Funny, I was just thinking about him this morning. In particular, how heartbreakingly lovely his setting of a Thomas Hardy poem is ("Christmas Eve", from RVW's oratorio Hodie). Worth checking out if you've never heard it and like Hardy's poems. This one reflects his usual dark doubts but is shot through with a muted hope that you don't usually find in TH; and Vaughan Williams captures its complex spirit beautifully. It's written for bass/baritone voice and orchestra but the piano reduction (in the choir part) works very well if you want to sing it and don't have an orchestra handy. It's not the sort of song that requires an operatic voice, and can always be transposed for non-basses.

Thanks Shambles for the commemoration of this sensitive composer -