Book Review
Nov. 16th, 2017 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariVaughan Williams
by James Day
This biography of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams is on the old side, having been published in 1961, just three years after it's subject's death. It is a nice, solid overview of Vaughan Williams' life and work, with nice descriptions of his pieces and compositional technique. However, the book does partake of flaws characteristic of its era. Day is clearly coming from a perspective of the "great man" approach to history, and from a position of great admiration for his subject. Thus, Day takes pains to portray Vaughan Williams in the best light possible, and treats his personal life with almost a bit too much delicacy at times. This is a good introduction to Vaughan Williams, but I will also need to read a m,ore recent work to get a fuller picture.
by James Day
This biography of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams is on the old side, having been published in 1961, just three years after it's subject's death. It is a nice, solid overview of Vaughan Williams' life and work, with nice descriptions of his pieces and compositional technique. However, the book does partake of flaws characteristic of its era. Day is clearly coming from a perspective of the "great man" approach to history, and from a position of great admiration for his subject. Thus, Day takes pains to portray Vaughan Williams in the best light possible, and treats his personal life with almost a bit too much delicacy at times. This is a good introduction to Vaughan Williams, but I will also need to read a m,ore recent work to get a fuller picture.
