Bristol concert to celebrate classical music's 'best loved piece'

Shirehampton will play host to a performance of the nation's favourite piece of classical music in tribute to its composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.

On August 26, a concert of The Lark Ascending will be held to commemorate the first performance of the work which took place in the village in 1920.

Vaughan Williams, considered by many to be England's foremost symphonic composer, wrote the piece of music in 1914 for violinist Marie Hall, a protege 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.

This year it was voted the country's favourite piece of music for the third year running by listeners of Classic FM.

Bristol's professional chamber orchestra, the Emerald Ensemble, will give the performance at 7.30pm on August 26.

At 11am on the same day a plaque will be uncovered at Shirehampton Public Hall by the chairman of the Vaughan Williams Society, Em Marshall.

She said: "I am absolutely 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 – myself included – a special resonance, brimming, as it does, with beauty, wistfulness, longing and nostalgia.

"The work has become something of a national favourite and has recently been voted 'best loved' piece of classical music by listeners of Classic FM for the third year running, so even after almost 90 years, his interpretation of the beauty of nature and the landscape continues to have lasting mass appeal."

Tickets are priced at £10, including refreshments. Call 0117 982 9963.