Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)

Biography

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song. He was born in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, where his father, the Rev. Arthur Vaughan Williams, was vicar. Following his father’s death in 1875 he was taken by his mother, Margaret Susan Wedgwood (1843–1937), the great-granddaughter of the potter Josiah Wedgwood, to live with her family at Leith Hill Place, the Wedgwood family home in the North Downs. He was also related to the Darwins, Charles Darwin being a great-uncle.

As a student he had studied piano and the violin. After attending Charterhouse School he studied at the Royal College of Music under Charles Villiers Stanford where he met and made friends with Gustav Theodore Holst. He read history and music at Trinity College, Cambridge where his friends and contemporaries included the philosophers G. E. Moore and Bertrand Russell. He then returned to the RCM and studied composition with Hubert Parry, who also became a close friend.

Vaughan Williams’s composing developed slowly and it was not until he was 30 that the song “Linden Lea” became his first publication. He mixed composition with conducting, lecturing and editing other music, notably that of Henry Purcell and the English Hymnal. He had further lessons with Max Bruch in Berlin in 1897 and later a big step forward in his orchestral style occurred when he studied in Paris with Maurice Ravel.

He died in 1958 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

All Creatures Of Our God And King (Lasst Uns Erfreuen -7 Verses) – Organ
All Creatures Of Our God And King ~ Lyrics All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voices, let us sing: alleluia, alleluia! Bright brother sun with golden beams, clear sister moon with softer gleams, O praise him, O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 2 Swift rushing winds, so wild and strong, high clouds that sail in heavens along. O praise him, alleluia! New-breaking ...
Come down, O love Divine (Down Ampey)
Lyrics Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine, And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing. O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing. O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn To dust and ashes in its heat consuming; And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, And ...
Father Hear The Prayer We Offer (Sussex – 4 Verses) – Organ
Father Hear The Prayer We Offer ~ Lyrics Father, hear the prayer we offer: Not for ease that prayer shall be, But for strength that we may ever Live our lives courageously. Not for ever in green pastures Do we ask our way to be; But the steep and rugged pathway May we tread rejoicingly. Not for ever by still waters Would we idly rest ...
Father, Who In Jesus Found Us (Quem pastores) – Organ
Lyrics The lyrics of this hymn are Copyright © 1986 Stainer & Bell Ltd. Recording Tune: Quem pastores, composer unknown Harmonised by Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958). Music Copyright © Oxford Univerity Press Meter: 88 87 Performance ℗ 2019 Richard M S Irwin, Certain rights reserved. ISRC UKTU21900059 MCPS Licence number: OLE-0018674 https://soundcloud.com/richardirwinmusic/father-who-in-jesus-found-us-quem-pastores-4-verses-organ-2019 Streaming Services To listen using streaming services such ...
Firmly I Believe And Truly (Shipston) – Organ
Lyrics ~ 5 verses Meter: 87 87 Firmly I believe and truly God is Three, and God is One; And I next acknowledge duly Manhood taken by the Son. And I trust and hope most fully In that Manhood crucified; And each thought and deed unruly Do to death, as He has died. Simply to His grace and wholly Light and life and strength belong, And I ...
For All The Saints (Sine Nomine) – Organ & Trumpet descant
Lyrics ~ 6 verses Suitable for the Feast of All Saints. For all the saints, who from their labours rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true ...
He Who Would Valiant Be (Monks Gate – 3 Verses) – Orchestra
He Who Would Valiant Be ~ Lyrics He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy follow the Master. There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim. Who so beset him round with dismal stories Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might; though ...
I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold) – Organ
See Also I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold) – Woodwind and Strings Lyrics Suitable for: Lent, Evensong, General Usage I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down, Thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, Weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting-place, And He has ...
I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold) – Woodwind and Strings
Lyrics – 3 verses Suitable for: Lent, Evensong, General Usage I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down, Thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, Weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting-place, And He has made me glad. I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, ...
It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate) – Organ
Lyrics It is a thing most wonderful, Almost too wonderful to be, That God’s own Son should come from Heav’n, And die to save a child like me. And yet I know that it is true; He chose a poor and humble lot, And wept and toiled and mourned and died, For love of those who loved Him not. I cannot tell how He ...
Jesus, good above all others (Quem pastores)
Lyrics Jesus, good above all other, Gentle Child of gentle mother, In a stable born our Brother, Give us grace to persevere. Jesus, cradled in a manger, For us facing every danger, Living as a homeless Stranger, Make we Thee our King most dear. Jesus, for Thy people dying, Risen Master, death defying, Lord in Heav’n, Thy grace supplying, Keep us by Thine altar near. Jesus, Who our ...
O Lord My God I Thirst For You (Kingsfold – 4 Verses) – Small Ensemble
O Lord My God I Thirst For You ~ Lyrics “God my Rock” O Lord, my God, I thirst for You, I long to see your face, Just as the hunted deer is stressed I falter in the race; My heart cries out, my tears run down, I am in deep distress, “Where is your God?” men say to me, They taunt me and ...
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol)
Lyrics On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring; On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring; News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King’s birth. Then why should men on earth be sad Since our Redeemer made us glad; Then why should we on earth be sad Since our ...
To whom will you the Lord compare? (Herongate)
Lyrics To whom will you the Lord compare? Is there His equal anywhere? O lift up your eyes and the heavens survey, Who made this most amazing display? The Lord Himself formed all these arrays Of galaxies, of milky ways, He cares for each one of the vast starry host, So great is He, not one becomes lost. So why then say your way ...
When A knight Won His Spurs (Stowey) – Guitar, Woodwind And Strings
Lyrics ~ 3 verses. When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old, He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold; With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand, For God and for valour he rode through the land. No charger have I, and no sword by my side, Yet still to adventure ...
Why Do You Say Your Way Is Not Clear? (Herongate – 4 Verses) – Organ
Why Do You Say Your Way Is Not Clear? ~ Lyrics Why do you say your way is not clear, Why do you say “The Lord is not near,” For have you not known this, and have you not heard, The Everlasting God is your Lord? And He who made the Heavens and earth Sees all your need, knows all your ...
Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
Lyrics Ye watchers and ye holy ones, Bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones, Raise the glad strain, Alleluia! Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers, Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs, Alleluia! Alleluia! O higher than the cherubim, More glorious than the seraphim, Lead their praises, Alleluia! Thou Bearer of the eternal Word, Most gracious, magnify the Lord, Alleluia! Alleluia! Respond, ye souls in endless rest, Ye patriarchs and prophets blest, Alleluia! Alleluia! Ye holy Twelve, ...

O Lord My God I Thirst For You (Kingsfold – 4 Verses) – Small Ensemble

O Lord My God I Thirst For You ~ Lyrics

“God my Rock”

O Lord, my God, I thirst for You,
I long to see your face,
Just as the hunted deer is stressed
I falter in the race;
My heart cries out, my tears run down,
I am in deep distress,
“Where is your God?” men say to me,
They taunt me and oppress.

Lord, when will I be helped by You,
I struggle day and night?
O hear my prayer, enable me
to stand in your great might;
I look back on those days gone by
when, Lord, You were so near,
when in your house with festive throng
I praised your Name so dear.

So why am I cast down, O Lord,
and why should I feel low?
You are my God, my Saviour strong,
Your praise from me shall flow;
I think of all your works, O Lord,
Your saving power of old,
So when beset and overwhelmed,
I will your strength take hold.

Your loving-kindness fills my days,
Your song at night I sing,
And when my fears assail again
to You I’ll tightly cling;
My hope is fixed on God, my Rock,
His own He won’t forget;
Be still my soul, my face will shine
And I will praise Him yet.

This hymn is based on Psalm 42, a prayer to God in which the writer expresses his deep desire for God’s presence at a time of great distress. In my reflection on this psalm I have sought to echo the heartfelt cry of the psalmist as he moves from a sense of unexplained and painful isolation from God to a confident trust in God and in His faithfulness.

Kingsfold ~ Recording

Tune: Kingsfold, a traditional English melody by an unknown composer. Originally adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) and arranged here by Richard M.S. Irwin (b. 1955). Melody Public Domain.
Performance ℗ 2012 Richard M.S. Irwin. All rights reserved.

The music used in this recording belongs in the Public Domain, but the Performance rights ℗ belong to Richard M S Irwin. You may click the Download Button to obtain the MP3 recording for use in Worship (including online services) or for personal use only. The track may also be found on various online music systems, which can be used for downloads if they are listed in the section below. For other uses of the recording, please Contact Us.

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To whom will you the Lord compare? (Herongate)

Lyrics

To whom will you the Lord compare?
Is there His equal anywhere?
O lift up your eyes and the heavens survey,
Who made this most amazing display?

The Lord Himself formed all these arrays
Of galaxies, of milky ways,
He cares for each one of the vast starry host,
So great is He, not one becomes lost.

So why then say your way is not clear,
Why do you say “The Lord is not near,”
For have you not known this, and have you not heard,
The Everlasting God is your Lord?

And He who made the Heavens and earth
Sees all your need, knows all your worth;
He never grows tired, or weary or faint,
He cares for sinners, loves every saint.

He aids the weary, strengthens the frail,
And even strong ones falter and fail;
But those who patiently wait on the Lord
With eagles’ wings will rise up and soar.

Trust in the Lord for He ever lives,
Run in the strength that Jesus gives;
Walk on in Him Who never lets down,
Who keeps for ever, gives a crown.

Recording

Donation

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Details

Verses: 6
Tune: Herongate
Meter: LM
Style: Traditional English
Usage: General
Composer: Unknown
Original arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
This version arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: Anthony Oliver Robertson (b. 1932)
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Anthony O. Robertson © 2012
Arrangement and Performance Copyright © 2011 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Inspiration

This hymn is based on Isaiah 40:25-31

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number:
he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that strong in power; not one faileth.
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel,
My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

When A knight Won His Spurs (Stowey) – Guitar, Woodwind And Strings

Lyrics ~ 3 verses.

When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old,
He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold;
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour he rode through the land.

No charger have I, and no sword by my side,
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride,
Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
‘gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed;
And let me set free with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth

Recording

Tune: Stowey, a traditional English fold melody arranged by Richard Irwin, © 2008.
Meter: 12 12 12 12
Performance ℗ 2020 Richard M.S. Irwin. All rights reserved. ISRC UKTU21900174

Richard M.S. Irwin · When A Knight Won His Spurs (Stowey – 3 Verses) – Guitar, Woodwind And Strings

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Why Do You Say Your Way Is Not Clear? (Herongate – 4 Verses) – Organ

Why Do You Say Your Way Is Not Clear? ~ Lyrics

Why do you say your way is not clear,
Why do you say “The Lord is not near,”
For have you not known this, and have you not heard,
The Everlasting God is your Lord?

And He who made the Heavens and earth
Sees all your need, knows all your worth;
He never grows tired, or weary or faint,
He cares for sinners, loves every saint.

He aids the weary, strengthens the frail,
And even strong ones falter and fail;
But those who patiently wait on the Lord
With eagles’ wings will rise up and soar.

Trust in the Lord for He ever lives,
Run in the strength that Jesus gives;
Walk on in Him Who never lets down,
Who keeps for ever, gives a crown.

Recording

Donation

If you use our hymns, please consider a donation to help keep this service free. Click Here to Download

Details

Tune: Herongate, traditional English melody composer unknown, original arranger Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958). This arrangement Richard M.S. Irwin. Melody Public Domain.
Performance ℗ 2011 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Inspiration

This hymn is based on Isaiah 40:27-31

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel,
My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate) – Organ

Lyrics

It is a thing most wonderful,
Almost too wonderful to be,
That God’s own Son should come from Heav’n,
And die to save a child like me.

And yet I know that it is true;
He chose a poor and humble lot,
And wept and toiled and mourned and died,
For love of those who loved Him not.

I cannot tell how He could love
A child so weak and full of sin;
His love must be most wonderful,
If He could die my love to win.

I sometimes think about the cross,
And shut my eyes, and try to see
The cruel nails and crown of thorns,
And Jesus crucified for me.

But even could I see Him die,
I could but see a little part
Of that great love, which, like a fire,
Is always burning in His heart.

It is most wonderful to know
His love for me so free and sure;
But ’tis more wonderful to see
My love for Him so faint and poor.

And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;
Oh, light the flame within my heart,
And I will love Thee more and more,
Until I see Thee as Thou art.

Recording

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Details

Tune: Herongate
Meter: LM
Style: Traditional English
Composer: Unknown original arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
This arrangement: Copyright © 2011 Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: William Walsham How (1823 – 1897)
Lyrics Copyright Public Domain
Performance ℗ 2018 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold) – Organ

Lyrics

Suitable for: Lent, Evensong, General Usage

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light.
Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.

Lyrics: Horatius Bonar (1808 – 1889), Public Domain.

Recording

Tune: Kingsfold, composer unknown, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958). Copyright © Oxford University Press, used with permission. Licence number: OLE-0018674.
Meter: DCM
Performance ℗ 2020 Richard M S Irwin. All rights reserved. ISRC: UKTU21900100

The music used in this recording is in copyright and a Licence has been obtained to create it. The Performance rights ℗ belong to Richard M S Irwin. To obtain a download of the recording, you may use the download button on this page, if shown, or you may use online music services, if they are listed in the Streaming Services link below. For uses other than use in Divine Worship (including online services), please Contact Us.

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If you use our hymns, please consider a donation to help keep this service free.

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I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold) – Woodwind and Strings

Lyrics – 3 verses

Suitable for: Lent, Evensong, General Usage

Lyrics: Horatius Bonar (1808 – 1889), Public Domain.

Recording

Tune: Kingsfold
Composer: Traditional English folksong originally arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958), arranger of this version Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955)
Meter: DCM
Music this arrangement Copyright © 2011 Richard M S Irwin
Performance Copyright ℗ 2018 Richard M S Irwin. All rights reserved.

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He Who Would Valiant Be (Monks Gate – 3 Verses) – Orchestra

He Who Would Valiant Be ~ Lyrics

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim.

Meter: 65 65 65 65. Lyricist: Percy Dearmer (1867 – 1936) after John Bunyan (1628 – 1688). Public Domain.

Recording

Tune: Monks Gate, a traditional English melody by an unknown composer collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958). Arranged by Richard M.S. Irwin. Melody Public Domain.

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If you use our hymns, please consider a donation to help keep this service free.

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Original Text by John Bunyan from Pilgrim’s Progress

Who would true valour see, let him come hither;
One here will constant be, come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound; his strength the more is.
No lion can him fright, he’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right to be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away, he’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim

Father Hear The Prayer We Offer (Sussex – 4 Verses) – Organ

Father Hear The Prayer We Offer ~ Lyrics

Father, hear the prayer we offer:
Not for ease that prayer shall be,
But for strength that we may ever
Live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be;
But the steep and rugged pathway
May we tread rejoicingly.

Not for ever by still waters
Would we idly rest and stay;
But would smith the living fountains
From the rocks along our way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness,
In our wanderings be our guide;
Through endeavour, failure, danger,
Father, be thou at our side.

Meter: 87 87. Lyrics by Love Maria Whitcomb Willis (1824 – 1908) based on Psalm 23. Public Domain

Sussex ~ Recording

Tune: Sussex, a traditional English melody by an unknown composer adapted Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958). Music Copyright © Copyright © 1919 Stainer & Bell. Recorded with permission. Licence number: OLE-0018674.

Richard M.S. Irwin · Father, Hear The Prayer We Offer (Sussex – 4 Verses) – Organ

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Psalm 23 – King James Version

Public Domain.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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Jesus, good above all others (Quem pastores)

Lyrics

Jesus, good above all other,
Gentle Child of gentle mother,
In a stable born our Brother,
Give us grace to persevere.

Jesus, cradled in a manger,
For us facing every danger,
Living as a homeless Stranger,
Make we Thee our King most dear.

Jesus, for Thy people dying,
Risen Master, death defying,
Lord in Heav’n, Thy grace supplying,
Keep us by Thine altar near.

Jesus, Who our sorrows bearest,
All our thoughts and hopes Thou sharest,
Thou to man the truth declarest;
Help us all Thy truth to hear.

Lord, in all our doings guide us;
Pride and hate shall ne’er divide us;
We’ll go on with Thee beside us,
And with joy we’ll persevere!

Recordings

To simplify issues with Copyright, we have had to start using various on-line delivery services for some hymns. A recording of this hymn is available on Richard Irwin's album - "From Advent to Epiphany Volume 3" on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Spotify. Please Contact Us if you do not have access to these services.

Video

Watch this video on YouTube.

Details

Album: From Advent to Epiphany Volume 3
Tune: Quem pastores
Meter: 88 87
Verses: 5
Style: Carol
Composer: Unknown Harmonised by Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
This version arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: Percy Dearmer (1867 – 1936) after Lyricist: John Mason Neale (1818 – 1866)
Church Year: Christmas
Music and Lyrics Public Domain.