Ralph Vaughan Williams: Six Studies in English Folksong for Double Bass and Piano (arr. Victoria Bakewell)

About the Arrangement

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Six Studies in English Folksong (1926) is a lyrical work originally written for violoncello and piano, based on traditional English folk melodies. The six short movements range from a reflective, pastoral character to lively, dance-like writing while maintaining the directness and simplicity of folk song.

Suitable for intermediate to advanced players, the set works well for studio recitals, juries, and concert programming. This arrangement for double bass uses register changes and offers the performer options, providing flexibility in tone and register. While arranged for bass and piano, the accompaniment can also be performed effectively with harp, offering a beautiful alternative timbral pairing.

About the Arranger

Victoria Bakewell is a double bassist and researcher whose work bridges the stage, the classroom, and the archive. A native of Fargo, North Dakota, she holds degrees from Concordia College (where she studied with Dr. Gregory Hamilton) and the University of Colorado Boulder (where she studied with Dr. Paul Erhard). She is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Powell.

As a performer, Victoria has played with ensembles throughout the Midwest and Southeast, including the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Frost Wind Ensemble, MahlerFest, and Festival Napa Valley. She has been featured in faculty and fellowship recitals at Lutheran Summer Music, participated in masterclasses with renowned bassists such as Scott Pingel, Joe Lescher, Rob Kassinger, and Gabriele Ragghianti, and toured internationally with both the Frost Wind Ensemble (Austria) and The Concordia Orchestra (Greece).

Victoria’s research focuses on the historical development of double bass pedagogy and the evolving role of the instrument in orchestral literature. Her project, The Double Bass: Becoming the Foundation of the Orchestra, earned first place in the 2024 International Society of Bassists Research Competition (Student Division). She presented this research at the 2025 ISB Convention, and the Online Journal of Bass Research will publish the corresponding paper in December 2025. Her interests include uncovering connections between regional bass traditions and expanding access to underrepresented bass literature.

An experienced and passionate educator, Victoria has held teaching fellowships with Lutheran Summer Music and taught at the CU Summer Music Academy, where she led sectionals, technique classes, and chamber groups. She has also served as a mentor and coach for the North Star Chamber Festival and has worked extensively with student ensembles throughout her academic career. Her teaching emphasizes strong technical foundations, musical independence, and an understanding of the bass’s historical and artistic context.

Outside of music, Victoria enjoys reading, photography, and strength training. She is currently building resources for fellow bassists, including educational materials and arrangements, and plans to release them soon.