Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the greatest English composers, held strong views on many musical subjects which he did not hesitate to express in plain, vigorous prose. National Music and Other Essays contains, in book form, all Vaughan Williams's writings that he thought worth preserving, including essays on the theme of nationalism in music, the evolution of the folk song, and the origins of music, as well as pieces on individual composers and their works, such as Beethoven, Holst, Bach, Sibelius, Bax, and Elgar. Throughout, his common sense combines with a true composer's sensitivity to produce writings of an enduring interest and originality. For this edition, Michael Kennedy has written a new introduction and has added various essays on a wide variety of subjects.