Top 5 Vaughan Williams works.

[vandermolen]

So, Jeffery, your favorites have changed in the last 20 months:

That's okay. I'm reconsidering mine, too, but will, for now, stick with what I chose the last time you created this thread:

I think that this is caused by the difference between 'favourite' and 'greatest'. 'Top...' Is a bit ambiguous but there are so many that I could have chosen. I love Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus - the composer had it played at his funeral.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I haven't explored much Vaughan Williams beyond the symphonies, but here is a list in a rough order of preference

Symphony no. 4
Symphony no. 8
Serenade to Music
Symphony no. 7
Songs of Travel

I had to break the symphony rule because I don't know other works well enough just yet. In time I will update my list.

[North Star]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Flos Campi
Mass in g minor
Symphony No.5
Violin Sonata

[Karl Henning]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Flos Campi
Mass in g minor
Symphony No.5
Violin Sonata

Outstanding (and balanced) 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[vandermolen]

I haven't explored much Vaughan Williams beyond the symphonies, but here is a list in a rough order of preference

Symphony no. 4
Symphony no. 8
Serenade to Music
Symphony no. 7
Songs of Travel

I had to break the symphony rule because I don't know other works well enough just yet. In time I will update my list.

I made the rule and then broke it myself! So no problem at all.

[vandermolen]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Flos Campi
Mass in g minor
Symphony No.5
Violin Sonata

Nice to see another vote for the late, craggy Violin Sonata.

[Mirror Image]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Flos Campi
Mass in g minor
Symphony No.5
Violin Sonata

Thumbs up. Great list, Karlo.

[vandermolen]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Flos Campi
Mass in g minor
Symphony No.5
Violin Sonata

Yes, great list indeed. The Violin Sonata is doing well in this thread.

[Mirror Image]

Wow...this is still a strong list. All of these works are favorites and I couldn't possibly add/subtract anything to it.

Okay, I lied...it's time for an update (in no particular order):

5 Mystical Songs
Flos Campi
A Pastoral Symphony (Symphony No. 3)
Job, A Masque for Dancing
String Quartet No. 2

It'll probably change again tomorrow...lol.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Heaps of people are mentioning Flos Campi; I should check that one out.....

What recording is most recommended?

[Mirror Image]

Heaps of people are mentioning Flos Campi; I should check that one out.....

What recording is most recommended?

Check out the Willcocks performance on EMI. I've heard almost all performances of the work and haven't really heard a bad one yet.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Check out the Willcocks performance on EMI. I've heard almost all performances of the work and haven't really heard a bad one yet.

Thanks, MI. I haven't heard of Willcocks before...maybe a new discovery there for me as well!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, MI. I haven't heard of Willcocks before...maybe a new discovery there for me as well!

No problem. Sir David Willcocks was one of the great British choral conductors. He passed away not too long ago (in 2015 I believe).

[André]

- A Sea Symphony
- The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains
- Toward the Unknown Region
- Job
- The Lark Ascending

Also, the Tallis Fantasia of course (man, just 5 works: this is cruel !  )

[Mirror Image]

- A Sea Symphony
- The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains
- Toward the Unknown Region
- Job
- The Lark Ascending

Also, the Tallis Fantasia of course (man, just 5 works: this is cruel !  )

Cruel indeed. The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains is next on my to-listen-to list. I've got the Matthew Best recording of it on Hyperion. This work must have really meant something to you for it to be considered for your own 'Top 5'.

[André]

Cruel indeed. The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains is next on my to-listen-to list. I've got the Matthew Best recording of it on Hyperion. This work must have really meant something to you for it to be considered for your own 'Top 5'.

Indeed. I bought the Hyperion disc when it came out (nice cover, nice titles, varied program). It was my first non symphonic VW disc (symphonies, Job, Tallis Fantasia). What I like about it is the music of course, but also the compactness of the work: evry time I listen to it, it leaves me wanting for more.

If you know VW's Pilgrim's Progress, you'll know what to expect: Shepherds was composed first, then incorporated (Act IV, scene 2) into that opera.

[Mirror Image]

Indeed. I bought the Hyperion disc when it came out (nice cover, nice titles, varied program). It was my first non symphonic VW disc (symphonies, Job, Tallis Fantasia). What I like about it is the music of course, but also the compactness of the work: evry time I listen to it, it leaves me wanting for more.

If you know VW's Pilgrim's Progress, you'll know what to expect: Shepherds was composed first, then incorporated (Act IV, scene 2) into that opera.

Very nice! I've only heard The Pilgrim's Progress once, but I plan on listening to it again rather soon. Do you like the Boult on EMI or Hickox on Chandos or both? I'm probably going to listen to the Boult.

[André]

I have the Boult - twice: it appears in 2 different big boxes  . VW has used and re-used both score and music in different works. I love the Bunyan Sequence (64 minutes). I actually listened to that a lot more often than the whole opera (or 'Morality Play', as VW called it).




Apparently Amazon sells used copies for 0.01$ !


https://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-Williams-Pilgrims-Progress-Sequence/dp/B000002ZPW

[vandermolen]

I have the Boult - twice: it appears in 2 different big boxes  . VW has used and re-used both score and music in different works. I love the Bunyan Sequence (64 minutes). I actually listened to that a lot more often than the whole opera (or 'Morality Play', as VW called it).




Apparently Amazon sells used copies for 0.01$ !


https://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-Williams-Pilgrims-Progress-Sequence/dp/B000002ZPW

Great CD.

[Mirror Image]

I have the Boult - twice: it appears in 2 different big boxes  . VW has used and re-used both score and music in different works. I love the Bunyan Sequence (64 minutes). I actually listened to that a lot more often than the whole opera (or 'Morality Play', as VW called it).




Apparently Amazon sells used copies for 0.01$ !


https://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-Williams-Pilgrims-Progress-Sequence/dp/B000002ZPW

Yep, I own all of Matthew Best's RVW recordings, but I haven't listened to the one you posted above. Will have to check it out at some point, but I really want to hear the whole opera since it's been so long since I've last heard it.