A Vision of Aeroplanes

for SATB and organ
This motet is an compelling display of the more tempestuous side of Vaughan Williams's compositional style, with a spectacular organ part and turbulent vocal writing evoking the 'whirlwind' and 'fire' of the biblical text, taken from Ezekiel 1. The title refers to the fact that some believe the strange flying object witnessed by Ezekiel in the text was an aeroplane. The work is structured as a single through-composed movement, but with three distinguishable sections: Moderato, Alla Marcia, and Più lento.