Vaughan Williams /

First published in 1961 in the "The Master Musicians Series," this volume, as Day rightly says, is "not just a revision, but a complete overhaul." It is in every way better than the original, providing seven full biographical chapters and 13 chapters that discuss/analyze the music. All is informed by Ralph Vaughn Williams research, particularly Ursula Vaughan William's R.V.W. (1964); Michael Kennedy's The Works of Ralph Vaughn William (CH, Dec'80) and A Catalogue of the Works of Ralph Vaughn Williams (CH, Apr'97); Hugh Ottaway's Vaughan Williams Symphonies (1972); Vaughan Williams Studies, ed. by Alain Frogley (CH, Jun'97); and Deryck Cooke's eye-opening analyses. The author acknowledges these and others, disagreeing politely as he sees fit. He puts Vaughn Williams into useful historical/musical/social contexts, illuminating his musical relationships, generosity of spirit, and wide musical knowledge. Day insists on the consistency of RVW's philosophical and musical thought. The analytical chapters are not so technical as to lose nonmusician readers. The appendixes--calendar, list of works, "Personalia" (comments on the wide-ranging cast of characters, especially helpful for students), select bibliography--are all useful. Despite some pretty dull prose in the biographical chapters, this is an ideal introduction to the composer for general readers and undergraduates. Recommended to all libraries. W. Metcalfe emeritus, University of Vermont