Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[eyeresist]

Well, the violin sonata has not made a huge impression on me so far, but familiarity may help.

BTW, I recently bought the Collins reissue of Marriner conducting symphonies 5 and 6. The tempos of 6 seemed rather quick to me, and interpretation lacked the ferocity I think is needed here (or which I'm used to at least, thanks to Boult). 5 was alright, but I don't think it'll displace Previn, Thomson, Handley. I'll need to listen again, of course.

[vandermolen]

The Menuhin brother-sister team, Jeffrey.  Goodness knows it is a piece which deserves more extensive representation in the recordings catalogue!

That's a fine CD too Karl.

[vandermolen]

Well, the violin sonata has not made a huge impression on me so far, but familiarity may help.

BTW, I recently bought the Collins reissue of Marriner conducting symphonies 5 and 6. The tempos of 6 seemed rather quick to me, and interpretation lacked the ferocity I think is needed here (or which I'm used to at least, thanks to Boult). 5 was alright, but I don't think it'll displace Previn, Thomson, Handley. I'll need to listen again, of course.

I largely agree - although I found that their was a more compassionate feel to Marriner's performance of No 6. Not a first choice by any means - but an interesting take on the work I feel.

[Christo]

I see there are no mentions here yet of the new Dutton cd with no less than four world premiere recordings: the 1898 Serenade, 1900 Bucolic Suite, 1943 Dark Pastoral (slow movement of the unfinished Cello Concerto) and the Orchestral Suite from Folksongs of the Four Seasons, done by Roy Douglas.

I missed the news during my vacation in Turkey, but am eager to order it. Did anyone hear it already?

           

[eyeresist]

I wasn't aware of this. Amazon says it's not released until 12 September. A couple of reviews have just appeared on Amazon UK, so I guess the release is being staggered.

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[Christo]

I wasn't aware of this. Amazon says it's not released until 12 September. A couple of reviews have just appeared on Amazon UK, so I guess the release is being staggered.

The first review on Amazon.co.uk, by S.H. Smith, here is fine and interesting, particulary regarding both early pieces. According to him, we were wrong in waiting for the Bucolic Suite for so long, as it doesn't offer much 'real' RVW, but compensated for that loss by the unexpected qualities of the early (1898) Serenade. Hope to report my findings as soon as I can convince my family to allow me to order for it. 

[vandermolen]

Was away on holiday, so sadly couldn't get to the all Vaughan Williams Prom in London last night (symphonies 4,5 and 6). I did watch the performance of Symphony No 6 on BBC 4 last night and thought it excellent. I also had the Dutton CD waiting for me at home - so I shall report back on that in due course.

[vandermolen]

I wonder if anyone else likes the ballet 'Old King Cole' (1923) as much as I do. Even though it is quite a 'light' work I find the 'Pipe Dance' oddly uplifting and often play this work. I have a CD of Vaughan Williams conducting it - one of the very few examples of Vaughan Williams conducting his own work - on an unusual Dutton CD 'From Vaughan Williams' attic' (as the recordings are from the composer's own collection). There is however a very fine modern recording with Richard Hickox conducting (complete with chorus) on a generally excellent EMI British Composers 2CD set which I would recommend. Boult's recording on Belart (with a great 'Tintagel' by Bax and 'Perfect Fool' by Holst and Butterworth works) is also wonderful (and often available dirt cheap on Amazon). Actually, having just checked, they all seem pretty cheap on Amazon.
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[kishnevi]

The Hickox recording is included in that 30 CD EMI Collector's Edition.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Re-hearing the 6th

I finally found a recording of the 6th Symphony that I can embrace wholeheartedly: Handley/RLPO.

Also, hearing the symphony again caused me to reflect on other composers' possible influence on VW. As I've heard, VW didn't hold Mahler in very high regard. But now I hear the third mvt. scherzo of the 6th as sounding very like the "Rondo-Burleske" from Mahler's 9th - certainly the two movements are close in spirit - and the finale sounds almost like Mahler's finale with the louder sections removed.

In similar fashion, the 8th Symphony seems to be modeled on Hindemith's Sinfonia serena, dating from only a few years before. The differing instrumentation in each movement, and the overall mood, are strikingly similar to the Hindemith.

[Karl Henning]

Re-hearing the 6th

I finally found a recording of the 6th Symphony that I can embrace wholeheartedly: Handley/RLPO.

Cool!

And I don't think I had noted that link with the Hindemith erewhile.

Viz. Mahler: To be generally out-of-synch with a composer, does not rule out drawing some musical benefit from his work.

[vandermolen]

Re-hearing the 6th

I finally found a recording of the 6th Symphony that I can embrace wholeheartedly: Handley/RLPO.

Also, hearing the symphony again caused me to reflect on other composers' possible influence on VW. As I've heard, VW didn't hold Mahler in very high regard. But now I hear the third mvt. scherzo of the 6th as sounding very like the "Rondo-Burleske" from Mahler's 9th - certainly the two movements are close in spirit - and the finale sounds almost like Mahler's finale with the louder sections removed.

In similar fashion, the 8th Symphony seems to be modeled on Hindemith's Sinfonia serena, dating from only a few years before. The differing instrumentation in each movement, and the overall mood, are strikingly similar to the Hindemith.

Interesting! The Symphony which reminds me of the Vaughan Williams Symphony No 6 is No 3 'Liturgique' by Honegger - although the birdsong Epilogue is more hopeful than in the VW work.

[CriticalI]

As I've heard, VW didn't hold Mahler in very high regard.

Weird, as I think they'd work very well paired in the concert hall. I was actually compiling a fantasy program recently:

VW3 + M4
VW2 + M1
Sea Symphony + M8
9 + 9

[Mirror Image]

Andrew Manze's RVW performances at the BBC Proms just in case you guys haven't heard them:

http://www.youtube.com/v/C2BmRfQ5txM&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/v/q9YoEETzYsE&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/v/I1suBbnp5Go&feature=plcp

I haven't watched any of these in their entirety. I did watch a little of the 5th tonight. Sounded good. Enjoy!

[Bogey]

As posted on the Herrmann thread, taking in this piece of vinyl this morning.  Along with William Walton (Escape Me Never) on Side B, RVW makes a mark with the beautiful 49th Paralell: Prelude (from the film of the same name (released in the U.S. as The Invaders).  I have not seen the movie, but now would like to hear the rest of the score, or at least what is out there. It seems this is the one to get?



Herrmann brings the NPO through this piece very nicely and the Phase 4 lets it breathe.  Does the above Gamba effort do the work justice?

[Karl Henning]

How are you doing with your survey of the symphonies, Bill?

[Bogey]

How are you doing with your survey of the symphonies, Bill?

Total enjoyment here, Karl.  However, I am finding that they are better heard over and over.  His themes are not made for humming, at least for meand more for a "pay attention" ear.  Not a bad one in the lot, IMO.

[Bogey]

I took another decent listen to A Sea Symphony from the set you sent my way:



I found it fairly engaging the first go around, but much more so on the second listen.  However, when I turned to A London Symphony, I was immediately drawn in and let it play through numerous times.  In fact, even before I gave this second symphony a spin from my Boult set, I purchased this tonight:




It also includes the 8th, but the 2nd is what I was fishing for.  The second and third movements are absolutely below the green lemon, my friend.   

On a side note, I was not taken by Haitink's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.  I guess I am too attached to this one:



Your thoughts?

[Mirror Image]

Vaughan Williams is one of those composers that rewards the listener time and time again. I think the first symphony I heard by RVW was Symphony No. 3 - A Pastoral Symphony and, honestly, I wasn't quite so taken with on the first time around, but it seemed that the second, third, and fourth listens really made a greater impression on me. The symphony is, like all of RVW's, like putting pieces of puzzle together and once you've done this you finally see the larger picture. I love all nine symphonies. I normally don't like a composer's entire symphony cycle, but RVW's is very special to me and I hope you'll enjoy them all someday too, Bill.

[Bogey]

Vaughan Williams is one of those composers that rewards the listener time and time again. I think the first symphony I heard by RVW was Symphony No. 3 - A Pastoral Symphony and, honestly, I wasn't quite so taken with on the first time around, but it seemed that the second, third, and fourth listens really made a greater impression on me. The symphony is, like all of RVW's, like putting pieces of puzzle together and once you've done this you finally see the larger picture. I love all nine symphonies. I normally don't like a composer's entire symphony cycle, but RVW's is very special to me and I hope you'll enjoy them all someday too, Bill.

I also took in the Haitink 8th, MI....really enjoyed it.  The third is on my list next. I also just ordered some of his film music.