Your favourite Vaughan Williams Symphonies?

[Mirror Image]

I'm listening to No. 2, London right now, and I'm inclined to apologize for not voting for it (they are all so good)

They really are. It doesn't matter which one you pick, it's going to be good listening. I agree with your comments on A Pastoral Symphony. Like you said, it contains such mesmerizing musical poetry. The last movement is one of RVW's most beautiful utterances.

[mszczuj]

I have decided to vote for No.5, No.6 and No.9 as they seem to me most perfect. But I really like No.2 and No.3 as well.

[Christo]

My vote went - long ago - to Nos. 3, 6 and 9. The Pastoral was my way into RVW and still has that extra spell of a piece that became special in my early teens. Nos. 5 and 6 came after that and No. 9 even later. It was especially the dramatic reading of the two central movements by conductor Bryden Thomson that won me over. I still prefer his cycle - for me the third one, as I grew up with the second Boult and Previn - over all others. Overall, my favs are 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, which is another way of saying that I really love them all, dearly. 

The only ones that I ever heard live BTW are the Antartica by the Brabant SO under Petri Sakari and the Fifth by an amateur orchestra under a conductor who didn't like the piece (as he professed after I spoke with him after the concert). 

[dyn]

555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

and 6.

and 7 which is also the best film score.

but mostly 5. what can i say, sometimes a girl needs a little romance in her life. ;)

[Mirror Image]

My vote went - long ago - to Nos. 3, 6 and 9. The Pastoral was my way into RVW and still has that extra spell of a piece that became special in my early teens. Nos. 5 and 6 came after that and No. 9 even later. It was especially the dramatic reading of the two central movements by conductor Bryden Thomson that won me over. I still prefer his cycle - for me the third one, as I grew up with the second Boult and Previn - over all others. Overall, my favs are 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, which is another way of saying that I really love them all, dearly. 

The only ones that I ever heard live BTW are the Antartica by the Brabant SO under Petri Sakari and the Fifth by an amateur orchestra under a conductor who didn't like the piece (as he professed after I spoke with him after the concert). 

To the bolded text: I'll drink to that! My favorite RVW cycle hands down.

[Brian]

The only ones that I ever heard live BTW are the Antartica by the Brabant SO under Petri Sakari and the Fifth by an amateur orchestra under a conductor who didn't like the piece (as he professed after I spoke with him after the concert). 

Wow, that last bit is very sad! The only one I've seen live is the Fifth, by an amateur orchestra of students and other youngsters. But luckily for me, the conductor was Vladimir Ashkenazy, who was very enthusiastic indeed.

[madaboutmahler]

6, 8 and 9 for me! Love them all though.
9 for the ending alone even, it really really did blow me away.

Feels strange leaving out 5!! Some of the most gorgeous music ever in that.

[DavidW]

#4-6.  I'm surprised how few like the fourth, I consider it one of the greatest symphonies ever written.

[Ken B]

#4-6.  I'm surprised how few like the fourth, I consider it one of the greatest symphonies ever written.

Ditto on the reaction. It's generally reckoned his best I think. For me it is either 5 4 6 or 4 5 6.
I don't agree they are all successful though as many state. But all contain lovely stuff.

[Mirror Image]

#4-6.  I'm surprised how few like the fourth, I consider it one of the greatest symphonies ever written.

+1

[Sergeant Rock]

#4-6.  I'm surprised how few like the fourth, I consider it one of the greatest symphonies ever written.

Agree. The Fourth has been one of my favorite symphonies since hearing Lenny perform it at Young People's Concert in the 60s.

My vote in this poll went to 4, 8, 9.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

Symphonies 4 & 9 have the same amount of votes. Interesting. Since all this talk of the 9th, I've really been enjoying it and have listened to it with a newfound enthusiasm. Previously, I didn't give this symphony much attention for whatever reasons. I think Daniel's and Jeffrey's enthusiasm for it also helped me give it a more careful listen.

[alkan]

In this year of the centenary of the start of the Great War, RVW's 3rd symphony has additional significance.    Along with Britten's War Requiem, it is a heart-rending homage to the victims of the suffering.     It is one of my all-time favourites, and the slow climax at the end of the 4th movement always moves and saddens me.

The 6th is also special for something I have never heard elsewhere.    In a classical symphony, the themes are stated at the beginning and then undergo development, transformation, variation, ... etc.    It seems to me that in the first movement of the 6th, the theme bursts forth in mid-development.   It is chopped into bits, thrashes about and is generally violent and abrupt.   Then, right at the end of the movement the theme returns in all simplicity, as if was being stated for the first time.   An amazing and beautiful moment.     Does anyone else have the same impression that RVW works backward from development to opening statement ?   

[vandermolen]

In this year of the centenary of the start of the Great War, RVW's 3rd symphony has additional significance.    Along with Britten's War Requiem, it is a heart-rending homage to the victims of the suffering.     It is one of my all-time favourites, and the slow climax at the end of the 4th movement always moves and saddens me.

The 6th is also special for something I have never heard elsewhere.    In a classical symphony, the themes are stated at the beginning and then undergo development, transformation, variation, ... etc.    It seems to me that in the first movement of the 6th, the theme bursts forth in mid-development.   It is chopped into bits, thrashes about and is generally violent and abrupt.   Then, right at the end of the movement the theme returns in all simplicity, as if was being stated for the first time.   An amazing and beautiful moment.     Does anyone else have the same impression that RVW works backward from development to opening statement ?

A very interesting point, which I think makes sense.  The Third Symphony is being performed at the Proms in London this year as part of the World War One commemoration.  I too have the greatest admiration for the Bryden Thomson cycle - he was a very underrated conductor and one of the few to get Symphony No.6 right ( the greatest in my opinion). I think that I've hear them all live. No 8 and Job for the first time on 12th October 1972 on the composer's 100th birthday, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult at the Festival Hall in London. A few days later (or possibly earlier) he conducted Symphony No 5 in Westminster Abbey, an amazing experience for a 17 year old who had just learned to love this music. I was lucky to grow up in Central London, within walking distance of the Albert Hall. In recent years I have come to like A Sea Symphony, which never meant much to me before. Haitink's recording was a revelation to me and yes, No 9 and the 1913 London Symphony are very special to me too. I like Bernstein's recording of Symphony 4 and Koussevitsky and Vaughan Williams's recordings of Symphony 5.

[Karl Henning]

. . . In recent years I have come to like A Sea Symphony, which never meant much to me before. Haitink's recording was a revelation to me . . . .

Very glad to read this, Jeffrey. Cheers!

[vandermolen]

Very glad to read this, Jeffrey. Cheers!

Thank you Karl

How about favourite recordings?

A Sea Symphony (Haitink)
A London Symphony (Hickox 1913 version/Previn RCA/Boult EMI 1936 version)
A Pastoral Symphony (Previn RCA)
No 4 (Boult EMI/Mitropolous)
No5 (Previn RCA/Hickox/Vaughan Williams/Koussevitsky/Barbirolli EMI)
No 6 (Boult Decca)
No 7 (Haitink/Boult Decca)
No 8 (Previn RCA)
No 9 (Stokowski CALA/Handley CFP)

[aukhawk]

A Sea Symphony (Spano)
A London Symphony (Bakels)
A Pastoral Symphony (Previn RCA)
No 4 (Bernstein)
No 5 (Boult EMI)
No 6 (Andrew Davis)
No 7 (Haitink)
No 8 (Previn RCA)

[AnthonyAthletic]

Mine are 5, 7 & 9 and in that order.  All of his works are very special.

I have recently re discovered after shying away from it, the Sea Symphony...stunning.  Took me years to appreciate this masterpiece.

[Sergeant Rock]

How about favourite recordings?

1 - Slatkin
     Boult (Decca)
     Haitink

2 - Hickox
     Barbirolli (Dutton)
     Thomson
     Boult (EMI)

3 - Boult (Decca)
     Haitink
     Previn
     Handley

4 - Bernstein
     Boult (Decca)
     Slatkin

5 - Menuhin
     Previn (Telarc)
     Barbirolli

6 - Boult (Decca)
     A. Davis
     Berglund

7 - Haitink
     Previn

8 - Haitink
     Barbirolli (Dutton)
     Handley
     Thomson

9 - Haitink
     Bakels
     Thomson


Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Very impressive showing for Bennie, there!