A Sea Symphony (Vaughan Williams)

A Sea Symphony is a choral symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, written between 1903 and 1909. It was first performed at the Leeds Festival in 1910. The symphony's maturity belies the composer's relative youth when it was written (he was 30). It is now also known as the composer's Symphony No. 1.

Related Topics:
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Leeds

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The piece is scored for soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra, and includes a part for organ. It consists of settings of poems by the American Walt Whitman, who was little known at the time. The first three movements set Leaves of Grass, and the last movement sets Passage to India.

Related Topics:
Walt Whitman - Leaves of Grass

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The work is a departure from the traditional Germanic symphonic tradition of the time, both in structure and inspiration.

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The four movements are

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• Song for all seas, all ships
• On the beach at Night, alone
• Scherzo : the Waves
• The explorers : Grave e molto Adagio.