This is the year the musical world celebrates Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was born in 1872, one hundred fifty years ago.  For the Maldon Festival, we are taking this anniversary to explore the sources of inspiration that shaped the work of Vaughan Williams, including the years he spent studying with the French composer, Maurice Ravel.  His musical themes were also drawn from the seasons and the countryside and its traditions.  He was also deeply moved by the ravages that the first world war wreaked upon the land and the people, both at home and abroad.  The result of all this is a canon of work which is amongst the most loved and most recognised by a British composer.