Ralph Vaughan Williams was one of Britain’s most influential composers of the 20th century. Born in 1872 in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, he studied at the Royal College of Music in London and at Cambridge, and completed his training with, amongst others, Maurice Ravel in Paris. He turned his attention early on to the study of English folk music, which had a lasting influence on his work. His work combines national tradition with modern forms of expression. He is particularly well known for his nine symphonies, including the pastoral ‘Third’ and the dramatic ‘Fourth’, as well as choral works such as ‘A Sea Symphony’. He also shaped British musical culture as the editor of the ‘English Hymnal’. During the First World War, Vaughan Williams served as a medic and an officer, experiences that are reflected in the often contemplative tone of his music. Stylistically, he remained independent of avant-garde movements and developed his own distinctive musical language. Vaughan Williams died in London in 1958 and is still regarded today as a central figure in English musical history.