PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
150 year anniversary of the birth of Dr Ralph Vaughan Williams OM (10 October 2022)

That this House commemorates the life and work of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, 12 October 1872 – 26 August 1958; celebrates his outstanding contribution to music; recognises his work was innovative and daring whilst respecting of English musical tradition; acknowledges that he enriched most musical forms, including symphonies, choral works, film scores, chamber music, opera and ballet including his Nine symphonies, and other celebrated works ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis’ and ‘The Lark Ascending’, which is consistently rated one of the top ten greatest pieces of Music; recognises his travels across the English countryside to collect and catalogue over 800 folk songs; notes that for his contributions to music he received the Order of Merit; further recognises his work teaching and supporting young composers during his 20 years as a Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music, and specifically his work mentoring a significant number of female musicians; notes that his composition ‘O taste and see’, originally written for HM the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was also played during her funeral; notes that he became the first conductor of the Leith Hill Musical Festival in 1905, which he continued until 1953; commends the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society for continuing his legacy, educating and informing the public on his life and work; and calls on the Government to recognise his role as one of the greatest English composers to ensure his work is taught in schools.

Sponsored by:
Valerie Vaz (Labour)