butterworth was born in london. his father was a solicitor who later became the general manager of the north eastern railway. the family moved to yorkshire soon after george’s birth. he had his first music lessons from his mother, who was a singer, he soon started to compose music. his father wanted him to be a solicitor and so he sent his son to eton college. from there he went to trinity college, oxford. at oxford he became more and more involved with music, especially after he met the folk song collector cecil sharp and composer and folk song enthusiast ralph vaughan williams. butterworth and vaughan williams made several trips into the english countryside to collect folk songs. both of them were influenced by english folk songs when they were composing. butterworth was also a very good folk dancer. he was particularly fond of morris dancing.