Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[Roasted Swan]

Are the accompanying works any good?  I've not heard them before which is always a good thing when encountering something new from a favorite composer.

I've not heard this Manze recording but the reviews seem univerally positive.  For the 2 couplings both appear in a 2-disc set on EMI (Warner) "Hickox conducts RVW" and are very good.  The "Old King Cole" Ballet has an optional part for chorus which Hickox includes but Manze does not - I rather like the brief but telling presence of the choir.  The rest of the Hickox set is very fine with some lovely contributions from Bradley Creswick on violin.  The orchestra-only version of the Serenade to Music is included as well

[vandermolen]

I've not heard this Manze recording but the reviews seem univerally positive.  For the 2 couplings both appear in a 2-disc set on EMI (Warner) "Hickox conducts RVW" and are very good.  The "Old King Cole" Ballet has an optional part for chorus which Hickox includes but Manze does not - I rather like the brief but telling presence of the choir.  The rest of the Hickox set is very fine with some lovely contributions from Bradley Creswick on violin.  The orchestra-only version of the Serenade to Music is included as well

Yes, I have that very enjoyable Hickox set as well.

[calyptorhynchus]

I listened to the VW 5 from the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra with conductor Tarmo Peltokoski on Radio 3 yesterday. I was interested to see whether they were playing it in Riga or in concert elsewhere in Latvia or were playing it on tour (orchestras often play the the works of a host country's composer(s) when giving concerts abroad). The intro and outtro didn't make it clear but I think they were playing at home.

Anyway, interesting, nowhere near as polished as the studio recordings by Boult, Previn &c, but I wasn't expecting that. Also very fast, c.35 minutes compared to say, Previn and Haitink at 40 minutes, Boult at 37. But it brought out various aspects and details I hadn't heard before, so it wasn't a bad performance.

Anyway, worth a listen, on Radio 3's webpage for the next month or so. Or my recording:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pf6j2sgn9mc93ah/VW_5_Latvian_NSO.mp3/file

[Abdel Ove Allhan]

Quote from: vandermolen on 2023-06-23, 14:53:45
You're about the only other person I've come across who also dislikes the 'Serenade To Music'. Personally. I can't stand it, finding it to be a rather twee, cloying and uncharacteristically self-congratulatory work. I also prefer the orchestral version.
I'm in good company then!  When it got to the part where a trumpet fanfare plays and the soprano sings "Hark! The sweet sound of music!" (or similar words) I got almost angry! And then the part where the tenors insult people who don't like music...so very silly

The Serenade to Music is a sublime work. You should listen to the Hyperion recording with the Corydon Singers, English Chamber Orch., Matthew Best. It also has an equally sublime Flos Campi. Both works took a few listenings to jar my jaded proclivities acquired from the early formative contact of our demoralizing cultural, intellectual and emotional indifference to actual beauty when we are confronted by it.
I doubt you will ever venture to embrace such a work as RVW's Pilgrim's Progress. You'll probably think it 'silly'. Just take a few minutes to listen to the very beginning and tell me you are not affected by it.

[Roasted Swan]

Quote from: vandermolen on 2023-06-23, 14:53:45
You're about the only other person I've come across who also dislikes the 'Serenade To Music'. Personally. I can't stand it, finding it to be a rather twee, cloying and uncharacteristically self-congratulatory work. I also prefer the orchestral version.
I'm in good company then!  When it got to the part where a trumpet fanfare plays and the soprano sings "Hark! The sweet sound of music!" (or similar words) I got almost angry! And then the part where the tenors insult people who don't like music...so very silly

The Serenade to Music is a sublime work. You should listen to the Hyperion recording with the Corydon Singers, English Chamber Orch., Matthew Best. It also has an equally sublime Flos Campi. Both works took a few listenings to jar my jaded proclivities acquired from the early formative contact of our demoralizing cultural, intellectual and emotional indifference to actual beauty when we are confronted by it.
I doubt you will ever venture to embrace such a work as RVW's Pilgrim's Progress. You'll probably think it 'silly'. Just take a few minutes to listen to the very beginning and tell me you are not affected by it.

FYI - Vandermolen, along with many others here, is INCREDIBLY knowledgable about a vast range of music and I would take a big bet that he knows and loves Pilgrim's Progress.  I happen not to agree with him about Serenade to Music (I love it) although our musical tastes concur far more often than they differ.  But if we all loved the same music at the same time the world would be a lot duller place.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

...But if we all loved the same music at the same time the world would be a lot duller place.

I agree! 

PD

[vers la flamme]

Never thought I'd live to see the day that Vandermolen is attacked for not liking Vaughan Williams 

[Abdel Ove Allhan]

Never thought I'd live to see the day that Vandermolen is attacked for not liking Vaughan Williams 

There was no 'attack' implied to either quotees. The first paragraph quoted is Vandermolen. The second is Brian. The Pilgrim's Progress comment was directed at Brian for his "silly" comment concerning VW's Serenade. I simply disagreed with Vandermolen concerning the relative value of Serenade to Music. And judging by V's reaction to Serenade I think it would be a fair assumption to extrapolate his potential disdain for Pilgrim. Though I'm probably wrong.

[Abdel Ove Allhan]

FYI - Vandermolen, along with many others here, is INCREDIBLY knowledgable about a vast range of music and I would take a big bet that he knows and loves Pilgrim's Progress.  I happen not to agree with him about Serenade to Music (I love it) although our musical tastes concur far more often than they differ.  But if we all loved the same music at the same time the world would be a lot duller place.

No one is suggesting compulsory musical appetites here. I'm merely defending a glorious masterpiece by England's greatest native born composer with words by arguably the reigning master of the English language. Serenade is not for everyone. I have no beef with dodecaphonists, pantonalists, death metalists, ambientists or aleatorics (finally, a non-'ist'). I am an unreconstructed tonalist who is familiar with all of these genres of audible art, even written a little in most of them. I simply choose that form that complies with the laws of physics, mainly the overtone series.

[relm1]

Are any of us going to Pilgrims Progress by the Royal Philharmonic on Monday?  I'm hoping it will be broadcast for those of us in different continents.

https://www.rpo.co.uk/index.php/whats-on/range.listevents/-?catids=190

[DaveF]

There was no 'attack' implied to either quotees. The first paragraph quoted is Vandermolen. The second is Brian. The Pilgrim's Progress comment was directed at Brian for his "silly" comment concerning VW's Serenade. I simply disagreed with Vandermolen concerning the relative value of Serenade to Music. And judging by V's reaction to Serenade I think it would be a fair assumption to extrapolate his potential disdain for Pilgrim. Though I'm probably wrong.

I think you are, as, if I remember right, Vandermolen is on record somewhere on this forum as saying that he considers The Pilgrim's Progress to be VW's greatest masterpiece.

[vandermolen]

Yesterday I had an enjoyable day in London, meeting up with my daughter; as always, I was required to buy her a 'slap-up lunch' (to quote her own words). We visited the newly re-opened National Portrait Gallery where I was amused to find Vaughan Williams juxtaposed with British comedian Sid James (star of the 'Carry On' films and much more besides):

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yesterday I had an enjoyable day in London, meeting up with my daughter; as always, I was required to buy her a 'slap-up lunch' (to quote her own words). We visited the newly re-opened National Portrait Gallery where I was amused to find Vaughan Williams juxtaposed with British comedian Sid James (star of the 'Carry On' films and much more besides:

Sounds like an interesting combo hanging arrangement!

By the way, what is a slap-up lunch (There are quite different definitions online)?

PD

p.s.  Most of all, I'm glad to hear that you had a nice time with your daughter. 

[vandermolen]

Sounds like an interesting combo hanging arrangement!

By the way, what is a slap-up lunch (There are quite different definitions online)?

PD

p.s.  Most of all, I'm glad to hear that you had a nice time with your daughter. 

Thanks PD - it just means a large/tasty lunch (at her father's expense). Actually she is a vegan which limits the options.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thanks PD - it just means a large/tasty lunch (at her father's expense). Actually she is a vegan which limits the options.

I had the impression that there were now a number of restaurants that either were totally vegan or which offered quite a number of vegan options in London.  I found this:  https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/best-vegan-restaurants-london/

Personally, I've been wanting to visit one of Ottolenghi's restaurants (which offer an assortment of options); I've made a few of his dishes.

Speaking of which, my stomach just rumbled and reminded me that I need to fix some breakfast!

PD

[Roasted Swan]

I had the impression that there were now a number of restaurants that either were totally vegan or which offered quite a number of vegan options in London.  I found this:  https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/best-vegan-restaurants-london/

Personally, I've been wanting to visit one of Ottolenghi's restaurants (which offer an assortment of options); I've made a few of his dishes.

Speaking of which, my stomach just rumbled and reminded me that I need to fix some breakfast!

PD

His recipe books are really good "equivalents" of going to the actual places;

[Pohjolas Daughter]

His recipe books are really good "equivalents" of going to the actual places;

Nice to know.  I've borrowed some of his books through my library system; however, ironically, I purchased "Simple" but haven't yet made anything from it!

PD

[DavidW]

Thanks PD - it just means a large/tasty lunch (at her father's expense). Actually she is a vegan which limits the options.

I'm sure you could have done Indian. 

[Roasted Swan]

Nice to know.  I've borrowed some of his books through my library system; however, ironically, I purchased "Simple" but haven't yet made anything from it!

PD

you should - its very good!

[Irons]

Yesterday I had an enjoyable day in London, meeting up with my daughter; as always, I was required to buy her a 'slap-up lunch' (to quote her own words). We visited the newly re-opened National Portrait Gallery where I was amused to find Vaughan Williams juxtaposed with British comedian Sid James (star of the 'Carry On' films and much more besides):

Good to hear that National Portrait Gallery has opened it's doors at last. Closed for refurbishment for an age!