Top 5 Vaughan Williams works.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Nice to see the double PC getting some support. It is not generally regarded very highly but I am very fond of its craggy appeal.

I think it's reasonable to say that the keyboard was not VW's strongest suit.  I never thought much of the Double either until I heard Menuhin with Broadway and Markham on keyboards (Virgin) - I think I'm virtually alone in liking the rarely heard extra cadenza.  VW was a more experimental composer than most listeners might think and I suspect his biggest fans might actually resent this aspect of him.  The Double is a good example, among other works, of VW "in his lab coat."  "Craggy" is a great way to describe it!

[Ken B]

Flos Campi --- easy easy first choice

Symphony 5 -- not quite so easy second choice
Five Mystical Songs
Songs of Travel
Suite for viola and small orchestra

Might be a different list on another day. I like S4, Lark, Mass, Job quite a lot too.

[Mirror Image]

I think it's reasonable to say that the keyboard was not VW's strongest suit.  I never thought much of the Double either until I heard Menuhin with Broadway and Markham on keyboards (Virgin) - I think I'm virtually alone in liking the rarely heard extra cadenza.  VW was a more experimental composer than most listeners might think and I suspect his biggest fans might actually resent this aspect of him.  The Double is a good example, among other works, of VW "in his lab coat."  "Craggy" is a great way to describe it!

I've always liked the Piano Concerto but I like it's cousin the Concerto for Two Pianos even more. So this went from a work I merely 'liked' to a work I ended up loving just by adding that extra dimension.

[TheGSMoeller]

Sea Symphony
Serenade to Music
Flos Campi
Phantasy Quintet
The Lark Ascending

[Mirror Image]

Love that many members here are choosing Flos Campi. I mean this really is one of the most gorgeous works I've ever heard. Viola, orchestra, and a wordless choir plus its written under that stunning lyricism that RVW was known for, how could anyone in their right mind NOT like this work?

*Although James wouldn't like it because RVW isn't 'hip' enough or doesn't break stylistic borders.

[Ken B]

Sea Symphony
Serenade to Music
Flos Campi
Phantasy Quintet
The Lark Ascending

Doh! How could I forget the quintet!

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Doh! How could I forget the quintet!

I didn't forget it - it was a contender, for sure!

[vandermolen]

Thanks, Jeffrey. Yeah, I've loved Job right from the opening measures. I just knew this was going to be a favorite right from the start. I picked Symphony No. 8 over other favorites like the 3rd through the 6th for the reason that I feel the 8th is not only neglected, but it's one of those symphonies that took me some time to connect with and once I did, it has remained a firm favorite. This work really blows me away.

I am increasingly appreciating No. 8 too, especially in Jurowski's new recording. I heard No.8 live for the first time on 12th October 1972, Vaughan Williams's 100th birthday (Boult conducting, Festival Hall. London).

[Karl Henning]

Interesting, Jeffrey!  The Eighth was an early favorite of mine among the symphonies.

[springrite]

Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
London Symphony
Symphony #4
Lark Ascending

[Karl Henning]

A Sea Symphony
The Pilgrim's Progress
Scott of the Antarctic
Piano Concerto
Toward the Unknown Region

Big +1 for Toward the Unknown Region!

[Sergeant Rock]

I think it's reasonable to say that the keyboard was not VW's strongest suit.  I never thought much of the Double either until I heard Menuhin with Broadway and Markham on keyboards (Virgin)

That's a great recording. It's coupled with my favorite Fifth.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Okay, I thought I must have the two-pf concerto, because Amazon calls this two-fer "Complete Concertos."  Amazon is simply purveying misinformation 

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[Mr Bloom]

Okay, I thought I must have the two-pf concerto, because Amazon calls this two-fer "Complete Concertos."  Amazon is simply purveying misinformation 

The two piano concerto is an adaptation of the piano concerto, which was thought at the time too difficult to play for a single pianist. It's pretty much the same work, so Amazon wasn't wrong.

A few months ago, I listened to pretty much everything RVW wrote in a short period of time. This is the 10 personal favorites that came out of it :

1.   Symphony n°6
2.   Four poems by Fredegond Shove
3.   Symphony n°9
4.   The lark's ascending
5.   Symphony n°5
6.   Four last songs
7.   Piano concerto
8.   Symphony n°4
9.   Riders to the sea
10.   String quartet n°2

Flos Campi, Symphony n°8, Five Tudor portraits and the ten blake songs are right behind.

[Karl Henning]

The two piano concerto is an adaptation of the piano concerto, which was thought at the time too difficult to play for a single pianist. It's pretty much the same work, so Amazon wasn't wrong.

Most interesting, thanks.  Well, they weren't wrong, but they might have been clearer 

[Mirror Image]

Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
London Symphony
Symphony #4
Lark Ascending

You can only pick one symphony, Paul.

[Mirror Image]

I am increasingly appreciating No. 8 too, especially in Jurowski's new recording. I heard No.8 live for the first time on 12th October 1972, Vaughan Williams's 100th birthday (Boult conducting, Festival Hall. London).

Very nice, Jeffrey. I'll have to check out Jurowski's recording.

[springrite]

You can only pick one symphony, Paul.

That is easy.

Fiive Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Oboe Concerto
Symphony #4
Lark Ascending

[North Star]

Symphony no. 5
Tallis Fantasia
On Wenlock Edge
Flos campi
Toward the Unknown Region

[Karl Henning]

Symphony no. 5
Tallis Fantasia
On Wenlock Edge
Flos campi
Toward the Unknown Region

Surely, an impeccable list!