Bristol paid tribute to composer Vaughan Williams yesterday – almost 90 years after one of his most famous pieces was premiered in the city.

In 1920 The Lark Ascending – recently voted the nation's favourite piece of classical music – was performed for the first time by violinist Marie Hall, in Shirehampton Village Hall.

Yesterday a plaque was unveiled in honour of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, watched by residents, councillors and local dignitaries, including a distant cousin of Marie Hall. Celebrations continued last night with a performance of the work by chamber orchestra the Emerald Ensemble.

Em Marshall, chairman of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, unveiled the plaque.

She said: "Ralph Vaughan has played an important part in my life for many years. He is considered by many as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Shirehampton's Public Hall, to see where Vaughan Williams spent time at a relatively early stage in his musical career.

"The Lark Ascending is Vaughan Williams' great interpretation of George Meredith's poem of the same name and has for many a special resonance, brimming, as it does, with beauty, wistfulness, longing and nostalgia."

Vaughan Williams composed the piece of music in 1914 for violinist Hall, a protégé of Squire, Philip Napier Miles of Kings Weston House, Bristol.

The first orchestral performance was delayed while he volunteered to serve in the Field Ambulance Service in World War I.

In 1920 both musicians were guests of Napier Miles at Kings Weston House.

Together they revised the work to create a version for solo violin and piano, which was premiered at Shirehampton's Public Hall the same year.

Pearl Conway, whose mother was cousins with Hall, came from Yate to attend the unveiling.

The 64-year-old who lives in Moorland Road, said: "I never met Marie but I love the music. I thought it was a nice opportunity to come along and commemorate the first performance."

Deputy lord mayor, Cllr Brenda Hugill, said: "We are very lucky to have the enthusiasm of the local people and the Shirehampton Public Hall Association for helping to realise this."

The work has been voted the best piece of classical music by listeners of Classic FM for the third year running.