An analysis of all nine symphonies by Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the greatest British composers, this book reveals the hidden complexities of both the composer and his music. Pike argues that Vaughan Williams" symphonies have depths far beyond the pure sound of music, depths that will stand analytical investigation just as the works of other great symphonists do. He further argues that Vaughan Williams is consistently denied his rightful place in 20th-century music and in the history of the symphony, and that close investigation can uncover elements of construction that show the mind of a genius at work.