A Sea Symphony & Toward the Unknown Region:
Vaughan Williams – A Quintessential English composer and innovator
Vaughan Williams’ “A Sea Symphony” (1910) and “Toward the Unknown Region” (1907) are monumental choral works setting Walt Whitman’s poetry. Both explore themes of spiritual journey and human exploration. “A Sea Symphony” uses maritime imagery as a metaphor for life’s voyage, while “Toward the Unknown Region” depicts the soul’s journey into the afterlife. These pieces established Vaughan Williams as a prominent English composer.
