the genre and was partly responsible for the continuation of the style into the modern era. One band that typically exemplified a modern 21st century twist on traditional British folk music were Bellowhead who attracted interest from all generations. Of the four options to the question, three of the fantasias were composed by R. Vaughan Williams and they are: "Fantasia on Greensleeves", "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" and "Fantasia on the Old 104th Psalm Tune".

The fourth fantasia, "Fantasia para un Gentilhombre" (Fantasy for a Gentleman), was composed by the Spaniard, Joaquín Rodrigo.

Answer: A London Symphony

There is much debate as to what style of music this piece actually is, some say absolute music and others say it is somewhat programmatic. Vaughan Williams said that it was meant to be absolute music (not about anything in particular), but, the inclusion of many "London sounds" puts a doubt on whether it truly classifies as abstract.

However it's classified it is, in typical Vaughan Williams fashion, a marvellous symphony with elements of definite grandeur; typical of the English capital city.

Answer: Flos Campi

"Flos Campi" was composed by Vaughan Williams specifically as a suite for a small chorus and orchestra with a soloist on the viola. The lyrics (which are meant only to be read by the listener) are entirely in Latin and flow gracefully. The beauty of the lyrics are sustained throughout, but, the words of the third movement hold particular passion,"I sought him whom my soul loveth, but I found him not... 'I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him I am sick with love'..." (This is just an excerpt from the movement).

Answer: Sine Nomine

"Sine Nomine" translates from Latin to English as "without name". Richard Clothier, the author of "A Heritage of Hymns" described this hymn tune as,"one of the finest hymn tunes of the century." The century of course being the 20th as the music composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams was first used to accompany the hymn "For All the Saints" in 1906. The hymn has eleven verses and begins:
"For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,.."

Answer: The Lark Ascending

"The Lark Ascending", a composition of great beauty, elegance and emotion. As the lark makes its early morning flight from its nest to the sky above, the countryside residents stand and admire its smooth movement as it gradually disappears into the clouds.
I have to admit that this composition by the great Vaughan Williams is the only piece of music that has brought a tear to my eye. Such high praise of this piece is near ubiquitous amongst classical music fans. In the Classic FM radio station's annual "Hall of Fame" which reveals the top 300 compositions as voted for by listeners, "The Lark Ascending" was polled top in both the 2007 and 2008 countdowns.

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