Toward the Unknown Region

• Written in 1906, Toward the Unknown Region is a work for choir and orchestra setting words by Walt Whitman.
• Fun fact – Toward the Unknown Region was Vaughan Williams’ first choral major choral piece. Charles Villiers Stanford conducted the first performance at the Leeds Festival of 1907.
  • Interestingly, another popular early work of VW was inspired by the writing of Whitman – his “Sea Symphony” (Symphony No. 1).¹

Here’s a link to the Whitman text that inspired VW’s choral work, from Leaves of Grass.

1. Christopher Palmer, Notes in accompanying booklet, Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem & other works, Hyperion 66655, 1993, compact disc.