Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music

Most people would nowadays associate Sir Henry Wood with the Royal Albert Hall via the Proms concerts. In 1938, though, when the Proms were still performed at the Queen's Hall, a Jubilee Concert was held for Sir Henry at the Royal Albert Hall, and it was for this event that Ralph Vaughan Williams composed the "Serenade to Music." Setting a passage from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Vaughan Williams created a unique piece for sixteen individual voices, identified by their initials in the score.

Recently performed works:
  • Mozart : Priests' Chorus (from "The Magic Flute")
  • Bizet : March of the Toreadors (from "Carmen")
  • Donizetti : Chorus of Wedding Guests (from "Lucia di Lammermoor")
  • Mascagni : Easter Hymn (from "Cavalleria Rusticana")
  • Wagner : Spinning Chorus (from "The Flying Dutchman")
  • Bernstein : Chichester Psalms
  • Britten : Rejoice in the Lamb
  • Howells : Requiem
  • Britten : Hymn to St Cecilia
Next concert: Autumn Concert 2025 on Saturday 29 November 2025
  • Bach : Magnificat
Past Concerts
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