Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[Biffo]

In the booklet a copyright of 1986 or 1987 is given for the remastering of the symphonies. That sounds like the date of the first CD release. I think the remastering is not as good as it could be, but the basic quality of the original analog recordings still manifests itself. It really is a shame that they have not remastered these very significant recordings after almost 40 years. Maybe the tapes are lost or have deteriorated.

Thanks for your reply. I haven't checked all the individual discs but the one containing Nos 3 & 5 - the two symphonies I am most interested in says 'remastered 1991'. The sound isn't bad but possibly could be improved after 30 years.

[Spotted Horses]

Thanks for your reply. I haven't checked all the individual discs but the one containing Nos 3 & 5 - the two symphonies I am most interested in says 'remastered 1991'. The sound isn't bad but possibly could be improved after 30 years.

You're right, I didn't look carefully. In the complete Boult set 3 and 5 do have copyright of 1991 for the remaster, although 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 are either 1986 or 1987.

[Mirror Image]

It doesn't matter about the dates of the remaster in the Boult set. They sound good and are completely acceptable. A phenomenal set and a must-own for anyone who loves RVW's music.

[LKB]

Currently enjoying an old LP of Vaughan Williams' "Songs of Travel", etc. with John Shirley Quirk (on mono Saga).  Cleaned up pretty well.  Listening to the other songs (mostly about the sea) on Side Two (see recent listening).  With Viola Tunnard, piano.

PD

That specific recording inspired me to major in vocal performance, and become an operatic baritone. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That specific recording inspired me to major in vocal performance, and become an operatic baritone. 

Cool! 

PD

[vandermolen]

Pristine Audio are releasing the Boult LPO Decca series of symphonies in a remastered edition (properly packaged with notes I think).

BBC Music Magazine has a VW special in their May edition and the accompanying CD is of symphonies 4 and 6 with 'In the Fen Country' conducted by John Wilson.

[vandermolen]

Pristine Audio are remastering the Boult Decca/Everest cycle of symphonies. For once these (CD) are nicely packaged (limited edition) with notes. A Sea Symphony has just been released:

[aukhawk]

You're right, I didn't look carefully. In the complete Boult set 3 and 5 do have copyright of 1991 for the remaster, although 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 are either 1986 or 1987.

The original CD coupling of 3 and 5 was afflicted with a low-level hum, which some reviewers did comment on.  So EMI revisited that coupling specifically, which explains the later date compared with the rest.  But these early CD transfers generally do not quite measure up to the original analogue releases on vinyl, which were very highly regrded in their day, with Boult's final recording of Job being hailed as demonstration-quality.

[Irons]

Pristine Audio are releasing the Boult LPO Decca series of symphonies in a remastered edition (properly packaged with notes I think).

BBC Music Magazine has a VW special in their May edition and the accompanying CD is of symphonies 4 and 6 with 'In the Fen Country' conducted by John Wilson.

I'm in, Jeffrey.

[vandermolen]

I'm in, Jeffrey.

I thought that you might be Lol!   

I've been pestering Alto to release a new VW CD in time for the 150th Anniversary in October, insisting of course, that I write the notes myself! 

[vandermolen]

The original CD coupling of 3 and 5 was afflicted with a low-level hum, which some reviewers did comment on.  So EMI revisited that coupling specifically, which explains the later date compared with the rest.  But these early CD transfers generally do not quite measure up to the original analogue releases on vinyl, which were very highly regarded in their day, with Boult's final recording of Job being hailed as demonstration-quality.

Yes, that ASD LP of 'Job' was my first encounter with the work on disc, having heard Boult conduct it live on VW's 100th birthday. It remains, arguably, the finest recording on disc, although I like Barry Wordsworth's recording as well.

[Spotted Horses]

Yes, that ASD LP of 'Job' was my first encounter with the work on disc, having heard Boult conduct it live on VW's 100th birthday. It remains, arguably, the finest recording on disc, although I like Barry Wordsworth's recording as well.

I'd be curious to hear Boult's Decca recording of the work (mono, from the mid 50's I think). I haven't come across it on CD.

[vandermolen]

I'd be curious to hear Boult's Decca recording of the work (mono, from the mid 50's I think). I haven't come across it on CD.

Like all of Boult's four commercial recordings of the work (EMI/Decca/Everest/EMI ASD) it is terrific in all respects and very moving (after all, it was dedicated to Boult). It is about the only Australian Eloquence CD (unavailable in the UK) that I have been able to track down (ordered from Australia I think):

[Roasted Swan]

Like all of Boult's four commercial recordings of the work (EMI/Decca/Everest/EMI ASD) it is terrific in all respects and very moving (after all, it was dedicated to Boult). It is about the only Australian Eloquence CD (unavailable in the UK) that I have been able to track down (ordered from Australia I think):

The Boult/Decca recording was the 1st LP of Vaughan Williams' music I ever owned in its Decca Eclipse incarnation.....



I was given it by the conductor of our youth orchestra as a thankyou for doing a magic show for an old people's home he helped at (conjuring was my other obsession alongside music).  I remember two things about this LP; a) that the cover picture impressed me - no idea where it is and b) that the conductor told me it was one of RVW's very greatest works and that he hoped I would grow to love it.....

[Irons]

The striking cover of the original was of it's period.

[vandermolen]

The Boult/Decca recording was the 1st LP of Vaughan Williams' music I ever owned in its Decca Eclipse incarnation.....



I was given it by the conductor of our youth orchestra as a thankyou for doing a magic show for an old people's home he helped at (conjuring was my other obsession alongside music).  I remember two things about this LP; a) that the cover picture impressed me - no idea where it is and b) that the conductor told me it was one of RVW's very greatest works and that he hoped I would grow to love it.....

Interesting about the conjuring! I used to like doing magic tricks as a boy (although, unlike yourself, I have never delivered a public performance) and there was a shop near Marble Arch which specialised in them (I remember owning a trick card pack where every other card was the Eight of Clubs!) I made so many great discoveries on Decca Eclipse - Rawsthorne's Second Piano Concerto and Barber' Cello Concerto, coupled together, for example and, not least, this one (purchased aged 16 or 17 - it had more impact on me than any other recording ever):

PS the locations of cover photos for Decca Eclipse LPs (usually National Trust locations) were always printed on the back of the LP sleeve - this craggy image is of Blea Tarn, Cumbria - coincidentally the same location features on the front of the Naxos recording of Vaughan William's 6th Symphony.

[Roasted Swan]

Interesting about the conjuring! I used to like doing magic tricks as a boy (although, unlike yourself, I have never delivered a public performance) and there was a shop near Marble Arch which specialised in them (I remember owning a trick card pack where every other card was the Eight of Clubs!) I made so many great discoveries on Decca Eclipse - Rawsthorne's Second Piano Concerto and Barber' Cello Concerto, coupled together, for example and, not least, this one (purchased aged 16 or 17 - it had more impact on me than any other recording ever):

PS the locations of cover photos for Decca Eclipse LPs (usually National Trust locations) were always printed on the back of the LP sleeve - this craggy image is of Blea Tarn, Cumbria - coincidentally the same location features on the front of the Naxos recording of Vaughan William's 6th Symphony.

At the risk of this becoming a nostagia/magic thread - the two London shops I used to make pilgrimage to were Davenports literally opposite the British Museum and the basement of Hamleys.  The great thing about both places was that the salespeople all demonstrated - every trick always looked amazing (as performed by them) so you bought it, went home and it was never quite as good when you did it....... (practice is key!).  Showing my magic/nerd side - the deck of cards you describe is called a Svengali deck - its based on the principle that the alternate/same cards are all slightly shorter than the mixed/longer cards... so the effect is the "chosen" (shorter) card can move through the deck from top to bottom or if you riffle it face up they "appear" to have all become the same card.  Great deck!

[vandermolen]

At the risk of this becoming a nostagia/magic thread - the two London shops I used to make pilgrimage to were Davenports literally opposite the British Museum and the basement of Hamleys.  The great thing about both places was that the salespeople all demonstrated - every trick always looked amazing (as performed by them) so you bought it, went home and it was never quite as good when you did it....... (practice is key!).  Showing my magic/nerd side - the deck of cards you describe is called a Svengali deck - its based on the principle that the alternate/same cards are all slightly shorter than the mixed/longer cards... so the effect is the "chosen" (shorter) card can move through the deck from top to bottom or if you riffle it face up they "appear" to have all become the same card.  Great deck!

Completely OT
Excellent! I think that the nostalgia/magic thread is a great idea. The shop I was referring to was in an arcade of shops and the kindly man in charge demonstrated them to me. I spent hours there. I remember a box which had a secret mirror in, so that you could place objects in the box and they would apparently disappear. I was forced to go to Marble Arch for 'Bar mitzvah Classes' (I hated them, couldn't learn Hebrew and eventually got my cleverer older brother to write by bar-mitzvah portion out in English phonetics, which I smuggled past the rabbi - good practice for years of smuggling LPs/CDs past my parents and my wife). However as the synagogue was in Marble Arch I always found myself in the magic shop afterwards. You are absolutely right about the trick card pack - I seem to remember being quite good at it - now that I have the name I may try to get another pack to try out on my daughter. I especially liked tricks of a morbid/violent type, which appealed to my tastes. I remember a small guillotine in which you could pretend to chop off your finger. My father taught me another morbid trick - you cut a hole in the bottom of an old elastoplast tin and then use insulation tape to line the hole so that you didn't cut your finger. You then place your finger through the hole resting it on a layer of cotton wool covered in red paint. I could then present this to an elderly aunt, by removing the top part of the tin to reveal an apparently disembodied finger covered in blood. 

[vandermolen]

Thought I should get the thread back on the rails. This looks like an interesting new release but I'm not sure that I need another recording of On Wenlock Edge:

[Biffo]

Thought I should get the thread back on the rails. This looks like an interesting new release but I'm not sure that I need another recording of On Wenlock Edge:

Looks tempting - I only have one recording of The House of Life and that is rather elderly - Anthony Rolfe Johnson (1974) - but then I don't listen to it very often.