Vaughan Williams arrived in Paris in 12th December 1907 so that he could have lessons with Maurice Ravel. This is the first of his works to demonstrate the effects of these lessons which, as he wrote to Michael Calvocoressi after his return to London, ‘helped me and taught me more than I imagined was possible’. Although works written not long after his Paris sojourn show signs of what he has learnt in Paris, Whisper of Heavenly Death seems to be the only surviving work that was actually started and completed while he was still having the lessons and was therefore probably written at Ravel’s instigation. This is rather borne out by the piece’s chromatic style and dark orchestral colouring.
The work is now published for the first time under the auspices of The Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust.
