A London Symphony

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A London Symphony is the second symphony composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Vaughan Williams said that while the title may suggest a programmatic piece (and the work includes sounds to be heard in London such as the chimes of Westminster), it was intended to be heard as absolute music, and he suggested that "Symphony by a Londoner" might be a better title. However he allowed the conductor Albert Coates to provide elaborate descriptions for the first performance of the final version of the piece.

The symphony is in four movements.

Lento — Allegro risoluto
Lento
Scherzo (Nocturne)
Andante con moto — Maestoso alla marcia — Allegro — Lento — Epilogue

The symphony was first performed in 1914. After the first performance the score was mislaid after being sent to the conductor Fritz Busch in Germany. The composer reconstructed the score from the orchestral parts. The piece was revised several times, reaching its final version in 1920. It is now possible to hear the first version of this symphony on the recording conducted by Richard Hickox. The composer's widow only released those 1914 orchestral parts for that recording, and it is extremely unlikely that concert performances of the first version will ever occur again. Although the final (1920) version of the symphony is undoubtedly a better, more tightly-constructed work, there are a number of fascinating passages to be heard in the original.

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