The Lark Ascending
Out of abyss emerges the matrix
Primordial egg of existence
Diaphanous womb of our universe
Permeated by luminous power of celestial origin
Tempest is released from its fetters
Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap in silence
Pristine semina of duality take their stance
Origin of diversity begins
Mirror of endless contemplation crystallizes
As the chrysalis manifests itself
An entity of reflection,
Of spiritual longing takes form
Olamic metamorphosis impels cyclical inertia
Causation begins
Entrails of the nucleus expand and
Break apart releasing the monad
The lark ascends
An ecstatic paean issues forth
Venerating innocence with increasing charm
As resonance illumines Lydian Measures
The lark sojourns
Till elixirs of lengthening vigilance overflow
Then resumes its journey
Curt Doll
(After the Musical Composition
by Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1914 and orchestrated following the First World War in 1920, The Lark Ascending is a pastoral romance for solo violin inspired by George Meredith’s poem. While it is widely celebrated as an evocative portrait of pre-war English countryside, listening to it alongside the deeper spiritual undertones of his symphonic works suggests something more intimate. To me, the soaring violin does not just mirror a bird or a lost era; along with the substance of the composition, it captures a profound spiritual yearning to discover one's own inner being.
For five decades, both the poem and its visual compositions have undergone continuous revision. A recent and only addition to the text introduces the phrase "in silence" immediately following the line, Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap. While the musical score lacks a crescendo powerful enough to mirror a literal thunderclap, this omission actually deepens the poem's emotional weight. Ultimately, the juxtaposition introduces a compelling sense of mystery—a "happy accident" I first discovered at The York Academy of Art and one that continues to bring me immense joy to this day.
As an 1977 Fine Art graduate of the York Academy of Arts, I have spent my life immersed in classical music, ballet, art, and literature. This project, inspired by Ralph Vaughan Williams’ sublime violin composition, The Lark Ascending, seeks to reveal the profound interconnectedness between music, poetry, and visual art. By pairing evocative imagery with the poem, I invite you to experience them simultaneously while listening to the music. Through this multimedia harmony, the final line of the poem silently evokes the grace of ballet.
In 2002, the poem "The Lark Ascending" was published in the International Library of Poetry anthology, The Solace of Night (Watermark Press, Owings Mills, MD 21117).
Each fine art print is 21" in height and as a set are offered at $7,755.00. These are Giclée limited editions of 75 printed on heavy 100% rag fine art paper. They each have the edition number, title and the artists own seal printed on them to distinguish them from pirated prints of inferior quality. The artists unique signature is printed directly on the Painting. And they are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
The entire set sells for $7,755.00 unframed. © 2026 CurtisGraphics All Rights Reserved
